Travel Not To Escape

In this episode of Wild Developments Studio, we delve into the world of solo travel as a means for personal growth with Geleen, a solo travel confidence and connection coach. Geleen shares how her journey of visiting nearly 40 countries—mostly solo—enabled her to rediscover her confidence, plan more effectively, and forge meaningful connections across the globe. She discusses how solo travel helped her recognize her strengths and catalyzed significant personal transformation.

Travel Not To Escape Website

Wild Wisdom:

1. Start Small, But Intentionally – You don’t need a grand international trip to begin your solo travel journey. Even a guided tour in your own city can bring new perspectives and help you grow.
2. Align Your Travel with Your Personal Needs – Don’t just follow pre-made itineraries or social media trends. Design trips that meet your unique goals and cater to what you truly need in your life at the moment.
3. Pack Play into Your Adventures – Use your play personality to guide your travel activities. Whether you're an explorer, a kinesthetic learner, or a creative spirit, tailor your travel experiences to what truly lights you up and brings joy.

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Intro & Outro: Bernie Baggs

Transcript

One of those moments in a movie when, through the hair are beautiful, 
gorgeous, green around you. 
I think that area that cinnamon. And in Bali, it's you just have many of those moments. 
Welcome to Wild Development Studio. 
Join us as we venture into the breathtaking realm of wildlife, arts and untamed adventures. 
With captivating stories from the field and ideas to dive into the visual arts will ignite your passion for conservation. 
Get ready to develop something wild. 
Welcome to Wild Developments. I'm your guide, lauren, and today we are talking to Joline. 
She is a solo travel confidence and connection coach who focuses on helping women achieve transformational personal growth through solo travel. 
She understands you because it was her in your shoes. Not too long ago, 
traveling to nearly 40countries, mostly solo, helped Jaline master the art of staying organized, 
problem solving and planning. 
But more importantly, travel allowed her to rediscover her competence and make meaningful connections all over the world. 
It helped her look inward, realizing her strengths and grow exponentially. 
Solo travel doesn't have to be difficult or long to shape you. 
It's the act itself, the empowerment you feel that will change your life. 
Thank you so much for being here today. Thank you so much for having me. 
It's so great to meet you too. And you've started this really cool website, 
travel Not to Escape. 
Can you tell us what your journey was like before all that, what and then what inspired you to to get started with it? 
Oh, yes, very, very long journey. I mean, I think, like everyone else, 
I, you know, you go down the same road of university, a lot of pressure to succeed. 
And meanwhile, there's always this, like feeling I had in me that, like, 
this is in it, like, as I was, you know, going to school studying neuroscience. 
And the path initially was to become a neurologist. And it's like I was going down that path, 
potentially, you know, more more, so for my family. 
But, but then as I was going through it, I was like, oh, 
this isn't it. 
This is an it. But I'm just gonna keep going. And then I had the opportunity to study abroad, 
which just opened up my world. 
And upon coming back I-I just KIND of get out of my head and it was. 
One of the things that i just i kept thinking as i was GOING through my career climbing up the ladder I'm like then i was, 
DRAWN to solo traveling at the age of 25.
And ever since then, it's it's been such a catalyst for me to change my life, 
which is why I now created travel not to escape, as well as empower other women to also use solo travel as a catalyst to change their lives, 
because it gives you so much perspective and allows you to see that version of yourself and not to see it. 
But actually live it abroad, so that you can come back and then do the work to to make your day to day life more aligned to that version of you that you really enjoy that fulfills you. 
So that's really what my passion is. Is using travel as a means for for people to step into that next level version of themselves. 
Did you focus only on, like, solo travel abroad, or is it all sorts of solo travel, 
all sorts of solar trouble? 
I think anything where you are branching yourself out, even incrementally. 
I think that's my biggest tip for women that are wanting to go on this adventure, 
and they think, oh, I have to do a one way trip across the world in order for it to count. 
No, you can go on a tour, a guided tour in your own city. 
And I think it's that energy that you bring in that exploration that really changes you in some way, 
because it's you choosing to do something for you, choosing to put yourself out to your outside of your comfort zone, 
and by doing that, seeing the world slightly differently, so in all shapes. 
Forms. I love, I love what solar travel can bring to you. 
The last year, for the first time, I did a solo trip to Kids Cove in Tennessee. 
