Solo Travel: The Magic of a Hat

This looks like a regular souvenir ballcap purchased on the shore at a port of call or possibly even shade from the brutal sun. It can be those things, but this one in particular is so much more.

My Magic Hat, and proof that I made it to the gym.

This hat is absolute magic. It represents all that I’ve been experiencing as a solo traveler — specifically my recent cruising experiences. Although I’ve always loved traveling to meet new people and discover how others live, work, and play, it has only been in the last year that I have stepped into the world of solo travel and found a community.

The solo sailor group on my most recent sailing has been extraordinary. Within this group experience, I met a particularly wonderful woman. We became quick friends and fellow rabble-rousers. With shared life stories, my respect and admiration grew exponentially. We may only share a few moments each day to catch up, but so much more comes through in words and laughter.

On our day in port at Puntarenas, Costa Rica, some of the group had tours (I’ve heard the zip lining tour was unforgettable) and many of us went into town for only a brief time. I was in the latter group. It was a hot and steamy day; it only took an hour before I was drenched in sweat. I walked along the markets and found a hat. NOTE that it is not the one pictured above. It is a pretty floral hat emblazoned with “Costa Rica.” It matched my swimsuit nicely, was a great value, so I purchased it and moved on.

In the next stall I found one that instead said “Pura Vida” (the Costa Rican phrase that encapsulates a positive outlook on life) and had a turtle swimming across the cap. It gave me such joy to look at it, but I certainly would not need two hats. I hesitated for a moment then place it back and moved on. In a few minutes I was back onboard and headed to the pool deck where my fabulous friend found me. We discussed my quick shopping excursion and what her plans were as we headed into the afternoon. She had yet to be onshore, so I wished her the best knowing we would catch up at the meeting later that evening.

When she arrived at the meeting, she was grinning ear to ear and said she simply must speak with me about philosophy. We often talk about philosophy and physics, but not in the way one might think. We apply known principles to relational situations and speak of how we cope in this world. On this occasion, she handed me a bag. Inside the bag was my magic hat.

She had scoured the town in search of the item that I would not buy for myself, knowing how much I would love to wear it. It was not just a fabulous blue hat that I will wear with pride (and sail with me from now on), it was the thoughtfulness of a momentary interaction that then created a core memory. She had brought me something that I had very briefly mentioned wanting for the sole purpose of seeing the joy it would create. It is truly one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received. It is precious and made me feel all the feels…ALL OF THEM! It is completely priceless.

We all need to be more like my friend. She is kind, funny, compassionate, resilient, strong, talented, and outrageously loving. She has moved into a HALL OF FAME in my mental archives of some stellar representation of FEMALE EXISTENCE. She motivates me to be a better version of myself, and represents those who have fed me when I was starving.

The hat represents love, friendship, comedy, drama, and above all, MAGIC.