I'm ready.

Well hi there... it's been a while. It's 4 am here in Alaska, and after almost a year of silence, I finally have something to say. Or something to share, I guess. So I'm just gonna go ahead and say it-

I'm ready to go home.

Yup. You heard me right- I'm ready to go home.

As I wrote that last sentence, I can't help but smile. And get excited. Cause I'm finally ready to go home, and STAY home. And you know who else is excited I'm ready to go home and stay home? Brad. Brad has been waiting a few years to hear me say that, and I'm certain at one point he believed this day would never come. But here we are, it's finally HERE.

For those of you who have been following along on my travel nurse journey and encouraging me along the way, you know I started my "grand adventure" 3 years ago in January of 2019. I quit my job in Alberta, leaving behind my home ICU and took off travel nursing in Washington State. After my first contract and infatuation with Seattle was over, my love affair with the Big Island of Hawai'i began. A sunny and salty 7 months on the most beautiful island with my better half ensued, and not only did I fall more in love with Hawai'i, but I also fell more in love with the life travel nursing provided. But, it wasn't until my BIG love- my true love, ALASKA, that my heart became full. And I have Alaska and all its big ferocious beauty to thank for leading me to this point in my life.

Travel nursing changed my life in a way I could have never imagined. I've experienced the wildest things, met lifelong friends, gone on questionable adventures and pushed myself outside my comfort zone beyond my own belief. And I'm so damn thankful. I've gone through ups and downs, and like the rest of you, somehow kept my head above water the past two years. But despite a worldwide pandemic, a delayed wedding and being unable to see loved ones for months at a time, travel nursing gave me some of the best times of my life, in the darkest of times.

And though it may sound like it, this definitely doesn't mean that I'm hanging up my travel nurse hat forever. It just means I'm turning the page on this chapter, for now. They often say "all good things must come to an end," but do they really? I like to think I'm keeping my good thing going... I'm just more interested in starting a new "grand adventure" close to home, with Brad as boat captain and the appeal of my own bed, with frequent hugs from my mom.

So as I finish these last 8 weeks here in Alaska, I want to say it again, and LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK. If you're debating traveling, if you're debating trying something new or debating taking a leap of faith into an unknown aspect of your life- just do it. Go for it and never look back. The best and scariest and most WONDERFUL experience is waiting for you. I truly mean that. And though I'm not sure how this transition will play out for me and my posting on here, if you ever need a support buddy or have questions, or need anything at all, never hesitate to reach out. I love sharing my experiences and being a cheerleader for all of you. So in case I've never said it, thank you all for being my cheerleader the last 3 years.

But, let's be honest, it's me... soooooo, Hawai'i 2.0, 2023 you say?

Chat soon,

xx Kels