I’ve already introduced the blog, but now it’s time for me to introduce myself. As the title of the blog suggests, my name is Kelly. I grew up in a small town with my parents and older brother. I had a very active childhood. Sports, scouting, academics, and many other extracurricular activities filled my calendar. I then went onto college and grad school (Fight On!) to be an occupational therapist, which is how I pay the bills. I’ve been filling my weekends and PTO requests with adventures ever since.
Before I moved to San Diego, I was living at home helping my dad take care of my mom. When I was 18, during my first year of college, my mother was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. I watched my mother gradually lose herself and her memories, and after 12 years of suffering, she succumbed to the disease. My heart broke little by little, as each moment I spent with her she remembered me less and less. Not only did I lose my mom, but I watched my brother lose his mom, my uncle lose his sister, and my dad lose the love of this life. I’m sharing this part of me with you because I believe this experience has been transformative on my outlook for life. And, if anyone else is going through the same thing, or even something similar, I am here for you and I support you.
I’m originally from the Bay Area (go Giants!), but currently call San Diego home. I live with my main squeeze, Rich, our two dogs (Maven + Elway), and our three cats (Garnet, James, and Lord Tyrion). My current interests include hiking, running, CrossFit, overlanding in my 4Runner, scuba diving, traveling, exploring, and I find that I’m most happy when I am in nature. The more of these I can do with my family and friends, the better! I predict many of my blog posts will be about any and all of these things.
My bucket list is LONG, but here are a few of the bigger ticket items: visit all 7 continents (ANTARTICA is at the top!), run a half marathon in all 50 states and in all 7 continents, run a total of 100 half marathons, visit all 62 US national parks, trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, hike Mt. Whitney, visit the Great Wall of China, scuba dive the Galapagos Islands, see the Egyptian pyramids in person, and (maybe) run with the bulls in Spain.
Some of my favorite bucket list accomplishments include: the 52 hike challenge (hiking a total of 52 hikes in one year), running a full marathon, drinking beer at the real Oktoberfest, driving across the country (and back!), and starting this blog!
Safe adventures,
Kelly
life is an adventure 