It's kind of over by Gallenberg, and it's known for, like their bears and the wildlife and stuff in that area that And it was such a transformative experience for me that I now made it a yearly thing, 
and it just gives me a chance to re center myself and I do whatever I want. 
That's like the most fun and amazing part. 
So what, what is it about solo travel for you that you really look forward to exactly what you said you could do whatever you want. 
And I think someone who's a recovering people pleaser, like myself, who had built my whole life and career off of, 
you know, what my family's expectations were. 
I think once I finally released that solar trouble gave me that ability to see what life could be like if I chose it on my own terms, 
if I made decisions because I wanted to make them. 
And I think that that's why it's, it's so addicting. And, I mean, 
I've made it my lifestyle so I-I still travel full time i don't have a base it's been. 
Four years now since i gave everything up in the us and it's something that really invigorates me as well because it's you can land in a new city, 
and, you know, you're, you're the same person, but you learn so many things, 
and you you grow that much more exponentially with each trip as well. 
So I think that that's, that's something that I haven't been able to duplicate in any other form. 
So if you haven't had, like, a home base in four years, that means everything that you own, 
is that like, with you suitcase? 
Yes, okay. So I have optimized. 
So I when, you know, when I first started, it's so funny. 
I started in pandemic, and it was post heartbreak, and I was just visiting my friend in New York. 
I was living in Chicago at the time, and she's like, coming to New York to stay with us for a couple months, 
we'll do a little pandemic group together. 
And it's like, oh, that sounds great. Um. And in that process, I had gotten rid of most of my things in my, 
my Chicago apartment and drove from Chicago to New York. 
So I had a good amount of stuff with me, still, probably like two large suitcases, 
you know, like a few bags. 
And in that process, from moving from New York to make making this a full time thing for me, 
I've slowly slimmed everything down and optimized it. 
So now I am down to one checked in luggage, like a medium size one backpack, 
with all of my tech in it, and then a personal item. 
And that is, that is what I call my life in my home. 
There are some things that I keep at my parents' house, of course, 
like memories, um, like my stuffed animal that's still, that's still around from my childhood. 
And my coats, all of the coats that I needed to survive the Chicago winters are with a friend in Chicago. 
So besides those, um, you know, just living out of the, the suitcase, 
that is amazing. 
That's one of the things that I love about travel. It's like I got my, 
my suitcase and my book bag and maybe my purse or whatever, and that's all I need. 
And it just feels so freeing. And then I come back home and I'm like, 
why do I have all this stuff? 
Like, I I'm gonna save it, because I'm gonna need it later. 
It's like, I never use it. I need it. Honestly, I'm a recovering hoarder. 
I will, I will say like, not, you know, not to the to the TV show Extremes. 
But I remember at the peak of, kind of, like, my unhappiness, I would use shopping as a way. 
I was like, oh, shopping therapy. Shopping therapy is great. And like, next thing I knew, 
my whole, like, bedroom was so filled with things. 
I couldn't enter my closet. I couldn't really sleep on my bed. 
There were like, so many things there. And that process of that was when I was living in San Diego. 
That process of getting rid of everything in San Diego to move to Chicago, 
huh? 
It like was so cleansy. And ever since I had to physically go through all of those things that I purchased on a whim, 
or because I thought I was going to fill some need in me, 
getting rid of that, that initial phase it, it really helped me now to where I'm living out of a suitcase. 
Which is, if I were to think back to, like, ten years ago me, 
and she would that, like, apartment filled of all the things, every kitchen item that you could probably imagine like to to now be like, 
who are you? 
Like, how did you get there? 
So, okay, well, then let me ask you this, because you brought up, 
like, kitchen utensils and things like that. 
So what does eating healthy and kind of balancing look like? 
Do you cook from? Are you in a hotel? Are you in a, 
like, a temporary living situation? 
What does that look like? 
So I usually travel and stay in air, being bees, or, if I-I-I have slowed down my travels to before i was staying like once a month in cities and I realized that was not sustainable for me to be able to work at the same time and and have a routine and. 
And make meaningful connections. So my ideal now is at minimum three months, 
and around the sixth month mark is when I start to get like that travel itch to go. 
I'm actually close to that mark right now, and I'm, I'm planning a trip next month for my next destination. 
But in terms of food, it depends on the city. And what I love about being abroad is that even eating out is so much more affordable compared to, 
of course, being in the US. 
And like one single lunch could be like 20or $30in the US, 
whereas I'm about to head to Denung, and my whole day's worth of meals could be like $10.
