Why we go
When I was a kid, my parents taught me that experiences mattered more than possessions.
When we first moved to Canada, most of our furniture was donated by kind friends. For years, we used the old shipping crates from our move as side tables. My dad was working on his PhD, my mom was supporting the family as a nurse (I’m still so proud of her), and every extra dollar they had went not to things, but to experiences and travel.
We explored the Rocky Mountains almost every weekend. We saved up for trips back home to New Zealand, to see family in Wales and England, and once, even to Fiji on the way. Those early adventures planted something deep in me: a curiosity about how other people live, and how much the World has to teach me.
Travel still gives me that feeling. It fills me up – with ideas, perspective, and gratitude. Every time I come home, I notice my life differently, appreciate what I have a bit more, and feel that spark of creative energy again.
This spring, Christine and I took our first international trip in eight years. We’d spent a lot of that time exploring closer to home – the Canadian outdoors – but this time we went to Japan. It was incredible. The people, the craftsmanship, the design—all so intentional and inspiring. It refilled the tank in a way I didn’t realize I needed.
We’re already dreaming of where to go next. Right now, we’re both so drawn to the design coming out of Asia, so thoughtful and different. We don't have a lot of money by any means, but we feel profoundly lucky to have the chance to keep exploring.
Travel, for me, isn’t about escaping. It’s about returning with new eyes. It’s a reminder that creativity grows when we step outside the familiar, and that sometimes, the best way to move forward is to simply go.
Safe travels!
Stephen
