We are preparing to leave for our third winter in Florida, and the reflections over the journey that got us here have been coming in waves. My most recent reflection came after my “mercury retrograde shadow period is over” journal prompts. I realized how much faith and dedication to the vision we had with this aspect of our lives.
As many themes in my life go, I had to get forced into it at first. The first winter we decided to spend in Florida, we were living in Miles parents’ house, after leaving my childhood home, broke. We were dealing with car accidents, grief, debt, shame, you name it. I personally was processing all of what had transpired while living with my boyfriend’s parents, trying to hide my shadow self while it was fully out on display. It was as if the final part of the old me (who lived to keep up appearances) had been ripped open, vulnerability mode turned allll the way up. Due to finances and life being what it was, I had barely seen my family in Florida, which was a drastic change from living in the same town our whole life (well, my whole life at least.) Miles and I discussed how my mental health was suffering from not having space to fall apart in private. We also discussed how it wouldn’t be feasible to get a new car, let alone two, as well as an apartment with the money situation being what it was, and my mental load only being able to carry Inner Calling, which was also at a bit of a standstill work-wise. And so, we decided that Florida for a few weeks over the winter would be a good change of pace for us. We could use my grandma’s car while down there, get good quality time with all of my family, and I could start establishing new work connections in Florida.
We had talked about how we both enjoyed escaping winter weather ever since our first road trip together (six states in fifteen days the first two weeks of December 2021.) It made sense to make Florida our main destination since we could stay with family the majority of the trip.
So, we got to Florida by the skin of our teeth. We had friends offer to drive us to the airport, used all of the points Miles got on his introductory offer from a credit card to pay for our one way flights and checked bags, and had to put the Uber from the airport to my moms on a credit card. I remember our flight being delayed for 3 hours (while on the tarmac the entire time) and just looking at each other like, if this flight gets cancelled we are screwed. But it didn’t, and our Uber driver at 3:30 AM was hilarious, and we were reminded that our journey always leads us to silly places, but because we’re always willing to try, the universe tries with us too.
That winter, I was able to pick up the pieces of my life. I read cards at a street festival in Abacoa. I got hired for a Galentine’s event in Jacksonville that is a repeat client I will be returning to for the third year in a row this February. At my grandma’s, I got back into cooking. I cooked us all dinner five nights a week. I got creative again. We started looking for housing options, and my friend was looking for roommates. We decided with rents being high that may be a way for all of us to get something that was worth it, sooner than we anticipated moving out, and Miles found us our house now, through an old friend. We didn’t end up moving in until June, but going home with a plan was enough to revive my mental health. I had so much quality time with Nana, and I even had the most beautifully vivid dream of Pop Pop and the opportunity to deliver a message to her from him, a memory I will cherish forever.
And finally, right at the end of the winter, we were able to get our car. After staying with my grandma for the better half of 7 weeks, I asked her if she would be interested in selling us her car so that I could make monthly payments to her and bypass applying and probably getting denied a loan. She decided that she wasn’t ready to part with it, but offered to buy a cheap car and set up a payment plan with me, and that is how we ended up with Buddy, who is still standing, our beater car that we swear has been blessed by Pop Pop Jack. We drove home (1228 miles) in that car two days after driving it off the lot, and due to not having the money to take it to the mechanic every time some alert went on, we actually learned so much about cars. Youtube University is very insightful. Every part of the last few years has taken longer than I anticipated and wanted, and I am finally seeing why. I desperately needed to slow down. I had so much to learn.
The year after that, we still hadn’t received the money from our car accident, which was what we were counting on to make a full financial recovery. So, we were still sharing Buddy and he was starting to seem overworked. We decided to rent a car to drive down, using our Expedia points to get a good deal, and borrow Nana’s car for the bulk of the winter again. I was able to return to some old clients and markets, and make some new connections too. Momentum was building in my intuitive life, and I knew everything was going to look so different eventually, but I also was starting to recognize my pattern of expecting things too soon, and I was trying to be patient and sink into the gratitude of it all, because really, we are so very blessed with supportive family through all of this. There was never a day where we had to fear of homelessness, or hunger. A reminder that a support system like that is a privilege that so many do not have. There were some bumps in the road, don’t get me wrong. There was some discomfort at different times. But there is discomfort in everyone’s journey. And when we believe in the magic, magic happens. Like getting home after giving our car a seven week break, and all of the scary sounds and warning lights being nonexistent (hence Buddy’s blessing.)
When I started writing today, I was thinking about how after we decided we were going to Florida two years ago, we started talking about our lives like we were snowbirds. We changed our language for that to be our reality, not just our plan. And because of that, we didn’t look at “if” we could do it, we simply figured out how we could.
This year, we are driving down with our nice pre-owned car, which Miles was able to get approved to finance because his credit is great and we finally got some money from the car accident settlement this past May. I have a few tarot events scheduled, and LOTS on my list of things we want to accomplish. But really, I feel the familiar feeling I do when I’m about to complete a lesson. So very fitting for the ending of the Year of the Snake. I believe the snowbirding seasons so far have been my lesson in slowing down. This year, I hope to ground and be as present as possible through it. We’re starting it off that way by taking a longer route down there, to avoid holiday traffic and see some new places.
I’m also hoping our finances being so much better this year will mean that Miles can finally take some time to release a bunch of music he has been sitting on. When we started merging our journeys together, my intention was never to be relying on him this much for this long. He has made a tremendous amount of sacrifices in his plan, to keep our plan afloat, and I fully intend on pouring my abundance into him and us as this next year projects business to be the best it’s been since opening up.
I had no idea Inner Calling was going to take me on this journey that was so internal for so long. But I see now what these tests and challenges brought me, and us. I don’t just trust that Miles sees the importance of Inner Calling, I know it. Because he has followed my intuitive lead through the darkest tunnels, despite concern and arguments from many outside parties. I don’t just hope and wish we will be able to be married and deal with the hardships of life together in the future, I am validated in my wishes by reflecting on how we held hands through the wildest of storms. And I no longer question if this soul led path is for me. There is nothing else out there, not in my mind’s eye, not portrayed in a movie, not falsely advertised on social media, nothing that could sway me from my path. This life is mine and I’ve got battle scars to prove that I will stick around to keep it that way.
As I was preparing my home altars to be away for two months, I pulled a card for the New Moon in Sagittarius (the new moon portal which will be lighting the way for our journey to Florida.) The card has an arrow pointed upwards and it says, “Luck is on your side.” And I could not agree more.
With deep gratitude, I will talk to you all next year.