Change is in the air. I’m on the brink of kissing 2010 goodbye and greeting a mysterious 2011 with hopeful eyes.

But what a year it’s been!

The preceding 12 months have been a blur of saving money, working and quitting my steady job, blogging a bunch, trip planning, and traveling around Argentina. Follow-through has been something I’ve been dreadfully short on in the past, so I’m proud to have identified a dream, worked hard toward it, and followed through on the first few milestones. I’m not there yet, and I believe the best dreams are almost always unattainable. They leave no room for complacency and keep us striving for the next great achievement.

And so I have kept striving since my return from Argentina. I’ve spent countless hours pondering the innards of Traveling Savage and how this blog – this venture – might evolve. After the new year I will have a huge announcement about the future and I can’t wait to share the news!

Plans & Happenings

The first 10 days of December capped off my month in Argentina. In Salta, I turned in my apartment key and returned to CouchSurfing the last handful of days. I spent the tail end of the trip in Buenos Aires and really enjoyed the return to big city life. It was here that I met up with the fine folks of Globetrooper once more (we got together in Salta, too) as well as Dustin from Skinny Backpacker. These are some great folks so please go check out their sites!

Returning to Chicago and seeing Sarah was like a salve for the soul; it was also quite like a scene from a Hugh Grant movie. We managed to get out of Chicago and return to Madison before a blizzard sat down on the Midwest. The time between my return and the holidays has been instructive. I battled a lengthy cold while attempting to settle into some kind of work routine at home. It’s been pretty futile, but I’m writing it off to decompression and the general lack of work that’s completed around the holidays.

I have redoubled my focus on the business aspect of Traveling Savage, and I quickly realized that I hadn’t given it enough attention prior to leaving for Argentina. I think it’s forgivable given that I quit my job and left for a month of travel all in the span of 10 days. Finally, planning my next trip has been in full swing and I almost bought a ticket to New Zealand a week ago. Almost. So no, I’m not going there next.

Features & PR

On the features front, December kicked off with my post about breaking beauty in Salta featured in the 5th edition of the Gen Y Travel Blog Carnival over on Never Ending Voyage. SoloFriendly had some nice things to say about my writing in Argentina and included my first post there in her final Shiny Travel Objects segment.

Misadventures with Andi included posts of mine in her weekly Saturday Six feature, this time in numbers 46 and 47. Around this same time, Single Occupancy’s Weekend Intelligence gave a shout-out to my post about finding the love in travel. Off Track Planet named me as one of their featured Travel Dorks, and the next day Hike Bike Travel asked me to describe my dream trip when money’s not an obstacle.

Recently, A Dangerous Business and LandLopers both included my post on easy ways to die in Argentina in their weekly round-ups.

Traveling Savage also made several year-end best of lists! These include Almost Fearless‘ 100 Inspired Travel Blogs, Got Saga’s #5 most inspiring travel blogs, and Off Track Planet’s 9 Most Successful Travel Bloggers of 2010.

Finally, there’s a hilarious contest about the world’s hottest travel blogging hunks going on at 1000 Fights until January 5th. Yours truly was nominated (by who?) as one of these hunks and I’m at the center of a dirty smear campaign by another entrant, Brendan van Son. While his tactics appeal to humanity’s baser instincts, let this be a clarion call to our more righteous and logical faculties. Vote for Keith!

Parting Thought

Where does your passion for travel lie? Are you passionate about the simple act of travel, of moving between places? Or are you more passionate about specific destinations? Perhaps you love to travel because it is the mode by which you reach these places. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Original photo by P.K. Designs via Flickr under Creative Commons

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Article Comments

  1. Globetrooper Lauren December 27, 2010 at 7:00 pm

    Ooo the anticipation of the announcement! I assume it’s about where to next…? I vote India 🙂

    1. Keith Savage December 28, 2010 at 8:22 am

      Hey Lauren, it is about where to next, but also some greater direction-level changes. 🙂

  2. Erica December 27, 2010 at 7:01 pm

    I have been so incredibly inspired by the copious end of year posts and I can feel the energy coming from yours! I am so ready to bring in the new year with our new adventures and forging and even stronger bond with the travel community.

    Cheers Keith!

    1. Keith Savage December 28, 2010 at 8:29 am

      I’m looking forward to your journey, Erica. When does it kick off? February/March?

      1. Erica December 28, 2010 at 5:54 pm

        Late March/Early April

        We just won’t know because we’re waiting on the hush hush profit sharing check to arrive. 2 weeks after that. 😛

        1. Keith Savage December 29, 2010 at 11:57 am

          Awesome!!

  3. […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jeff Titelius. Jeff Titelius said: RT @travelingsavage: *New* State of the Savage: December 2010 | Traveling Savage http://su.pr/21uIXs or http://bit.ly/fXyaNW #travel […]

  4. Connie December 28, 2010 at 6:59 am

    I have BIG NEWS to announce after the new year as well! Ohh, I love surprises! Can’t wait to hear yours! Cheers to 2011! I have a feeling it’s going to be a darn good year for us both!

    1. Keith Savage December 28, 2010 at 8:26 am

      Cheers Connie! I’ll be keeping my eye out for your news. I’m really excited for 2011!!

  5. Andi December 28, 2010 at 10:01 pm

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

    1. Keith Savage December 29, 2010 at 12:04 pm

      Thanks Andi, I hope you have a wonderful new year and an even better 2011.

  6. Laura December 29, 2010 at 9:41 am

    Looking forward to the big announcement! Happy New Year; 2010 was a great year for you!

    1. Keith Savage December 30, 2010 at 1:13 pm

      2010 has been good overall. I think 2011 will be the real test for me.

  7. Jill - Jack and Jill Travel The World December 29, 2010 at 4:34 pm

    Curious about your announcement too. Congrats on the 2010 being a great year and hoping that the next one will be better for you!

  8. Mikeachim January 3, 2011 at 10:04 am

    I’ll be checking back too. Don’t keep us in suspense too long!

    Yes, 2010 was officially a Major Year for you. Inspiring to see and to read about. And sounds like you’re keeping up the momentum with 2011. Whatever it is you’re doing, Mr Secretive. 😉

    And yes, 2011 is all about the between-places experiences, while I’m still based full-time somewhere. Trying to sharpen my senses, get into the habit of capturing sights and sounds in a digital or analogue way. Getting into the habit of travelling like a travel-writer, not travelling like I have previously, focussed on a destination. Learning to enjoy it, good & bad. Making myself thirsty for it all, so every sip is a good one….

    1. Keith Savage January 3, 2011 at 10:10 am

      Hey Mike, news is coming today. Sounds like our 2011s will be similar – it’s about sharpening my instincts, busting my ass, and being attentive. We might just cross paths.

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