And that's like healthy, fresh foods. There's a lot of fresh, like fruit markets anywhere, 
actually, in the world. 
I've been living in Latin, latin America and Asia, mostly in the last few years. 
And there's always some fresh veggies stand around. Healthy food options, like I was in Bali for four months and, 
oh my God, the healthiest place, like everything was like Vegan options. 
Everything was so colorful and beautiful. And again, like my whole day's worth of meals was like ten to $15.
So sometimes it's more affordable for me to just eat out every meal because it's, 
it's just easily accessible, and it's already done, um. 
And there's also, like, depending on where I stay, I might not have a full kitchen, 
um. 
So most times I do opt for a full kitchen, so I have the option. 
So I'll do like air being bees. But sometimes, like Bali, E.G., they don't necessarily have as many accommodations with full kitchens. 
They mostly have, um, you have, like, a room in a home stay situation. 
Or they have, like, hotel style living accommodations there, so it's much harder to cook for yourself in that city. 
You're the name of your company, travel, not to escape. It's so cool because it makes you, 
like, stop and think about travel and what that means to you. 
And so with that name, what does that mean to you? 
What? What do you travel to do? 
So there's a moment, a few things. So I-I loved it because I-I was actually on different pod cast and she's like what, 
do you want to name this episode? 
I'm like, oh, travel not to escape. And that's how I got the name. 
And I thought of the quote, we travel not to escape life, but for not life, 
not to escape us. 
And so that's where I pulled that from in such a beautiful quote, 
because it's true, like we we can use travel to reinvigorate ourselves. 
So I think that's one aspect of it. The the not to escape part comes from the fact that I was using travel to escape initially. 
I was using it to escape a life where I didn't actually choose I-I didn't feel like i chose my life at that point again as i. 
Mentioned i had like, people pleasing tendencies and so i just KEPT going on solo trips to run away, 
to just get a taste of what life would be like if I were to choose it on my own. 
And then it, it finally hit me after a series of rock bottoms and therapy sessions, 
of course, it finally hit me like I can have the one life. 
I don't necessarily have to keep running away from my own life. 
So that's really the big part of it is, I want other people to see that too, 
that they don't have to travel to live that version of themselves, that they're wanting to live, 
that they can. 
Of course, it's gonna be hard to make some changes to, you know, 
get rid of your hoarder apartment and, like, live out of a suitcase if that's what you wanna do. 
But, you know, it's once you make those changes, you are so much lighter and in all senses of that word. 
So, for me, travel and the three pillars of the company include that transformation, 
but it also includes connection and play. 
Connection being such an important thing for humanity. And as I've been traveling, 
the longer that you travel, the the longer you realize that connection and community is the most important thing. 
You will see many beautiful sites, many beautiful temples. But after you see like a hundred temples, 
you're like, okay, what else? 
And it's the people that really set the destinations apart for me. 
So the connection piece is huge. And play, um, because as you're doing these deep, 
transformational work and asking yourself all these questions, I think that you can balance it out with some lighter, 
playful energy, and you can do deep work, and you can do deep play at the same time. 
And so it's really the harmony of those three intentions that make up the company. 
So you have a quiz on your website about play personality. 
I got explore what are you and then how does this information? 
How does that factor into our travel experience? 
So that is the lens with which I try to direct people to see their travel and their lives, 
um, because at the end of the day, we were born into these in this world, 
and we were already the souls that we were going to be like. 
There were certain things that let us up as a kid that we can't explain why, 
but they did. 
And for you know, our adulthood, we lose touch with that connection to our inner child, 
to that lightness, that play that we used to have. 
And so this quiz is really just a bit of a glimpse into what lights you up, 
and how can you bring that into not just your travel life, but into all aspects of your life? 
Um, because play really is the foundation for connection. It's the foundation for the transformation that you're doing. 
So E.G., as an explorer, you're an explorer, play personality. So there are eight play personalities. 
And this is based off of a play researcher He did, like thousands of play histories on people, 
condensed it down into eight categories. 
And with an explorer energy, this is basically telling you that what lights you up is learning more, 
seeing more. 
And that could be in the physical world. It could be in like the intellectual, 
mental, emotional, but essentially exploring all the depths within you and within the world and then outside of the world. 
So you're just very curious, in general of an individual and how that translates to everyday life, 
which that means, you know, in what ways are you exploring in your life right now? 
