2019 Gluten-Free Globetrotter Year in Review

I had this crazy realization over the weekend.

2019 is the first year in my adult life that I did not go on an airplane.

WHAT??? Gluten-Free Globetrotter did not globetrot at all this year? Now, before you go thinking that I lost my travel mojo, I think I have a good excuse.

I had a baby and became a mother. 

This year has been the wildest year of my life. Having my son back in March changed EVERYTHING. No books, podcasts, or mothering apps can prepare you for becoming a mom. It was by far the most rewarding, yet most challenging thing I have done in my life. So while I didn’t fly anywhere exotic, I am still experiencing the most life-changing adventure of all.

I spent the beginning part of 2019 on the couch due to some pregnancy issues. The second part of my year was discovering my new baby, pushing a stroller around my neighborhood, and slowly exploring NYC. ( I found out I was pregnant the same week I moved back to New York City, so I felt like I was getting reacquainted with an old friend ) And the end of my 2019 was me finally starting to emerge from a fog and become more comfortable in my role as a mother. I also got to know my little one and have seen more changes in him and myself over the past 9 months than I have ever in a person in my lifetime!

I am not sad that I didn’t get to travel as much as I would have liked in 2019 but I definitely did miss it. Just because I didn’t get on a plane doesn’t mean I didn’t explore, eat gluten-free, and connect with celiac friends from around the globe. I lived vicariously through social media accounts of my traveling friends and met some wonderful gluten-free travelers along the way.  Shout out to Angela from @gfyogajourney who did 18 months around the world (all gluten-free) and made time to share a coffee and a meal with me while in NYC. And Priyanka from @antiwheatgirl who I finally met in person after being online friends for many years.  It’s these celiac friends that make my online activity so rewarding.

I did manage one family trip to Massachusetts and a few short drives to Long Island with the baby in 2019. It was my first time in the Berkshire Mountains and staying in a hotel with a baby, so that definitely counts as a new travel experience. I also got some great gluten-free food recommendations from friends and the Celiac Travel Facebook group.

We are ready to take our family to the skies in 2020 and have our first west coast adventure booked. All tips for packing gluten-free food AND baby gear are welcome. Gluten-Free Globetrotter is still here, I am just getting my wings back for the new decade.

Thanks for sticking around and happy new year. I would love to hear where you are jetting off to in the new decade! Share them in the comments below!