After months of dreaming, weeks of effort, days of organizing, and a few hours sleep, the Transglobalist is only minutes away from departure. Next stop, Istanbul.

Surprisingly, there has been relatively little excitement leading up to this moment. Extricating oneself from decades worth of routine and belongings is not, initially, a relaxing exercise in which to engage. Rather than joy, the successful move from my apartment (to name the most vivid example) brought with it full-blown, paralysis-inducing anxiety attacks; the move into the ranks of the unemployed less so, but…nevertheless. Only this very morning–with all the gear packed, plans made and emails sent–have I been able, finally, to simply enjoy the very idea of what’s coming.

Even so, this morning’s plans are many, with little margin for error, and I won’t be able to fully relax until I’ve boarded my flight.

With that in mind, I’m off. Wish me well, and I’ll have more updates soon.

The Warm-Up journey has officially begun!