chapter 15: when it feels right

on living and traveling according to your intuition, the 2-year anniversary of my book, and details on my 5-year life plan

In this season of thankfulness, I wanted to send a quick note of thanks to all of you – my book, You Are Where You Go, celebrated its 2nd birthday this past Thursday (on Thanksgiving)!

In these two years since publication, I’ve had so much to be grateful for – from the innumerable times that people told me my stories inspired them to book a trip or make a life change, to the dozens of times I’ve been invited to speak on stages, in schools and bookstores, and on podcasts from around the world to inspire others by simply sharing my life story.

I’m so proud of the places this book has taken me (and the places it has taken readers like you!), and I never could have predicted the joys that have come into my life as a result of publishing this book. My book, that I published at the age of 23, is now 2 years old and it feels like time has flown by. Is this what young mothers feel like?

Whether you found yourself on this mailing list by supporting me and my book since Day 1 during my presale, or whether we’ve met in the past two years and you’ve just signed yourself up to receive my occasional travel musings in your inbox, thank you for being here. I do skim through the names of everyone who opens this email, and I reply to everyone who messages me or emails me back. I appreciate every single one of you.

I’ve never exactly wanted a large audience – I think I tend to bend under pressure, and have solidly decided I never want to be a content creator, whether on Instagram, Tiktok, Substack, or otherwise, because I don’t want my life and livelihood to revolve around constantly impressing more and more people. But, I am immensely grateful for this network of people who are highly aligned and interested in travel and/or what I have to say on the topic.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about living intuitively. And by that, I mean, living by the notion of doing something when it feels right. Not because you feel like you’re supposed to do it, but just because you want to.

I personally have lived by this principle for the past few years of my young adult life:

• Six years ago, I visited Ghana for the first time, stepping foot on my fourth continent at the age of 18, and decided it felt right to set a goal to travel to as many countries as possible during college to learn as much as I could about the world and about myself.

• Two years ago, I felt like I wanted to write a memoir documenting my travels to 70 countries and all 7 continents during college, and it felt right to publish it in case anyone else was interested in reading about it too.

• Around the same time I published my book, when working a job in big tech that was soon going to involve me going to an office and not being able to work remotely internationally, it felt right to quit and look for something new that aligned with my values of flexibility and mobility.

• Once I found a remote job, I didn’t have any particular reason to not return to New York City and be in close proximity to my family and longtime friends from college and high school – but, it felt right to start a new chapter of my life on the West Coast, and I luckily discovered a new home that I now love more than anywhere I’ve lived before.

• Last year, I had never hosted a group trip with strangers or brought together people who don’t know each other to hopefully have a good time in a foreign place – but, it felt like it could be fun, so I did it… and did it again, and again, and again (x12) and never looked back.

• Earlier this year, when I found myself trying to share long-form thoughts and advice about travel and mindset on Instagram stories, it felt right to start a newsletter here to have a place to write down and share those more in-depth stories and ponderings.

• Now, it doesn’t feel right to force myself to write on any sort of weekly basis or schedule – but it does feel right to pop on here and share some thoughts whenever I happen to have enough downtime to really think, and whenever I have something meaningful enough to say.

• When I want to travel somewhere – or, if I find a cheap flight deal – I just do it if it feels right, and don’t wait for other people to reaffirm my decision or join me before I myself decide I want to do it.

Heading into the new year, I’m excited to spend some time alone in Cozumel, Mexico on my first solo trip since September 2022 (when I had my first-ever experience fully solo traveling for over a week). In October 2022, I hosted my first group trips, and proceeded to lead 12 group trips in 12 months – not to mention a few other work trips and travels with close friends and family – and I already have 2 group trips fully booked for early 2024 (to dive and see whales in Cabo, and experience Carnival parades and festivities in Rio de Janeiro!).

For my final trip of 2023, it feels right to actually not invite others to make it a group trip, for once.

I’ll be spending New Year’s Eve and the first week of January working remotely from beaches in Mexico, reflecting on the past year, planning next year, and pursuing some big dreams and goals of mine. I’ll be completing training for my Rescue Diver scuba certification, which is the last step before the final training required to become a professional divemaster who is certified to work in the diving industry.

I’ve had a solid vision for the next few years of my life for quite some time now – I want to enjoy the rest of the winter and this upcoming spring in LA with the community I’ve built there over the past ~2 years, and then I want to start a new chapter with new challenges and new potential friends and opportunities in London next summer.

I’ve always wanted to re-indulge in an “adult study abroad” by living and working abroad (especially in London) for a short period of time, and there’s a visa I qualify for that means I don’t need a company to sponsor me to have the right to legally work in the UK. So, it feels right to seize the opportunity to live there before my eligibility period ends the following year.

During the short, cold days of winter in London, I have a hunch that it will feel right to start long-form writing again – maybe a second book? – but will leave that up to my future self at this time next year to decide.

After about a year based in London, I aim to return home to the states to rekindle important bonds with my family and friends across both coasts. Then, I am determined to make a longtime dream a reality and take advantage of Australia’s working holiday visa to live there for a year. This year in Australia would be a full career break from my life as a product manager in tech – instead, I’d dive (pun intended) into a new career as a divemaster and scuba instructor. And, perhaps I’d return to tech afterward. Or, perhaps I wouldn’t. We’ll see what feels right at that time.

Why am I telling you all this?

The same reason I wrote all my thoughts and feelings into a book and sent it off to a publisher two years ago. I feel lucky enough to have the courage to dream big, pursue things that may seem scary, and make my dreams a reality. And it feels right to share my perspective openly in case it might spark a change in someone else’s mind to not let their dreams be just dreams.

I strongly believe in the saying, “As one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one person.” If I can inspire anyone reading this to change their life and do what feels right instead of doing what they feel they’re supposed to do, then I’ve changed one person’s world, and that is everything to me.

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📱let’s connect

If you’ve got feedback on the format of this newsletter, or suggestions for travel topics you want to hear more about, don’t be shy! Reply to this email or DM me:

• Instagram: @caitlynlubas / @you.are.where.you.go

• Twitter: @caitlynlubas

• LinkedIn: Caitlyn Lubas (feel free to reach out if you want to talk about working remotely, transitioning careers, etc!)

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That’s all for now…

Remember, you are where you go – never stop exploring the world and yourself! 🌎 🌍 🌏

If you enjoy my writing in this newsletter, you’d love my book called You Are Where You Go: A Traveler’s Coming of Age Journey Through 70 Countries and 7 Continents During College. Feel free to pick up a copy on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or reply if you’re interested in me sending you a signed hardcover or paperback copy :)