I'm sitting on the plane from Yemen to Ethiopia... yeah, plane... was thinking 'bout a boat. Being kidnapped by a Johnny Depp looking Somalian pirate captain sounded fab... but discovered they're ugly so... on the plane... and thinking about today.

Today... said goodbye to Yemen, goodbye to the hotel that's been home for 2 months, goodbye to the Yemeni that treated me so wonderfully but in fact, was not & goodbye to truly wonderful German.

You've heard me ramble about goodbyes before... hands down, still say that's the hardest part of travel. But they're getting easier... & while not easy, know the natural progression of emotions. Of course, being the one leaving is always easier than staying. At least for me... new city or country adds so much excitement that it makes goodbyes easier.

But today was different. Scary different.

Was ready to leave Yemen... been there, done that. Happy to get away from the Yemeni. And although I already miss the German, not enough to miss Ethiopia.

But again, today something was different. Got depressed & felt really lonely while packing. Maybe because my norm is to pack & mentally say goodbye the night before. But what scares me... & it's been one of my concerns a long time... maybe... jusy maybe... ready to settle longer. But I'm not done. The goal... West African smugglers (drugs, guns or diamonds) still looms in the distant horizon. No quitting yet.