Last April, I was standing in this very park thinking to myself, ”The digital nomad thing would be pretty cool…I wonder if I could actually pull it off.”

This photo is me at the end of March — almost exactly a year later — as my digital nomad chapter officially comes to a close.

In the past year, I’ve spent time in Tokyo across six months: April, November, December, January, February, and March. I got to experience autumn foliage, snowfall, and #sakura cherry blossoms — all in one trip! I reconnected with old friends who were randomly in town. I made a few meaningful connections. I had fun crossing off a bunch of small things at the bottom of my list. I discovered what things back home are things I’ve taken for granted and what things I can live without.

And of course, I got to spend some quality time in Manila, which gave me a glimpse into what retirement life might look like.

Now that I’m back home and reflecting, I can’t help but appreciate how many things had to fall into place for this to happen:

• my work situation
• my financial situation
• my (lack of) relationship situation
• my 19-year-old Acura’s stubborn refusal to die — and spare me from car payments
• my ass (literally) recovering from rectal surgery
• my parents’ health

Had any one of those factors been different, this chapter would have never been written.

Will I ever have this opportunity again, especially with all the shit that’s happening in the world today?

I have no idea. But if I never do, at least I can look back at all my photos and no longer wonder.

Because I did it.