Keagan’s World

I know I know… the last post seemed like the close. But I actually wrote that like a month before the real end, at the moment when I bought my return flight. The moment the reality of returning became real for the first time (reality becoming real sounds stupid I know but couldn’t think of a better way to say it).

So this is my actual goodbye.

6 countries.

189 days.

Innumerable memories.

It’s been unbelievable.

But I’ve already recounted a vast chunk of my trip to you all. Here. So instead of doing it again, I want to focus on what I’m grateful for.

To all of you here right now:

I’m grateful for each and every one of you who have followed along on this journey of a lifetime through the word-vomit, unedited thoughts of a chaotic and probably undiagnosed ADHD 23 year-old. Whether you’ve been here from the start or joined in along the way, I know you’re there. And I want you to know how much that means to me.

When I started this blog I honestly didn’t expect anyone other than my parents and extended family to follow along. After all, you ALL have heard me yap far too much in your lives. And yet you came along.

More than anything I appreciated the texts. The texts of encouragement, thought, or just a simple hello following a post I made. I want you to know that every single one of those brought a smile to my face. It showed me that you really did care what was going on over here – I wasn’t just talking to a brick wall.

Every single one of you made my day those days.

To the friends I’ve made along the way:

It’s been an absolute (and excuse my language) fucking privilege.

When I came to South America, I had no idea what to expect. This was my first big trip. My first solo trip. I figured I’d make some friends along the way – I mean I’d like to think I’m a somewhat like-able guy (just nod and agree people, nod and agree…). Just not like I did. Not in the type of way that it convinces you to change your 3-month Buenos Aires trip into a 6+ month Tur del America Sur. Not in the type of way that convinces you to ditch your luggage at various points in your trip so your things sit in 4 different cities around the world.

Not in the type of way where you can miss someone you knew for like a week.

I say this with all meaning and not a touch of drama – you have changed my life.

The person I am today, the goals I have for my life, and the things I care about most are not what they were when I left my home 189 days ago.

I love you all so much and want you to know that you will always have a place to stay when you decide to come knocking in Chicago.

And please come.

I would love nothing more than to see you again and have a beer over another shitty Cubs loss.

So… what will I be doing now?

I’ve got some ideas.

I already dropped the Marathon bomb there on y’all a couple days ago and that takes place on October 20. I’ll be doing so with my dear friend Andrew Vaniddekinge (there ya go man sorry can’t back out now or else the whole world knows).

Here’s a mugshot of the guy so you can publicly humiliate him if he does bail.

I’m also going to gasps work… a lot. Like maybe 7 days/wk lot.

I mean I may have lost a bit of weight on this trip but I certainly am not looking as thin as my savings account. I also have an apartment to get here in the next few months and while the Chicago housing market may not be a hellscape like NYC… it ain’t cheap.

And traveling ain’t free.

In my few hours of free time each week, I’m gonna keep writing too. I know, I know this is a travel blog so like what the hell is Byron Center, MI going to have to offer?

I mean realistically probably nothing BUT… I have been known to do dumb things like run a mile every hour for 24-hours which always makes good content.

Also, I’m gonna write up some travel guides for the places I went to. Little notes about hostels, restaurants, cities, excursions, and general living tips for each of the countries I spent significant time in so if I happened to inspire you to do a trip of your own to one of these places you’ll have some help.

I’m going to cheer on 2 of my close childhood friends as they experience the most beautiful moment of their lives and get married to the woman they each love.

And I’ll be fighting a mean case of travel hangover. Drowning it in work, poker, and late-night espressos at Bitter End. Sounds healthy right?

But with all that said, I’ve said it a thousand times already: this isn’t the end. It’s just a pause – the end of chapter 1. Because I’ll be damned if this is the last great trip I make in my lifetime.

I’ll see you all so very soon.

Let the credits roll.

🫡❤️