Last fall, my husband and I came home from a Mediterranean cruise, and I had a problem. I had fallen completely in love with traveling in Europe. Not just the beautiful places, although there were plenty of those. I loved the whole experience. Waking up somewhere new, learning the history, trying the food and meeting people made me realize just how much of the world there still was to see.
Maybe it was also the stage of life I was in. The kids were grown and out on their own, and I realized I'd reached a point where I could start thinking less about what I had to do and more about what I wanted to do. So I started thinking, How can I do more of this?
Naturally, I decided maybe I should get a job in the travel industry. I looked into cruise lines and travel companies and even applied for a position with one of the cruise lines.
I was rejected. I didn't even get an interview.
Well, that didn't exactly go according to plan.
So I Went Down a Rabbit Hole
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm an entrepreneur at heart. I'm also admittedly a little Type A. Tell me something isn't going to work, and there's a pretty good chance I'm going to start researching another way to make it happen. That's exactly what I did.
I started looking into the travel industry and discovered there was another option. I could become a travel advisor and build a business of my own. The funny thing was, I wasn't sure I wanted to start another business. I've owned several businesses over the past 30 years of my career, so I knew exactly how much work goes into building something from scratch. I wasn't necessarily looking for another entrepreneurial adventure.
Then I found Avoya Travel. The more I learned, the more I felt like it could be a good fit. I could have the independence of running my own business while having the resources and relationships of an established travel network behind me.
So I took the leap. I did the work, got certified and started Golden Ports Travel.
And here I am.
I Absolutely Love What I Do
This is the part I didn't expect. Every single day, I can't wait to walk into my home office and get to work. I get to talk to people about places they've always dreamed of seeing. I research incredible destinations, compare cruises and tours, solve problems, obsess over the little details and help turn someone's idea of a vacation into an experience they'll remember for the rest of their lives.
Basically, I found a career where being Type A is actually an asset. Who knew?
But I've also discovered something else along the way.
Your Definition of Luxury Is Your Own
When people hear that I specialize in luxury travel, they sometimes assume that means I only plan expensive vacations. That's not how I define luxury.
To me, luxury means creating the best possible travel experience for you.
For one person, that might be a beautiful suite on a small luxury ship. For someone else, it might mean having the perfect balcony cabin, a private guide in a city they've dreamed about visiting, or simply knowing that every detail has been taken care of before they leave home.
Luxury isn't necessarily about spending more. It's about spending your time and travel dollars on the things that matter most to you. And I think the same thing can be said about this stage of life.
Maybe the Best Chapter Isn't Behind You
I'm 60 years old. There was a time when 60 sounded pretty darn old to me. It doesn't anymore. Well, some days it does.
What I've realized is that reaching this stage of life doesn't mean you're supposed to stop discovering new things about yourself. You can still change direction, learn something completely new, start a business and get excited about Monday morning.
And sometimes, the thing that doesn't work out is exactly what sends you in the direction you were supposed to go. If that cruise line had hired me, my life might look very different today. Instead, they rejected me, and strangely enough, I'm grateful they did.
Because I didn't find a job in travel.
I found my passion.
And I have a feeling I'm just getting started.