Stamp Out And About: #bragpost #sorrynotsorry
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Stamp Out And About: #bragpost #sorrynotsorry

I’m sitting at International Departures in my compression tights. My carry on is packed with all the essentials. Travel pillow. Headphones. Book. A pharmacy of multivitamins (I believe that’s the collective term).

I’m scrolling through Facebook and a memory greets me in my feed. On this exact day five years ago I was sitting in a lane way in Athens drinking a coffee.

Cue The Lion King soundtrack. It’s the Circle of Life and here I am with my passport in hand. My new passport. I seemed to have “misplaced” my previous one weeks ago in my efficiency to spring clean in winter. Major meltdown. Deep breaths. New passport and crisis averted.

In seven short years I have been to 24 countries. There were a couple of short stop overs and tours that covered 1000’s of kms in a short space of time. I’ve spent the equivalent of two home deposits on airfares, tours and eating my way around the world.

Would I do it differently? Nope.

I love wrapping myself in my doona watching ’90s TV re-runs after a long week, or heading to Winter’s Cafe for a chai latte. My friends are the best (I’m sure you have great friends too) and Geelong continues to inspire me. But my soul is happy when my name is on a boarding pass.

I did have a recent moment of reflection. One of my besties just got engaged and I couldn’t be happier for them. They have had THE toughest 12 months and have come through the other side. They’re stronger than ever and they deserve this happiness.

With their engagement and new home, they join my other four best friends with a combo of marriage, kids, house or long term real-deal grown up living arrangements. I’ve never been made to feel like the 9th wheel but I am THAT friend. The single friend. The still renting friend. The “in her 30’s, what’s NQR about her” friend.

That’s not a label I’ve imposed on myself. My friends have never implied the above. It’s a society thing. I’m aware of it. I’ve been asked about it before and will be asked about it again.

Would paying off my own home be sweeter than paying someone else’s mortgage? Fo sho! Would it be comforting to come home to someone every night and share life with? I guess it would be nice. That could still happen. I’m not saying it won’t.

My life is different from those closest to me. It’s different from those my age. And I don’t give a sh*t. Because right now, this is my happy.

As I sit here eating smashed avo on toast (because… holiday) with my name on a boarding pass, I know what my priorities are.

See you in three weeks. I’m off to the land of cheap tacos and even cheaper tequila!

Stampsy is the Music Director and Drive Announcer at K Rock in Geelong.

Follow the inner workings of a Stamp online – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @only1stampsy