The Beginning of the Story

Yelapa, Mexico (courtesy of Destination 360)

This morning, I dug my bikini out of my dresser drawer. It was a nice feeling, holding that flimsy blue material in my hands while the wind howled outside my window. I looked at my eighteen-month-old daughter. "Mexico," I said. She giggled. I did a little spin around the room and tossed my bikini into my suitcase.

I don't know if it's just me, but I love the days before I leave for a trip. Sure, it's partly a rush. There are projects to finish, loose ends to tie up, and clothes to wash and pack. But as I navigate each of these tasks, keeping things as simple as possible, I find that I begin to melt into the adventure that lies ahead. My routine becomes infused with the whimsical images that travel inspires.

In this case, the images involve sand, jungle, and stripped-down accommodations. I'm going on a two-week trip to Yelapa, which is a tiny village near Puerto Vallarta, accessible only by boat or burro. I'll take a boat in, but who knows? Maybe I'll exit by burro. The first week of the trip I'll be solo, working on a draft of my novel and exploring the village. The second week, my family will join me.

I've done a little research on Yelapa-- enough to find my way to my casita and stay safe as a solo female traveler-- but mostly I'm going in green, which is how I like it. I know vaguely that there are waterfall hikes, whale sightings, and weekly salsa dances with a live band. I'll figure out the details when I arrive. For me, that's half the fun.

And the other half of the fun is embracing the moments before I leave. Instead of getting swallowed up by mundane details or worries, such as potential flight delays and weather issues, I'm enjoying the sensory experience of preparation: pulling my flowing sarong off its hanger, trying on flip flops, tightening the strap of my money belt, buying anti-diarrheal medicine, hitting they key on my computer that activates my out-of-office reply. For me, it's all part of the experience. In fact, it's the beginning of the story. I wonder what's next?