Hi, Associate Editor Kennedy here. By now, you already know I’m an MCU fanatic. But what you don’t know is that I’m on a solo travel journey where I bounce to a different locale every 2-ish months. So far, I’ve set up laptop in Puerto Rico and Barbados, and I’m officially starting some me-time in Costa Rica this week. But it’s not like I just woke up one day and decided to pack up my life. Over months of hesitation, I had a ton of questions: Will I be safe? What happens if I get homesick after spending all this money? Can I live without Jack in the Box?

Now that travel szn is upon us, many of you—especially those with flaky friends—are probably experiencing the same concerns when it comes to going it alone. To help, I’m bringing you a monthly travel log of all the highs, lows, and occasional uh-ohs from my latest voyage. So strap in, because I’m getting real honest, real fast.

Dispatch from Barbados

Baggage

1. An intense delusion that I’d somehow nonchalantly meet Rihanna.
2. Converse that can handle the intermittent rain and match my yellow/creme wardrobe.
3. Total ignorance of what flying fish are.
4. An eSim so international data plans don’t derail my midnight doom-scrolling.
5. A refillable water bottle to store all my leftover rum.

Mile-High Moment

Don’t laugh, but I don’t know how to float. I’ve had swim lessons 2 separate times, and both instructors just gave me an IDK shrug when they watched my legs sink. For that reason, I’m not the coziest in bodies of water. When I went to Animal Flower Cave with my Aunt (who came to visit), I was naturally reluctant to jump into the absolutely gorgeous, though potentially dangerous, natural pool. But… there were white people there, and I know I should be above it, but I really hate acting out stereotypes in mixed company. So, I swallowed up my fear and stepped into the rocky oasis.

Things were going well, so we got closer to the cave opening where water splashed in. After a few minutes of tranquil serenity, the ocean decided to slap us with a huge wave, scaring the sh*t out of us. It was embarrassing how we reacted, sloshing around like we’d just been ambushed by a tsunami, but it was also the biggest laugh I had during my time on the island. Also the saltiest hair, but Shea Moisture cleared that right up.

‘Gram Crackers
 

What I Need to Unpack

People in Barbados love to remind you that they’re on “island time,” which is cute when you’re lounging at the beach, but really annoying when you’ve been waiting 30 minutes for dinner. Suffice to say, if there was a human embodiment of anti-island time, it would be me. I speak quickly, always rush to conclusions, and envision whole futures with men I just met. TLDR: I’m allergic to anything slow—which is why I will never be able to finish The Crown, sorry.

I tried to get the hang of the go-with-the-flow pace here because it seems like a less stressful way of life. Nearly every Bajan I speak to has had a million and one jobs that led them to become a taxi driver or owner of a charter boat company or whatever else. The island has pushed them in different directions, and it looks like they’re following the stream wherever it takes them. I, on the other hand, am always under the illusion that I can steer this ship wherever I damn well please with enough hurry. But as I sat on a broken-down bus stressing over how I’d make it to a food tour on time, I was reminded that whether we fight against the waves or let them simply roll off our backs, we end up somewhere and make do. We are all on the island’s time, so watch the clock or watch the sunset—either way, the bus will still be late.

Solo Survival Tip

Always walk with confidence. Creepers and other annoying people are more likely to approach people who look lost. Even if you have no idea where you are (which happens to me like 60% of the time), pick a direction and act like you know where you’re going until you can duck into a store, coffee shop, or another neutral territory. Once you’re there, Google to get your bearings.