Dear NextTriber:

This weekend, I dressed up as a fortune teller, of sorts (it’s amazing the costume you can create when you find cooky stuff from around the world in your closet). Mike and I went trick or treating with my two grandnieces who were outfitted as a werewolf and a spider. It was so much fun following them around their neighborhood with their parents and reliving the joy of my own Halloween escapades and those of my boys.

It helped soothe the part of me that was experiencing major FOMO. For the past 9 years, I have been in San Miguel de Allende at this time of year for our Dia de los Muertos celebration. In 2017 I visited with 11 NextTribers—our first trip ever. The OG journey! And I came close to canceling it.

My father died one week before I was set to leave. I was a mess—discombobulated and distraught. But then I realized that there was no better place for me to work through my grief than at Day of the Dead. I used to live in San Miguel so I knew how cathartic it could be.

I’ve been processing that loss ever since. Every year, I’ve placed a photo of him on our altar in San MIguel along with two things he loved: Pinot Grigio wine and Oreo cookies. I’ve invited him to visit me in my dreams and a couple of times he’s actually complied—moments I treasure.

This year, I have more grief to deal with: My beloved brother in law, Bill Dudney, died last December. But I’m doing my tribute on a smaller scale. I’ve made a countertop altar to both of them, and to Mike’s father Jack, here at our house in Asheville.

Of course, it’s nothing like the altar and the celebration that three groups of NextTribe travelers are experiencing right now in Mexico. I’m so happy that they’re seeing what this fabulous festival is all about: A time to remember our loved ones, to say their names out loud, to be grateful for the days we still have here on Earth.

This is the Mexican saying that has become something of a motto for me: “Don’t be scared of dying. Be scared of not living.”

There are two reasons I didn’t join our trip leaders Jeannie Edmunds, Jennifer Gongaware, Vanessa Sinclair and Jane Shlaes in San Miguel this year.

The first: NextTribe is growing so much that it’s impossible for me to go on every trip and still keep my sanity…and my husband. I’ve had to start giving trip responsibilities to other women who we’ve recognized as ideal leaders.

For us, ideal means fun, organized, caring, curious.

We’re really careful about who we pick to lead a trip. She needs to be a party hostess, master of ceremonies and mother hen all rolled into one. I am completely confident that the women we’ve chosen are going to show you the best time possible on NextTribe trips and keep you safe and secure.

The other reason I’m not in Mexico is that I’m heading off tomorrow to Nepal to hike in the Himalayas with a NextTribe group. I can’t be two places at once though I’ve always thought that I’d opt for that as my super power if I were given a choice.

At NextTribe, we like to offer a wide range of experiences to travelers and, in addition to our Vietnam trip (starting a week from today), we’ll be in three very different destinations at basically the same time.

It’s important to me that we have a wide variety of trips on the schedule—a few super active trips for the more adventurous among you, plus some laid-back journeys for those who like a bit more lollygagging when they travel (I’m looking at you, Costa Rica and Umbria/Tuscany).

We’ve even found a way for one trip to satisfy a range of energy levels. In Peru and Patagonia—both coming next fall—you’ll be able to calibrate your activities based on the number of calories you’re comfortable burning. All while staying at the most luxurious hotels in those destinations. Did I mention they each have a world-class spa?

One of the really cool things about Nepal—besides hiking in the shadow of Everest, which I first did 35 years ago—is I’m going to finally meet two important staff members. I’ve worked with Marcy Mitchell for 3 ½ years but we’ve never met in real life—only over Zoom! Ditto for Bren Lyon, who has been with us for 2 years.

Both of them work in our travel department, which means they help set up our itineraries, answer your questions, and are major players in all we do. They both live in the Rockies and are big outdoorswomen. I hope I can keep up with them at altitude!

I can’t wait to give them each a huge hug! I’ll be sure to post a photo.

BTW, Bren is leading our Patagonia trip.

With all three of us out of pocket in the Himalayas (along with our finance manager Dana Mitchell and our social media maven Ellesor Holder), we might be a little slower responding to emails and calls over the next month. Jeannie Edmunds will be holding down the fort with a few others, but still, we ask for a bit of patience.

But don’t worry: you can still book a trip while we’re out!

Stay safe and travel boldly—

Jeannie Ralston
Founder and CEO

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