I've been very lucky to have the support of my family, especially my parents for whom my travels were worrisome given the one way ticket, but they never held me back. They knew that I needed to do this and concern for my happiness was the most important thing. I wasn't married at the time, so I did not have that kind of responsibility. I felt that I owed myself this journey. And I didn't feel guilty about being indulgent, although I did initially feel that I was running away from home, but not out of fear, or avoidance, more of a curiosity to stretch my frontiers, to see what else was out there beyond the comfort zone of my home in Seattle.