Are you learning things that are new? Are you exploring, you know, things within you and asking yourself questions? 
Are you going out into the world and seeing you things? 
And if you are not activating that explorer energy in your everyday life, 
then you're probably feeling like a bit of a lightness is is missing. 
You're probably feeling really heavy and overburdened and maybe overwhelmed with the things that are happening in your day to day. 
So when, when people are feeling that way, that's the first question I asked them is, 
okay, you're an explorer, play personality. 
What are you doing in your life? That feels like play to you in this aspect? 
And let's start to bring those things back in. 
I'm definitely the type that is always like learning something, taking some sort of online class or whatever. 
And like reading the description online. It was like scuba diver zip line. 
I'm like, yep, I do all this. 
That was, that was totally like, hit the nail on the head for me. 
I'm gonna have links to your website, and, of course, the website, or the um, 
and links to the quiz, all on the show notes, so everybody else can go figure out what their play personality is too. 
Now, do you have a favorite spot that you have traveled? 
And like the, the scene outside just completely took your breath away. 
Oh, man, so many different places. But I-I will say bali because that was the last place i was i was visiting and i love. 
It there because there is A-A place that i went to just east OF and it's called cinnamon so still very picturesque um rice fields covered in rice fields and it was. 
A couple of friends and i we went and took um what are they called like motor you, 
know movement scooters, mopeds, like scooters. 
So we took two scooters and we went over to Cinema for movement on, 
like, a weekend trip, and just being on the back of a moped with, 
like the, the wind hitting your face, driving through, like rice fields, and like, 
it's like sunny, but not too hot. 
And it was just one of those moments in a movie. 
I feel like that. You're just, when, through the hair, beautiful, gorgeous green around you, 
and that, I think that area that cinnamon and in Bali is, you just have many of those moments. 
Wow. 
So when you first travel alone, how did you prepare for something like that? 
And in what areas did you feel unprepared? 
Oh, yes, wait. So this is the reason for the company, actually. 
And I-I have a solar travel confidence workbook that's free that i just created um because I, 
I've I'VE, gone, this question asked before and i was like, oh, I should make something. 
So I have that on my website as well. Um. Because when I first started solo traveling at the age of 25,
it was not because I wanted to, it was because I had made a promise to myself at the age of 20when I was studying abroad. 
And I was so distraught when I was coming back to, like, my, 
my, well, quote, life, right? 
Like, it's like, oh, but this is, this is the life I want. 
I wanna live in Italy, and I have to go back and finish my degree and be super stressed. 
And I don't even, you know, right? So I-I made a promise myself at that moment before i left italy and i Said. 
No matter, what like got a, promise 25year old julie is gonna come back to rome and if She. 
Can come back to rome then 30year old joline's gonna need to move and and live a travel lifestyle. 
Also, though those are, I don't even know where that message came from from me, 
but those were the that was a promise that I made myself, and I was already And, 
you know, when you wish at the Trevi Fountain, like, you get, like, 
three wishes. 
The first one is to come back to Rome. So that was what was in my mind, 
but I already knew I was like, no matter what, I have to make this happen. 
This is for me. Um. So when I finally was turning 25,I was like, 
I'm gonna do this. 
I had like, save up all my vacation, and then no friends or anyone could go with me. 
Because at that age, of course, in in the US, it's, it's hard to afford travel or vacation time. 
So I was like, well, I-I have to go like this is this is so pivotal to my life and i can feel it so i went i. 
DID everything wrong um and because I-I was i was in 2014as well, 
right so in 2014we don't really have gps or all these translator apps i was USING paper maps still that that was um the majority and a lot of places like the i mean i went back to Rome a lot afterwards. 
And they speak English and everything so much easier back then, man, it was really rough to get around, 
um, so I-I will say that i think some of my mistakes i could boil it down to the fact that i chose random itineraries online i didn't DO a lot of planning ahead of time i stayed IN hostels. 
Coed and, um, female only. And I was, I was trying to create this solo travel trip that I saw in the movies, 
or saw and heard from other people, whatever it was. 
But didn't stop and ask myself, like, what am I actually needing from this trip? 
And how can I plan this trip so that it gives me what I need? 
It was a lot more self reflection that I needed to do, that I encourage other people to do now. 
And so that's actually what the work book is all about, is asking all these intentional solve reflection questions so you can design a trip that's going to actually meet your expectations, 
because, you know what your expectations are for me. 
