I had no idea, when I wrote about becoming a nomad for a year, how such a risky decision would turn out. In the modern world, we are conditioned to play it safe, work a real job, buy a house, save our money, and travel the world when we retire. Living in such an environment makes the fear of taking risk, especially during midlife, a catastrophic roadblock. This is when it is vital to realize thousands of people jumped off the path of normalcy, and they have not ended up broke, living on the streets, with people passing by, spattering in disgust, that they should have kept their good paying job.
When I returned to the US, from East Africa, in early March, I found both of my parent’s health in serious decline. With all hands on deck, we had only six weeks to find a good assisted living environment and move them out of their home of 50 years. During these weeks, my father landed in the hospital again, my brother had ankle surgery, which put him out of commission for weeks, I fell and broke a rib hours before a speaking engagement, and the tidal waves seemed just to keep on coming. It took every moment of each day to sort through five decades of memories and handle all their affairs. Outside of my editorial deadlines, my business and life would have to be on hold, until the waters were calm.
Just when I thought I could catch my breath, two days after the big move, I received an unexpected call from my doctor notifying me there were abnormal asymmetrical findings on my mammogram, and I would need to come in for immediate testing. During the ultrasound, I could clearly see the masses at which they were looking. The fear that gripped me over those next seven days was debilitating, and gave me a holistic perspective of what fear really was. When I received the news they were only cysts I thought I would bounce right back, but the last two months had taken a huge emotional and physical toll; my spirits remained low. Four days later, I boarded a plane to Kenya, took my seat, and slept almost every moment during the back-to-back 10-hour flights.
Instinctively, as I was stepping onto the rich red soil of Kenya, a huge smile crept across my face. In that moment, I realized that when I am in Africa, I smile a little more and a little brighter. There is a bounce to my step and a burning passion in my spirit. I engage in sillier conversations with the friendly local people, and I live fully in the moment.
A few days after my return to Kenya, while I was in Samburu leading a safari, I received a text that my parent’s house had sold, and escrow would close by mid-July. My risky choice to live an alternative life without an address, flying by the seat of my pants, had just become a wise decision. My plan had been to stay at my parents for a few weeks in July/August and during November, but it was easy to change directions when I only had a few bags of stuff and my gear to worry about. I simply searched through Airbnb Nairobi and found many great options. At the end of my safari season, instead of returning to the US for a month, I will take off in the Landy on an adventurous scouting trip. I will argue that we need much less than we think we do in order to be happy.
During our safari, while standing amongst fourteen tribes, at the Turkana festival in Northern Kenya, I thought about the phrase, “living the dream”. Too many people believe that phrase represents a life without stress and financial worries, where you have the freedom to experience whatever it is you desire. This allows people to believe if they stay working in a soulless job long enough, they will finally put themselves in a position to, “Live the Dream.” However, this philosophy does not seem to work if most of your thoughts are dreaming about the life you wish to be living, instead of fully living the short life you were given.
These past few months have given new meaning to the term, “life is flying by.” I spent many hours out on the patio of our family home, reflecting on how fast one of the biggest chapters of my life had come to a close and what I wanted the rest of the book to look. I do not understand how life will turn out or where I will settle in 2017, as I have learned this alternative lifestyle is completely possible and seems to suit my gypsy spirit. What I know is that when I am behind my camera, out in the wildlife reserves or tribal areas of Africa, I am alive; I am living the dream. It is not a dream of financial freedom, without stress, hard work, or without continuous risk, but it is a life of experiencing what I once dreamed about for years. I have come to believe more in the philosophy that dreams do not work unless you do.
These are just the thoughts of a passionate, nomadic photographer, which you can easily dismiss, but let me ask you this –
Where do you want to see the footsteps of your life, when looking back through the images you have captured?
Thanks for you blog and updates. Please continue to keep us updated in the future. I wish you the very best as you continue your life experience.
Thank you Emie
I hope to be able to resume posting at least once or twice a month.
Glad everything is going your way, and wish your parents good health…and you, also! My Chemo treatments are working, and expect to be cancer free by end of October. Then…guess what? It will be back to Kenya in 2017, and we’ll definitely have to get together somewhere over there…maybe at Mara Bush Camp. God bless you! Lori/Seattle
Wow Lori this is awesome news!! You continue to be a source of inspiration! I know you will return to Kenya soon and we will cross paths!
You have had a rough period, but I am happy you have found your safe haven. It is not free of troubles, but allows you relax and focus on the moment that sustains you. I wish you and your parents the best and at some point our paths may cross.
Marv/ Brooklyn N.Y.
Great to hear from you Marvin!!! We all go through rough periods in life, but this one hit home in a deeper sense. When I am in Africa, my heart beats a little faster. When I am in the US editing through my images of Africa, my heart races a little faster. Some may call it an addiction, but Africa stirs my soul! We had some tough challenges on our adventure to the Omo, but I hope you look back on your images and are glad you had one of the greatest tribal experiences in the word! Travel safe and travel often!! Piper
Beautifully said. Hard and simple to follow one’s heart. Truly live in the moment. Thank you for sharing personal challenges. For the people who live threw your posts may feel strength to get up and do the same.
