Tales of a Female Nomad - Cate’s Copy

Rita Goldman Gelman did something few women did in the 1980s: After her children were grown and her divorce sealed, she decided to travel the world in search of adventure.

Forty years later, many people today have a friend or two who did something like this in their youth but then returned to 'real life.' It's still rare for people in mid-life to give up their possessions and travel the world without an address (or even a final destination), but it remains a romantic dream in many minds.

I found the narrative compelling precisely because it takes place 40 years ago. The people, the customs, the food, the remoteness, the rituals, towns, settings, and transportation paint a world far from what we will ever experience today.

Yes, it's got a bit of midlife-crisis "Eat, Pray, Love" vibes. And yes, something is sticky to me about the disparity of wealth and privilege the author has and skims over. Clearly, she's traveled all over prior to the nomad life she writes about in this book, but apparently, those myriad experiences weren't good enough? Is it because she just wants to do it alone, for herself? 

I can say at this point that the nomad lifestyle isn't appealing to me, maybe because I've been traveling with the intent to experience culture throughout my adult life. But it does inspire me to continue traveling and experiencing the country and the world because it's exciting and because so much can still be learned. This book also reminds me that things will never be the same as they were and that we're swiftly heading to a much different era. Overall, an enjoyable and thoughtful read.