I was like, I'm just gonna go. And then one weekend, I'm like, 
I'm miserable. 
I feel paranoid. I'm not staying in the great area. Like, I don't like sleeping in this hostel of twelve people. 
I don't love the party scene here. And it was just, I was doing all these things, 
and I wasn't sleeping, and I was taking public transportation that I wasn't comfortable doing overnight. 
And it was I just was in this heightened, hyper vigilant state the whole time. 
And it wasn't, it wasn't until I pivoted my mindset towards the end of that trip, 
to where I slowed things down. 
I got an Air B and B that would write when that Air B and B is were first new, 
actually, that was like very first Air B and B experience. 
And then, um, started to do things like incorporate art back into my life. 
And then the things that I saw unintentionally, I was leaning into my play personalities before I realized what play personalities were. 
And those were what lit me up. So that's what I encourage other people to do now is don't just take an itinerary online or sit the Take social media as your planning tool, 
like, start with you first, and what it is that you're wanting to get out of the experience. 
I love that you said being intentional, because nowadays everything is like instant. 
We gotta have it now. And just kind of like, whatever you're feeling like in a whim. 
But even when I'm interviewing people talking about nature and how to get into nature, 
the first thing everybody says is, like, just do it and be intentional about it. 
And I think we've lost that along the way with all of our technology and stuff like that. 
But I love also that you're using technology to help you out as far as, 
like, translators and, and trying to figure out, um, where to go and things like that. 
That's great advice. What about for women traveling alone? How can we feel safe while we're out in the world? 
So I focus specifically on confidence, right? And when you're not feeling confident in traveling, 
it's because you don't have the information that you need to feel confident. 
And I think it's just an information aspect. So, E.G., you know, you might feel a little apprehensive going to a new city because of safety, 
right? 
Um. And that's just because you don't know what the safety levels are. 
You don't know where in that city is going to be safe for you, 
things that you can do, people that you can meet. 
And so it's all it's all boiled down to research and understanding where you're at. 
So E.G., in that workbook, I-I walk people through okay what. 
Is your confidence level right now as a solo traveler have you been before, 
if not, like put a one, at least we know where you're at. 
And if you're at that one where you're like, I don't know. 
I don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I can navigate I'm like, 
feeling really unsafe, uncertain. 
Then let's work with that, right? So that means, instead of staying in a hostel an hour away from the city center without anyone who speaks English, 
let's maybe we have to increase the budget, but that means bringing you into the city center with a place that has a 24.
Hour security and an English speaking concierge that has guided tours and guided tour guy that speaks English that can, 
you know, bring you to, like local places that you do feel safe doing. 
So it's, it's a lot more planning and intention allergy in that regard. 
But starting from where you're at, then it's like, okay, well, these are the levers that we can pull to make you feel more comfortable. 
Versus someone who's like, oh, I've backpacked around the world. I, you know, 
I've hitch tight, have done all these things. 
It's like, okay, cool. Go stay in the hustle, like, an hour away. 
You'll be able to make it, you know, like you're, you're fine. 
You have that confidence already, that, like, plop you into any part of the world and you're good, 
right? 
So just meet yourself where you're at and then plan according to that great advice. 
Do you have must haves in your travel bag? Like, when I travel, 
I have, like this little, tiny blanket that kind of feels like my blanket at home, 
and I have to have that in a blow up pillow, because you never know what the pillow situation's gonna be like anywhere. 
Um, so those are kind of my like, must haves. Do you have anything so I-I travel with everything in my life right so there's some weird things that are I'm like looking around me right now and like there's some weird things that i bring um I have a collapsible film roller and a foldable yoga bat. 
So those take a probably like 5 lb total between the two of them. 
But they're so essential, like, I'm, I'm getting old. My back hurts like, 
I gotta, I gotta stretch it out, especially after those long flights. 
Um. So those are, those are a couple of more, like the unique, 
like, random things that people might not think of when they're the thinking of traveling, 
um, otherwise. 
You know, I have a lot of tech as well, doing pod casting on the road. 
So I have a full tripod ring lights. I have this mic mic stand, 
like multiple like a detachable monitor, wi wireless keyboard, like my whole backpack is basically just tack in it. 
It's quite heavy, um. But those are, those are basically like the the essentials that I-I bring that you wouldn't think of if you were just vacationing now your internet you're abroad right now, 
aren't you? 
