No Strangers . . . Only Friends We Have Yet to Meet!

 

My view from the balcony atop the Fairweather Inn in Virginia City, Montana . . . it was here that I met the first of my new friends this past weekend.  It was nice to just chat with Kelly, who was curious about my solo trip to the historic mining turn ghost towns.  We talked about the impact of COVID on our outlook on work and life . . . the desire to live for today . . . and not waiting for retirement.  You see, like me, the pandemic changed her and she too opted to retire a few years earlier than her initial timeline.

Also like me, she had found herself working for an organization she felt didn't fully appreciate or respect her.  "Life's too short" became her mantra, and she left them to pursue her own interests while she still had her health and the ability to travel.  It sounded so very familiar!

From that chance meeting on the balcony, I changed my plans for the evening, cancelling one activity and booking another I had no idea about before our conversation.  I'll admit the wagon ride ghost story tour was much better than what I had originally planned.

Later that evening, back at my B&B, I spent a lovely evening out on the deck with my hosts Carma & John, along with their friends Janet & Chris.  Talk about a small world, during my eight hours in town, that evening was my third interaction with Janet, including sitting next to one another at the Virginia City Players' show in the town's historic opera house earlier in the afternoon.

After my stay at the Just An Experience B&B, I felt like I had made several new friends including fellow guests Colleen & Paul from Minnesota.  It was delightful sharing breakfast and travel stories on the deck on Sunday morning.

Through my travels I have been enriched through the chance meetings I've had with people who have yet to become my friends.  Today, I have several true friends made through chance encounters and social media.  Trip Advisor, IgoUgo and Facebook have all brought people into my travel experiences that have made me a richer person.

I highly recommend it!