Thank you Kitty! Following your heart is extremely challenging, but it is hard for me to think about not following what really stirs my soul. I feel more fear getting to the end of my life and realizing there was something I deeply wanted to experience in my life, and then realizing I would never get to. I realize the life I lead is not for most, but if you passionately wish to experience something, I believe if you put your mind to it, you will make it happen. That does not mean you won’t have difficulties and failures along the way, or that it could take a decade, but everyone has the power within them to pursue their dreams.
Piper…..so good to hear from you. Take great care to keep safe and well…….really proud of your choices to live life now! Keep in touch and keep your news coming as often as possible. Safe Journeys! Kitty Watson
Good for you! Life should be an adventure….we only get to try one time! Keep going Piper, I love your spirit.
Thanks Marion! The phrase I hear most often, from those traveling with me is, “I wish I would have traveled more, before my age caught up with my body.” When you get closer to the end of your life, you realize how valuable your time is and how important it is to experience all you can, rather than acquiring more things to take care of.
Dear Piper,
We’re so glad to hear that you are doing well in the face of all your recent trials. Yes, I do believe that the Buddhists have it right about our possessions weighing us down. Although I can’t imagine myself being quite that evolved! We’ve planned a fall trip to go back to Turkey and then go to Addis and do the northern trip we had to cancel last year. Due to advancing age etc we want to get back to Erte Ale while we can! Happy Trails!
Great to hear from you Pam & Neil
It has taken me years to get down to a few suitcases, starting with selling my big house in 2009 and my cabin in 2011. However, I still have a crate in storage from when I moved out of my loft and to Nairobi, but I am not missing anything in there yet. Living as a nomad makes life easy, but it is not an easy life to get to.
I am thrilled you will have the opportunity to return to Ethiopia and will be able to make the journey to Erte Ale. I want to hear all about it!! When you return, you may want to consider the Turkana Festival. The tribes of the Omo continue down into the Turkana Basin. The conditions are not nearly as tough as the Omo!!! Safe Travels!!
Hi there Piper,
My heart goes out to you with all that is going on, all I can say is that you are a beautiful photographer of international standing, your work is your rock and the foundation for being, hang onto your work, it will carry you through this time of change and growth. When we lose our parents it can feel like we are orphans, but it is a rite of passage, a time of transformation, a journey we all travel and possibly one of the hardest we will ever make but it will bring wisdom with its changes and inevitably peace.
Sending you love and thoughts to take each day at a time and keep that camera in your hand, it will see you through.
Much love,
Silva
Hello Silva
I am honored by your comments- Thank you. My parents are still here, but living in an assisted living apartment, where their lives are much different. I am grateful to have more time with them, but the change and who they have become, is very different and difficult. The camera and my work in Africa, continues to nurture my soul. It is my hope that anyone who dreams of Africa will make their dream come true. As you know, it is an experience of a lifetime!!! One that people tend to repeat often after that first magical trip.
Hope you are well and will be taking a grand adventure again in 2017!
Warmest,
Piper
Beautifully written. Thanks for sharing.
Sounds like you got dealt a tough hand, but you played it like a trooper
Hi Piper,
Having been with you, both during and after some of these major events were taking place in your life, I can only say that whatever doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger. God uses those things to remind us that He is there to help, if we allow Him. One never knows where the gypsy lifestyle will lead you. I have always said that life is an adventure, and we never know what is around the next bend. For me, I don’t know where my photography will lead me, but I am excited about it, and look forward to doing the best that I can with it. And, I know that God will lead me where He wants me. I know that we have talked about spiritual things before, and you talked about the faith of…I believe it was your Grandmother, and how you struggled to have that same faith. The only thing that God wants from you is your heart, your essence of everything that you are, when you accept Christ as Lord and Savior. When you can surrender yourself, and give Him that, He gives you the Holy Spirit, to live deep within your soul, and gives you the ability to have that close relationship with Him. John and I pray that wherever you go, in all of your adventures, that God will give you that small seed of faith to grow it into a huge mountain of faith. (Matthew 17:20; Romans 3:21-22).
We really enjoyed the Turkana Festival, the safari and all that you did to make it happen. You are so very attentive to detail, and I hope and pray that my Madagascar trip turns out as good as the ones that you have put together. I now have one year before it all happens. Things are coming together slowly, and the bookings are being made for the hotels, travel, etc. Denis is asking great questions that I sometimes don’t have the answers for, but getting there. I have a shoot on Thursday for Sunset magazine, so I’m getting out my flash system for some indoor shots. They have the models and where they want me to shoot, etc. If you have any other advice, please let me have it, as I need everything that I can get.
John has been teaching in LA, Germany, DC, London, and back to LA, all since we have returned from Kenya. That boy is crazy for punishment for sure. We did go to the Del Mar Fair on Sunday, and of course I had to see the photography. Maybe I will enter next year??
Do keep in touch, and I hope that your adventures are amazing.
Hugs,
Nicki and John