So, I picked up my things and left | Travel Research Online

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So, I picked up my things and left

Mea culpa. I can’t believe it has been a few years since my last column for TRO; but I am back, and better than ever. Sit back; it’s a compelling story about where I have been and where I am headed.

Back then; I owned a home-based agency, Allons Travel in Powell, Ohio. I was a fixture here at TRO and at the trade shows for a while. But then, my mother died of cancer and my life was profoundly changed. Losing a parent not only changes you—it alters how you think about your life, your decisions and what you want to do with the time you have left.

Sitting in -10 degree weather, looking out the window, and watching snow fall yet again, I decided I didn’t want to live in a cold climate. I wanted to be where the sun shined on my face. A place where I could wear flip-flops and go to the beach whenever I wanted. But I had my business in Ohio. I had clients. I had responsibilities. The final straw was when my best friend accepted a position in Miami. I admit I was jealous. It’s your turn she told me. So, I sent out resumes–lots and lots of resumes. Funny, when you are sending resumes from the north in the dead of winter– people in Florida don’t really take you seriously. But, I kept at it. I finally landed a job in southwest Florida. I packed up my home, my teenager, and my animals and headed south for warmer climes.

You have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince. And, in my case keep searching until you find that job that fits you just right. Like a glove. While I no longer own my own travel agency, I found the perfect position in a great agency in Naples, FL. I have settled nicely into the Florida lifestyle and count my blessings every day. And for my next column, a little about the transition!

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