Handling uncertainty has been one of the hardest but most necessary skills in this travel life. I face uncertainty daily in schedule, sleep patterns, paychecks, band dynamics, meal times, etc. For that, I look for consistency anywhere I can. Routines and familiarity are key. Here are some of my daily tricks: Start your day the same way. Your mind and body will be able to handle far more travel uncertainties if you feed it some consistency in the morning. Plus, it just feels good. Self-care is key! My morning: Something physical (stretching/physical therapy/workout), a cold shower, and a little time enjoying…
-
-
Hello from Music City. As a fiddle player I’ve always been curious about the Nash scene, but also pretty resistant to what I thought was a cut-throat and highly competitive town. I just didn’t feel the need to throw myself in the shark tank. I’ve had the chance to visit a few times over the past year, and I’m incredibly lucky to have been shown a side of this town that completely changed my mind. Don’t fret, (heh) music row is as glitzy and industry-driven as you’d hope, complete with large-scale honky tonks, label execs, and celebrity-sightings. (Your Nashville vacay…
-
We loved getting to explore Anchorage in the “off-season.” It was cold, but no shortage of warm faces and delicious local fare. In no particular order, here are my favorite recommendations straight out of the locals’ mouths. (All with active links) Snow City Cafe: Artistic, local spins on breakfast favorites. We went twice in one day. The Bubbly Mermaid: Champagne & oyster bar. Creative and upscale! 10 retro seats in the whole place. Alaska Center for the Performing Arts: Word-class acts in the heart of downtown. The Anchorage Concert Association won’t steer you wrong! I was lucky to perform here with The…
-
Anchorage– It’s our final day on The Last Frontier. I sit in my hotel room around 9am, and the sun will be MIA for several more hours. There’s something nice about the illusion that you’ve gotten an extreme head start on the day. The band had a particularly fun day-off yesterday, mostly because we left the day completely open-ended. I’ve talked a lot about pre-planning in the last few posts, but the next step in easing my travel stress has been learning to let go of the plan altogether. Traveling means all days look different (that’s why we love it),…
-
Even if you’re not a “planner,” making a few decisions ahead of time means less to be decided in the moment and a clearer head to enjoy travel. Here’s a list of things I do before tours to remove as many decisions as possible in my daily travel life and ease stress. The last two are probably the most important! At my mom’s request, the list is also accompanied by more pictures from our Alaska adventure. Enjoy! Start planning early. Carve time at least 3 days before you depart to make your pre-trip decisions. Be well-rested and clear-headed. When you…
-
The Alaska landscape is unreal. Locals describe it as “the Rockies on steroids.” There was a staggering amount of natural beauty, and we found Alaskans to be incredibly generous, laid-back people. Lots of fur hoods and trendy flannel. The women all wear local turquoise jewelry and everyone has a good moose story to tell. We played for enthusiastic crowds in Anchorage and Homer, and were greeted with offerings of guided hikes, family cottages, and smoked fish. (We plan to take all of them up on their offers!) The views and the people were beautiful, but it wasn’t all beauty on the…
-
Welcome! Drriift is my outlet for countless hours spent learning, pondering, and reflecting on the incredible amount of experiences that my life of music and travel grants me. Full-time touring gives me the opportunity to see some of the most fascinating places and meet the most interesting people, all while attempting to stay mentally and physically healthy. The frequency of these heightened experiences has finally called for a place to share, and I’m so excited to have you along. Thank you for joining me on this new journey. I had most of this first post written and realized there was a…
-
My name is Diana ???????? I am a touring musician, performer, educator, visual artist, thinker, and this year (2018) I am a full-time traveler. Not “homeless.” Quite the opposite. I’ve spent the last 10 years on tour, unknowingly honing my ability to find all the beauties of home without the physical location. I turned 30 above the Atlantic Ocean, started my non-profit in a Nashville coffee shop, and did my taxes in a Madison hotel room. As my touring life grew more exciting, the transition from home to work became more challenging. The time spent re-acclimating didn’t seem valuable or enjoyable,…