This is brilliant — and painfully relatable. It’s wild how often the “perfect life” gets traded for the “start-up life” only to realize later we already had the better deal. I love that you pulled the plug and plugged back into what actually fuels you.
Slow travel taught me the same thing — you don’t need a unicorn exit when the real win is a balcony in the DR, a clear head, and the freedom to create on your own terms. My husband and I retired early to travel full-time, and the more we go, the clearer it gets: less stress, more purpose, better stories.
Enjoy your roaming! We 'dropped out' too to explore the beauties of coastal Mexico. (and the world, but long term, MX). It's a tough decision, to jump off, most likely especially so with having your company (!) but a worthwhile adventure! Saludos!
Thanks Jeanine! As with most things, the hardest part is making the decision. After that, everything just seems to fall into place. Where in MX are you now?
I can relate to your story, Erin. Although I've only made massive work change, I've done several more gradual and less spectacular pivot. Plus lived in 9 different countries. So change has been a constant for me, too.
I'm happy you can relate, Lisa. It's funny how once we start embracing change, each decision gets easier, and before we know it, we're living a whole new life!
Erin — I felt every beat of this. That moment on the balcony when you decided to stop the loop hit home. I did something similar a few years ago — walked away from a corporate career that looked successful on paper but felt hollow inside. The relief, the creativity, the flood of freedom afterward… it’s real. Your story captures the courage it takes to trade prestige for purpose — and how what we gain back is infinitely more valuable. -Kelly
Thanks for your kind words and support, Vicky. I agree, sometimes its hard to balance perseverance with an informed decision, especially now that we glorify "grit."
Great story and ditto decisions. Reading it I don't believe Summery was a failure as you suggest while making the decision. It was a lesson combined with a wise decision. People should make those kinds of decisions more often and with it lower stress and subsequently improve health and quality of life.
Thanks for your note and kind words, Peter. Another friend also suggested that maybe Summery wasn't a "failure." I'm mixed about this. On one hand, I know that failure is a loaded word. On the other, I think we need to normalize failing and take the stigma out of it.
True to that. I've had many failures in my life that I could only at hindsight (some years later) accept as a lesson. Normalising failing will make it easier to accept, perhaps not for oneself, but more for ones feeling about how the world views a failure.
Love this. That moment of realizing you can step off the ride and choose differently is everything. RV travel gave us a taste of that too. You can keep what works, change what doesn’t, and still open the door to a whole new way of living (even if it's part-time).
Thank you, Laura. Your support and kind words mean a lot. So funny how our careers span the same industries: tech, writing, nonprofit, and publishing. I especially love how we took different paths, but ended up in the same space of using our writing to bring awareness to important issues. 💗
This is brilliant — and painfully relatable. It’s wild how often the “perfect life” gets traded for the “start-up life” only to realize later we already had the better deal. I love that you pulled the plug and plugged back into what actually fuels you.
Slow travel taught me the same thing — you don’t need a unicorn exit when the real win is a balcony in the DR, a clear head, and the freedom to create on your own terms. My husband and I retired early to travel full-time, and the more we go, the clearer it gets: less stress, more purpose, better stories.
Thanks, Kelly! 🌷 It's a lesson for sure to realize that what we have is what we want (and need).
Enjoy your roaming! We 'dropped out' too to explore the beauties of coastal Mexico. (and the world, but long term, MX). It's a tough decision, to jump off, most likely especially so with having your company (!) but a worthwhile adventure! Saludos!
Thanks Jeanine! As with most things, the hardest part is making the decision. After that, everything just seems to fall into place. Where in MX are you now?
Brilliant and honest; good for you Erin. And I love Mary Oliver.
Thank you, Daynan. As a friend and someone who's seen me at every stage of my career, your support means a lot to me. 🤗
You are a brave person with a life plan.
I’m glad someone thinks so! ☺️
I can relate to your story, Erin. Although I've only made massive work change, I've done several more gradual and less spectacular pivot. Plus lived in 9 different countries. So change has been a constant for me, too.
I'm happy you can relate, Lisa. It's funny how once we start embracing change, each decision gets easier, and before we know it, we're living a whole new life!
Love your story Erin! Great to connect. I do hope we cross paths on the road one day! ❤️
Thank you, Jo! High praise indeed. And, yes, hoping to run into each other on our travels! ☺️
Erin — I felt every beat of this. That moment on the balcony when you decided to stop the loop hit home. I did something similar a few years ago — walked away from a corporate career that looked successful on paper but felt hollow inside. The relief, the creativity, the flood of freedom afterward… it’s real. Your story captures the courage it takes to trade prestige for purpose — and how what we gain back is infinitely more valuable. -Kelly
Thanks, Kelly. I appreciate your support and words of encouragement.
So inspiring. It’s easy to continue something due to sunk cost fallacy but the real power is knowing when to stop and pivot.
Thanks for your kind words and support, Vicky. I agree, sometimes its hard to balance perseverance with an informed decision, especially now that we glorify "grit."
Great story and ditto decisions. Reading it I don't believe Summery was a failure as you suggest while making the decision. It was a lesson combined with a wise decision. People should make those kinds of decisions more often and with it lower stress and subsequently improve health and quality of life.
Thanks for your note and kind words, Peter. Another friend also suggested that maybe Summery wasn't a "failure." I'm mixed about this. On one hand, I know that failure is a loaded word. On the other, I think we need to normalize failing and take the stigma out of it.
True to that. I've had many failures in my life that I could only at hindsight (some years later) accept as a lesson. Normalising failing will make it easier to accept, perhaps not for oneself, but more for ones feeling about how the world views a failure.
Love this. That moment of realizing you can step off the ride and choose differently is everything. RV travel gave us a taste of that too. You can keep what works, change what doesn’t, and still open the door to a whole new way of living (even if it's part-time).
Thank you! Yes, it’s amazing what we can be & do once we throw off the blinders. The world becomes so much bigger.
Thank you, Laura. Your support and kind words mean a lot. So funny how our careers span the same industries: tech, writing, nonprofit, and publishing. I especially love how we took different paths, but ended up in the same space of using our writing to bring awareness to important issues. 💗