Home For the Summer!

Full disclosure, I wasn’t sure if I was coming home after Thailand, because who would ever want to leave the beach with the best-tasting mangos ever? However, home is where the heart (aka my nephew) is. This will be my first full summer home with my family since…freshman year of college?

Where Is Home?

Returning home to the state of Arizona was not on my 2025 bingo card.

I didn’t grow up in a big city and always found it a bit boring. During my Junior year of high school, we moved from our small town to a bigger city (it’s no LA or NYC, but there are more than 4 high schools).

Other than my family, I have no real roots in this particular city. As a busy, broke high school athlete, there wasn’t much time for exploring. It is my family that has always brought me back. (Literally, my entire immediate family lives here.)

As an adult who has lived overseas, a summer at home no longer feels like the death of adventure or a sentence to hell. (Don’t get me wrong, it’s still as hot as the fiery pits.) Summer at home looks like resting and reflecting poolside.

Why I Came Home for the Summer

I came home for a summer reset. While most people are traveling and partying the summer away, I’m dropping my nephew off at swim class and preparing for fall. There are a few reasons for this-

1) I just returned after several months of travel

2) I don’t like overcrowded destinations

3) I am planning to move abroad again.

Being home allows me the stability I need to get all my ducks in a row as I prepare for my next big adventure. I have a chance to do everything from save money, connect with family, and continue to grow my business without worrying about internet connection or where I’ll lay my head next.

What Life at Home Looks Like After Traveling

Only one of us was dressed for water play

This summer, daily life at home looks like long days by the pool, fighting over the last piece of pizza, and exploring the city and surrounding areas with fresh eyes. Somehow, my days are just as hectic as when I’m traveling alone - family coming in and out, random events where my presence is required, and my nephew refusing to let me do anything but hold him.

It looks like garage workouts in the morning and long walks in the evening, and wearing hoodies inside because I have grown accustomed to not having AC. This life after long-term travel is beautiful and necessary. Connecting is not just something to be done abroad with strangers.

How It Feels to Be Home Again

Naturally, I was a little worried to be living under the same roof as my parents again. I haven’t spent more than 2 weeks in this house since 2013. I don’t like being told what to do, I’ve become a light sleeper, and my diet is very different than how I grew up.

I wondered if coming home meant I failed, because the teenage me promised I’d never move back under my parents’ roof. And how silly does that sound? Teenage me knew nothing of bills or other cultures where it is encouraged to stay home until marriage.

Before moving in, I spent a month in LA in deep contemplation, and I came to the realization. I haven’t failed at anything. Coming home wasn’t my only option- it was the option that felt right. I haven’t failed, I have grown. I’ve established my independence, and now I want to share my life with my family and experience theirs as well.

Long walks under the desert sky

My Summer Intentions and Goals

The best way to describe my summer intentions would be an “active rest”. I am working to grow my business at a much calmer pace. Acting with more intention and less urgency.

Summer plans:

• A personal travel magazine

  • This project will give me a chance to reflect on past travels, learn how to edit on a larger scale, and provide a tangible copy of my photos and thoughts. (This is just the start - I plan to finish in December)

• Read Everything

  • My TBR is far too long. With traveling, writing, vlogging, etc, I have not been able to read as much as I would like. Books are my first love, and I miss them dearly. Be on the lookout for new reading recommendations!

• Slowly prepare for my next full-time adventure abroad.

  • Mostly saving money with a bit of location research and visa paperwork.

• Expand Minni Is Learning

  • A LOT is going on behind the scenes. Subscribe to my newsletter to be the first to know!

What’s Next After My Summer at Home?

While summer feels long, it is more of a pit stop for this adventure lover. Can you guess my next destination for life after summer? I have a world of experiences ahead of me, and this pause will give me the energy and perspective I need to keep exploring for years to come.