This blog needs a new title. It all started when I was traveling with the Silver Ring Thing and sitting on a bus for over 100 hours a week. I unofficially changed the name of it to “The Atlantic Ocean Lots Traveled” when I began sailing with Royal Caribbean. I can’t believe more of this blog has been about my time on the sea than my time on land. I also can’t believe I was at sea for nearly 4 years. But I just wrote the ending to that chapter – my time at sea is finished for now. And I’m 2 months in to the next chapter.
I had been saying for awhile I was “almost” done on ships. If you know any other sailors aside from me, you will know that this is something we all say. Every new hire joins their first ship saying, “I’ll just do one contract for the experience. It will look good on a resume.” Before you know it you are sucked in and addicted to the culture, the lifestyle, the people, the travel, and the land of make believe that is commonly known called Cruise Ships. But it was time for me to go- for a lot of reasons. Some choices were made for me that I wasn’t happy with, but above all I was terrified that I would settle for the land of make believe and never achieve some of my other goals in life. So I left…if only it were that easy…
I started looking for another job shortly after starting this contract back in December 2012. Sometime in January my sister sent me a link to a job at National Geographic. I read the posting, was intrigued, and applied. In the months that followed I applied to lots of jobs, kept doing my best at my day job (it was crucial for me to act with integrity even when I felt I hadn’t been treated the same), spent time on the beach, and had a great time with lots of friends. But I was getting scared. I was meant to leave the ship on June 23rd and I had already formally said no to another contract. And now I had no where to go.
One day I went out in port, took a walk, and decided it was all good. I knew it would all work out. I needed to relax and just enjoy this amazing time in my life. So what if I was facing a few months of unemployment? Mom and Dad’s couch was comfy and I had a lot of TV to catch up on. I got back to the ship and one of the first things I did was check my email. And there was not one, but two interview requests. One was for Nat Geo.
I had 2 Skype interviews with the guys at NatGeo (thank you technology), but I honestly couldn’t gauge how they went. I thought they went well, but who really knows? A few weeks later I checked my email just as we were leaving Ft. Lauderdale and there was my job offer. I was stunned. So happy! So excited! So in shock! So overwhelmed with all I now had to do! I ran back to my cabin and told my roommate, Skyped my family, called my boss, etc. 3 weeks later I was off the ship. 3 weeks after that I was living in Washington, DC and starting my new job.
That was over 2 months ago…wow…life is flying. I was in a bit of a space time continuum for the last 4 years. It feels like I was maybe gone for 1. I’m still overwhelmed with my life, but who isn’t? I’m blessed and I’m happy.
I still have more ship stories for you and I’m working on a couple new videos. Also, I may have left the sea, but I haven’t left the adventure. Everyday is an adventure for me so I have lots to tell if you’re still willing to listen.
Love you all! xo
