It’s been interesting to think about the difference between traveling vs living abroad.

A month ago when I arrived, I was clearly in the honeymoon phase for the first week. Everything I saw was awesome and anything that happening around me was the coolest thing ever. Now the honeymoon is over and reality? It’s pretty good!

I really love “living” abroad (temporarily). Chris and I have always explored the idea of living outside the US and now we’re getting to test the waters in Austria. It’s really an ideal scenario because the time we have here is short – just testing the waters.

My biggest adjustment has been curtailing my FOMO (fear of missing out). I think I had a preconception that since I’m in Europe, I must see and do, as my fellow trailbuilding wife friend says, “all the things”. But in reality, all of the things I want to see and do aren’t possible. And this is actually great. I’ve been more or less forced to embrace my location (the Ötztal valley) and immerse myself in what it has to offer. Rather than be distracted by “all the things” I’m not doing or seeing, I’ve developed a routine and some goals to soak up the local experience.

Most days start by going to work with Chris and continuing my personal project of documenting the trail construction at Sölden. The trail the team has been working on recently is very complex and has plenty of interesting things to shoot. The days when the helicopter flies tend to be kind of exciting. Once my camera batteries run out of juice, I trade my boots for bikes shoes and ride back to our apartment. I’ve started to develop some favorite routes. I’m also working on riding every trail across the mountain.

Once I return home, I eat a snack and then flip open my laptop and crank out some of my consulting work before Chris finishes his day. In the evenings we either continue work, watch tv (binge watching of House of Cards is complete) or drive up on Timmelsjoch Pass for a sunset picnic.

In some ways, life in Austria isn’t much different than home. On the other hand, it’s quite different. In fact, it’s really special.