Globetrotters Writer Spotlight- Gail Sawchuk
Capturing the beauty of the world in photos and words
Hi Globetrotters. My name is Gail Sawchuk
I love to travel because of how it fulfills me. When I travel, I slow down, soak in, and appreciate nature, culture, food, and my travel companions.
My number one travel activity is taking photos. I want to remember every beautiful moment and sight.
I come from North Carolina, but my heart belongs to Colorado, where I lived for twenty years. I’ve also lived in Connecticut, Virginia, and Salamanca, Spain for a semester.
I work as a freelancer supporting small businesses and non-profits with administrative tasks, writing, and creating templates.
The best place I’ve been is so hard to answer! I’m not one for favorites, preferring variety but the place that holds the most meaning is Crested Butte, Colorado. At twelve years old, spending just a few short hours there, I vowed to live in Colorado one day. Twenty-plus years later, my boyfriend of two months and I sold all our belongings and drove cross country to start our life together in Boulder. Today we’re still together, coming up on twenty years of marriage, and love dragging our two teenage kids on our many adventures.
In my spare time, I like to read, hike or walk, listen to business podcasts, and connect with friends, usually over food.
My top travel tip is to take the time to research and plan but use those plans as a loose roadmap and be flexible if something doesn’t work out or a new opportunity pops up.
If I could live somewhere else, I’d live in Buena Vista, Colorado. I know, I know Colorado is my… “this one time at band camp”. We’ll get back there someday!
My favorite way to travel is with my husband, who is a better planner and skilled at narrowing all my travel desires down to the most meaningful and memorable ones.
Three lessons I’ve learned from traveling are…
- It’s hard not to want to do everything. However, trying to fit it all in often leaves you exhausted and unfulfilled. Better to figure out your top priorities and savor them.
- Set up routines when away from home to keep your sanity and prevent losing or forgetting something important. Put your ID and money in the same place each time, check that you have everything you need before heading out,
- It’s not going to be all sunshine and rainbows. Traveling isn’t easy, and there will be stressful, frustrating, and maybe even scary moments. Bring your patience, don’t let the hiccups get you down, and focus on when the sun warms your face, and the rainbow fills the sky.
I am looking forward to reading about your adventures and sharing mine!