Only in the life of a travel writer would a month staying in one place seem strange. Yet, in the past six months alone, I have been out of the country more than I have been in my cozy East Village apartment in New York City. Despite my extensive travels this year, I’ve found myself craving more time in one place.
While New York may not be the most exotic of destinations, it’s been my home for nearly four years and my love for all things crazy and chaotic hasn’t changed much. After getting through Hurricane Sandy unscathed, I celebrated a birthday in a simple way, with no power or electricity in my apartment yet. Having to cancel my birthday happy hour in East Village seemed like a small price to pay considering that many has lost their homes. As strange as it might sounds, I’m glad to have been in the city when Sandy hit. The city has become my friend and I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else.
As soon as things began to settle, I was on a plane to Ireland to visit the home of my ancestors. Upon my return I went back to my everyday routine, which as you can probably imagine is not that typical. While I adore the flexibility of being a location-independent full-time freelancer, it does have it’s drawbacks. For one thing, I have to really motivate myself to get things done. When I’m on the road, I actually work better because I have limited time each day to write and complete other projects. Now, I have more time on my hands than I’d like. Of course, there’s always something to be done but I’ve realized that my mind and body had gotten so used to working late into the night and waking up early to finish my work that it’s taken some time to switch back to normal hours.
Besides writing, networking and catching up with friends, the past few months have really allowed me to think about my next steps on the winding path called life. I’ve already started forming my list of New Years Resolutions.
Megan Eileen McDonough is writer, blogger and social media specialist based in New York City. She also runs Bohemian Trails, a lifestyle blog designed for the savvy and stylish traveler. Bohemian Trails aims to feature must-see places around the world, covering everything from revamped neighborhoods and vibrant street art to innovative tech hubs and everything in between. Her cultural escapades have taken her to Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Megan is also a freelance writer and social media specialist based in New York City. She contributes to various online and print publications in the travel and fashion industries and is an international correspondent for both Jetsetter and Northstar Travel Media.
