Some of Us Were Born to Fly! Winter Park, CO

Some of Us Were Born to FLY!

It's been a few weeks now that I have felt like a bird in a cage, ready to fly.

I have had the most amazing time here working for Winter Park Resort, but I am also learning that six months in one place might be too much for my soul.

I look forward to returning to my home in my minivan. That incredible feeling of not having a home that ties me to one place creates such a wide-open space within me. It makes me feel like I belong everywhere—and nowhere. It lets me feel free, like a bird flying high in the sky, wings spread wide, ready to explore whatever comes my way.

My grand plan is to be a seasonal worker in the winter and travel during the summer. Since it took much longer than I anticipated to sell my apartment, this year I accepted a summer job from mid-June through the end of August, at the YMCA in Estes Park.

I am excited to experience a new setting and atmosphere while exploring another part of Colorado. Once summer arrives and I no longer have to worry about snow or road closures, I will have more freedom to travel on my days off.

The YMCA nestles right in the backyard of Rocky Mountain National Park. I visited the park once back in January 2024, when most trails and roads were closed. Now, I will have plenty of time to explore the park in depth.

Life at Winter Park is coming to an end. I know I will look back on this time with beautiful memories and deep fondness for the friends I have made here. Being part of this adventure with Sofie, Mel, Ari, Zack, Max, Patrick, Sam, Mica, Alexia, Antony, Cole, Ansley, Mia, Kay, Taylor, Connie, Ben, Mariah, and Chandler has been a privilege.

I cannot say enough about how wonderful it was to work with Mariah and Chandler. I could not have asked for better co-workers than the two of them. I will miss them dearly.

The fact that we chose to use our tip money for a farewell dinner says a lot about how we feel towards one another. We all agreed that the dinner needed to include our bosses who left last month, Melissa and Sean. Both of them contributed so much to our happiness at work, that we felt they deserved a small token of appreciation from all of us.

I will miss the landscape around me and the meaning behind fresh snowfall. Yes, it often meant having to clean my car, which was not always easy, but it also meant waking up to mountains draped in velvet white and trees shimmering in their snowy coats. I could never get tired of that kind of beauty.

I will miss many things, but my new way of life means moving often and leaving behind people and places. That might create an unsettled feeling for some, but not for me. The thrill of creating new friendships and discovering new places now feels like the heartbeat of my life.

So, what's next?

I have three weeks to get to California, where I will take part in a week-long meditation retreat. I hope to step deeper into my spirituality during that time. Along the way, I will visit friends and immerse myself in nature—where I belong the most.

I will then take two weeks to travel back to Colorado along a different route.

Knowing my time is limited, I am planning my journey with intention. I have mapped out hikes and pinpointed places to rest for the night. I look forward to revisiting a few beloved spots and discovering new ones.

The open road is calling my name again—new adventures await!