Yes, yes, I am. I'm in the Philippines. So like going from place to place and doing a pod cast. 
Do you ever run into difficulties with Wifi or charging or anything like that? 
So I-I have a system so i have A-I have three charge um external batteries um and i keep those Charge and that will keep me lasting for a full day, 
even if I'm working at a cafe. 
So I'll charge my, my computer, my, my phones. I have two phones, 
um, because you need, you need two phones when you're abroad, just in case. 
And the other thing is wifi. So I do choose air, being bees that have wifi that is stable. 
And I asked them for screen shots of the speed test each time before I even book, 
um, and then I look through the reviews. 
It's like a very particular about that I-I also get phone plans local phone plans and e sims, 
in order to make sure i have LIKE a backup wifi system and i also. 
Touch into the co working offices in that local city so if all else fails, 
I can, I can head to a co working office within like 15 min and be able to set up. 
So there's very various levels, I think, to the the backing up. 
But E.G., in Bali, like the air, maybe that I booked the wifi was not great, 
even though the speed tests were were good, just it wasn't enough to be able to do pod casting. 
So then I would book rooms in the local Cowork and and end up having to do membership there. 
So, um, you know, you, you work with it, you work with what you got. 
Or E.G., the last couple of months, there's been construction where I've been staying. 
So I, um, I batch recorded some episodes when there wasn't construction, and then I continued on. 
So I haven't actually recorded anything in the last couple of months for that reason, 
but I had enough episodes. 
So it's a lot of planning and and navigating around. Do you think that the virus changed trap the traveling landscape? 
And is it still something that gosh, four years later, we're, we're seeing the repercussions from today. 
Oh, I mean, yes, of course, everything was at a standstill for so long. 
Um, I will say though, that in some ways, it's allowed for a lot more people to work remotely and get, 
get that taste of what freedom, location, freedom could look like. 
I mean, I know, the last couple of years, they, they've been massively trying to pull everyone back into the office. 
And I think, with that, you know, we're, we're kind of going back to where we were before, 
um, and, and corporations are trying to make everyone forget what remote work looks and feels like. 
But I think, you know, you can't unsee or unfeel, unlive this lifestyle. 
So a lot of people like myself who were able to take the opportunity to work remotely during the pandemic, 
it's hard to go back. 
And I think a lot of us have stayed out for that reason, 
um, and I think that, you know, the, in the last couple of years, 
it's rebounded. 
So I have seen the travel industry rebound, and there's a lot more people going to Europe. 
I mean, this year is an Olympic here in Paris, so it's gonna be, 
like, massive. 
Um. So it's, it's weird in some cases, because it almost feels like nothing's changed POSTCOVID, 
except that you'll, you'll see things in, like different impacts, in, like the way that, 
oh, there, you know, maybe there's more regulation around this checking procedure or government rules regarding it, 
but for the most part. 
Like at least, the COVID restrictions have list lifted, and I think a lot of more people are traveling that's kind of impacted by the recession at the a moment as well, 
too, though. 
So it's, it's an interesting topic, um, there's a lot of, like, moving parts. 
But I think for people that are living my specific lifestyles, the digital nomad COVID was a big year, 
and there was a massive increase of remote workers living abroad. 
For that reason, you know what I was gonna ask you, you were talking about, 
you ask the air B-M-B host for screen shots and stuff like that is you talk to every host beforehand because i just had a horrible air B-M-B experience I'm in the process of trying TO get my money back it wasn't as advertising that's like That's the first time in oh gosh like maybe ten. 
Years of doing this that I've had a, bad experience have you had any bad experience like that, 
or do you do a lot of research in communicating with the host beforehand? 
So before we even started traveling, I had to book locations for company retreats back in early my career, 
and I had a horrible, horrible situation where I didn't communicate with the Air B-B host it was actually the air B-O Never used them again after that um but i Communicated. 
WITH the vrbo i booked it a month IN advance and day of i had no i had no CHECK in procedures i had nothing we were supposed to host a company retreat there. 
I had nothing. I ended up going there. Ended up getting in the house. 
But there was like, no electricity, nothing, no, like, we couldn't host it there, 
essentially. 
And the whole process was awful. So since then, my learning lesson was, 
even if you were to send a random question, like, just do it just to see that the host is responsive. 
So I-I have a list of questions that i ask um before, i book the speed test being one, 
of them but i also. 
Ask is there 24hour security, or is it a camera, or what type of concierge is there? 
