All PostWhy I Started Wonder Well Travel
Some years back, as I contemplated my eventual retirement, I knew it would involve travel. I have been saying since then that when I go into my “semi-retirement” I will be doing something in the travel industry, which might simply be me traveling ???? or might be a new career of some sort centered around travel. I have been reading lots – including books like Working Identity, Encore Career Handbook and Next about people going into encore careers centered around yet unexplored passions, purpose or interests. A quick shout-out here to the MEA too which is where I first heard about these books and which has been a source of inspiration, encouragement and support for me. (Don’t be misled by the name behind this acronym. If you are at or past mid-life, however you define it, this organization has valuable content for you as you look ahead to your future).
Back to my transition. I had been thinking about what my encore career in travel might be. Then a close friend of mine went through a divorce. This was a woman who previously enjoyed travel with her family and friends and could – I thought – use a good trip to take her mind off the negative. But she really had no one immediately available to travel with, and she just would never do it alone, especially not out of the country. Then a female relative of mine went through a similar situation, and while hers did not have exactly the same circumstances or emotions, there were parallels between the two. Pondering this, it struck me how many women find themselves in this “stuck” situation due to some life disruption, whether a divorce, loss of a spouse or partner, children moving out of the house, or even retirement.
I decided this would become the focus for my encore career – encouraging women in these circumstances to rebound and restart their lives with travel as an element of their self-therapy. I have now launched Wonder Well Travel – with this at its core. The main offering is small-group women’s trips under the theme Wellness Wine & Wonder.
As this all unfolded, I realized that instead of retiring, I feel like I am just getting started, exploring the different paths I might pursue with this business idea or others. Already, Wonder Well Travel has expanded beyond my initial vision. It’s incredibly exciting, fun, and fulfilling – a restart for me in fact. I’ve always wanted to try my hand at entrepreneurship, and now I am doing just that – on a scale that is comfortable for me and in a pursuit that allows me to spend every day doing something I love.
