I Left America, But America Didn’t Leave Me

I woke up this morning upset.

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For the first time, I felt as though I understood what the President of the United States may be trying to accomplish.

And strangely enough, understanding it frightened me more than not understanding it.

I don’t want politics to consume this article because this isn’t really an article about politics. It’s about something I have discovered while traveling the world slowly in retirement.

You can leave America, but that doesn’t necessarily mean America leaves you.

The Part of Retiring Abroad We Don’t Talk About

I am retired and traveling the world slowly. I use Airbnb, stay for extended periods, shop in local stores, walk through local neighborhoods, and try to experience what everyday life is actually like in the countries I visit.

But I have noticed something about myself.

Whenever I hit an emotional bump in the road — particularly when something disturbing is happening in the United States — my mind travels back home.

Physically, I may be thousands of miles away.

Mentally, I am suddenly back in America.