Um, is it on the first floor or on, like, a higher level floor? 
Is there an elevator that is accessible through that? Where does the windows face? 
Is it facing a building? Or is it facing outward? Um, things like that. 
Like washing machine, housekeeping. Is, is that included? Electricity? Is that included? 
Is there, like, a big molds us smell that's common? Um. 
So there's now a list of criteria that I ask, and I don't do it all at once. 
Of course, I'll start off with, like, oh, like, a couple questions, just wanna confirm. 
And then as I'm like, going through, I'll like, ask a few more and see if they're responsive, 
if they're friendly. 
And you really need to do this back and forth with the host, 
otherwise you could get into a situation where, like, they're not responding, or they give short answers, 
or they don't have the things that you're looking for, even though it's, 
has it listed on the the site. 
So I definitely had my fair share of, like, oh, this wasn't what I was expecting. 
But for the most part, after going through a lot of those filters, 
I-I can basically find like a good apartment that's good to know it it's just. 
The worst feeling to be somewhere new and to show up and it's not what you were expecting or you're, 
even in an unsafe area or something like that. 
We've had that too. Everything else was fine. It was just they had a door, 
a sign on the bedroom door, that said, um, homeless people will knock on this in the middle of the night. 
Don't open the door. And I'm like, okay, I'm I'm not safe saying. 
Here in Portland, it was in Indianapolis. It was a cute store converted into an Air BNB, 
and it was like, totally adorable kind of set up like the fifties. 
And then you just go in the back of the master bedroom, and it went out to the parking lot, 
and they're like, whatever you do, don't open this door. 
And I'm like, okay, we're gonna go to a hotel now. 
You gave me flashbacks. I-I said portland, because you gave me flashbacks so i was Like oh we ended up in this really cute air being me with me and my friend and oh god. 
I don't know if you have time, but, like, essentially, I-I got in my friend. 
Got in first i got in AND when she was out and like i just WENT to sleep um And we where, 
the next morning woke up, and she was like, oh, did you move the fans? 
Like, they're really standing fans that were facing both of our rooms. 
When we woke up, she like, oh, looks like you got hot in the middle of the night. 
When I got back, I saw that you had moved the fans. 
I was like, no, I passed out before moving the fans. 
So then we had this thing of, like, who moved, who moved the fans? 
Who turned them on, who who plugged them in, turned them on and faced them into our bedrooms. 
That was the big question. 
Oh, you just gave me chill. 
So we never saw a body, but we discovered a bit of a closet in an open window that potentially could have been a squatter, 
um. 
And it was, it would be the only way to explain the fact that there were movements in the house that we couldn't explain. 
Like I was taking, I was being crazy. I was taking videos after we left the house, 
and then before we got back in, just to see, like, did anything move? 
And yes, things moved. And so we actually ended up staying because Portland is hard to find an apartment in, 
and, like, the landlords were really nice, so we're like, okay, if we just like, 
check all the things, and like, oh, maybe we could just do for the week you have. 
So sometimes you get into that situation where you're like, what do I do? 
And, I mean, we probably should just left in the God to a hotel as well. 
Oh gosh. Oh, we are almost at a time. I'm gonna have to get you on again to have more time before we go. 
How can people find you? 
Yes. So if you had to travel not to Escape dot com, you'll find everything on there, 
um. 
But honestly, my instrument is probably going to be the best place to go, 
because I keep an updated link site on there, so that Instagram is at Jolene on the go, 
and you'll find everything about the pod cast, all of my my free workbooks, 
free personality quiz for play. 
And any other fun things I'm working on on there. Great. 
And before we go, what is one tip that you have for someone that would like to connect with nature? 
So let's bring this back to the play personality. So use your play personality as a way to figure out what it is that will light you up while you're outside. 
So if you are, we said explorer personality, then start to do things in nature where you're learning and seeing you things and exploring. 
Versus if you are a kinesthetic type of person, in anesthetic play personality, 
I would recommend you doing active things in nature, moving your body, going on hikes and maybe going on long tracks, 
or swimming, doing things where you're activating your your physical body while you're in nature. 
Or if you're creative place style, E.G., then maybe go go paint nature, 
go go put up an easel and see what you're seeing, or do some photography and be creative with it. 
So I think you can use play as a lens for how you want to interact with nature in a way that lights you up till next time, 
get outside and see what develop. 
Thanks for joining Wild Development Studio. 
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