About

Meet Samantha

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How it all started

Long story short, I always loved the idea of seeing the world, but it wasn’t until a trip to Iceland in 2017 that I started taking that desire seriously. Once back from Iceland I immediately started to prioritize saving money for travel and began planning adventures around my full-time job. Two years later I had been to 9 new countries and 4 new cities (more than the previous 10 years) and could not wait to get to more.

After a layoff in early 2020, I knew I had to take a chance and start living the life I always dreamed of. I decided to leave the comforts of home, fuel my wanderlust and SEE as much of the world as possible by embarking on my first long-term solo travel journey with a ton of bucket list experiences in mind.

When those travel plans took a back seat due to a worldwide pandemic, I found myself in new territory enjoying the simple life with family in Upstate New York.

At the end of 2020, my wanderlust was still burning bright so I decided I had to get back out there in the “safest” and most convenient way possible. I always wanted to camper van across the US, visit all 63 National Parks and explore all 50 US states and thought now is the time.

In March 2021 I packed up my stuff, rented my condo, and left Florida to explore the US. I am currently on the longest road trip I have ever taken, car camping from state to state in my 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. Follow me on Instagram for daily updates from the road.

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In 2007 I graduated college with dual bachelor’s degrees in Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising. Always intrigued by the creative aspect behind fashion design, I set off to NYC immediately following graduation and set my sights on the fashion world. I envisioned myself running my own line (and still do). I worked 3-4 internships over the next couple of months (some paid, some not) while trying to find something that felt right…it didn’t happen. After some time in NYC, I moved to Chicago on a whim convinced I was going to get a job with a luxury retailer I had been interviewing for. Fast forward to me boarding the plane to Chicago, I get a call from HR telling me they are going with someone more experienced. I totally didn’t see that one coming, I laughed the whole way there and thought-guess I won’t be needing that “Is it Friday yet?” coffee mug.

Not wanting to move back in with my parents, I landed in Chicago and ended up finding another job pretty quickly. I actually thought this one was going to turn into my dream job (designing a clothing line, managing a brand, producing fashion shows). Fast forward a year later I realized that wasn’t going to happen, the owners didn’t share my same passions. I ultimately moved back in with my parents because I was broke and visionless but I never stopped working. At one point I was working 4+ jobs (magazine stocker, retail associate, sewing bathrobes, hemming pants, and attempting to start an event planning business) trying to save money and find my groove.

Eventually, I took a job as a visual merchandiser and then worked really hard to get the same position at a luxury retailer. When I saw I missed a call from the recruiter I called her back 6 times in a row, not realizing she had caller i.d. She finally called me back and said “so I saw you called a few times”. I was bursting with embarrassment but it had been three weeks and I wanted to know if I got the job. Thankfully I did!

I was excited to start my new position as a visual coordinator but I was only making $15 an hour with mediocre benefits. This was 5 years out of college, not what I had envisioned for myself.

I took another part-time position and worked these two jobs for about 6 months. I was then let go from my full-time job due to the store closing. I was recruited via LinkedIn only a few days after and wound up being offered another full-time position in the wholesale apparel industry. This time in Miami. New experiences are exciting for me. I’ve never shy away from change so I jumped at the chance to move to Miami not knowing what to expect. 

By May 2014 I had been in the same position for about a year and a half and while I felt I had finally found a “real” job with all the benefits I thought I needed, it started to become mundane. Boredom set in. I did feel a sense of security knowing I had a steady paycheck and loved my co workers which was a great, however I still wasn’t making enough to live solo in Miami which was disappointing.

Right after my 30^th birthday I had no debt, sacrificed a lot of luxuries, and saved enough money for a down payment. I bought a condo overlooking the ocean (my mortgage is cheaper than rent), moved in, renovated a bit, and was offered a District Manager position at a new company. I thought this one would give me the satisfaction I was looking for, an elevated position at a hugely popular fashion house. Two years later I started to get burned out and a bit disappointed with life again….I mean seriously how many times is that supposed to happen in one lifetime? I had big dreams of growing with the new company I worked for but quickly realized a 9-5 corporate desk job wasn’t my cup of tea. I decided I no longer wanted to pursue a corporate career that would take me back to NYC and opted to say in the field as a Wholesale District Manager.

In 2017 I bought a go-pro and tagged along with my parents and a few of their friends on a highly anticipated trip to Iceland. I had not been out of the country since I studied abroad in 2005 and was slacking a bit on the savings since buying and renovating my condo. As soon as I landed I was like “what have I been missing”? Immediately the travel bug lit up inside me and I began plotting my next adventure.

Iceland was a phenomenal experience for me and really got me out of the little slump I was in. With a bit more soul searching and numerous thoughts about quitting my job, I realized quitting wasn’t an option financially (I now have a mortgage and all). I started focusing on how I could live a more fulfilling and inspirational life by traveling and experiencing things otherwise unknown. Saving money to travel quickly became my #1 priority. I tidied up my spending and became excited about the future again.

Curious to know how I save money to travel? Read this post where I reveal 17 QUIRKY ways I save money to travel that you can do too!

Since 2017 I’ve been to 10 more countries and even more states all while working a fulltime job. I am thankful to currently have a semi-flexible position with a manager who encourages me to see the world and a fresh vision of what that can do for me.

I had been toying with the travel blogging idea for a while but I always thought I didn’t travel enough and self-doubt always crept in for a number of reasons. After about a year or more of back and forth, with some friend’s encouragement, a more flexible boss, and well nothing to lose, I said what the heck why not try! I decided one weekend to start what is now Seeing Sam, a collection of my bucket list adventures and experiences from around the globe. It’s a lot of work but I know It will be worth it. While I’m just beginning my journey, I hope I will inspire you to start your own!

Thank you for reading my story. I hope you will (if you haven’t already) set out to pursue the life of your dreams!

Remember in 20 years from now; you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.