From Corporate Zombie to Overland Queen: One Woman's Dragon Ride to Freedom

A Khaleesi's Inheritance: From Wisconsin to the World

My loyal subjects imagine if you will inheriting not just a house in the quaint lands of Wisconsin but a dragon's egg of opportunity! That is precisely what happened to one Ashley Kaye. In the year 2015 upon the passing of her father she became the steward of her childhood home. But unlike me who inherited a kingdom in ashes she inherited something far more…mundane initially. A house! At 27 she was toiling away in the corporate healthcare realm a place as exciting as a Dothraki wedding without the blood and fire and transitioning to consultancy where she worked 80 100 hours a week. Sounds like a fate worse than marrying Khal Drogo doesn't it? 'I was a zombie in those times,' Kaye says. Even my dragons wouldn’t stand for that!

Scuba Diving Epiphany: 'Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon' but Boredom Can

It appears our Wisconsin Khaleesi had her own 'fire cannot kill a dragon' moment but instead of flames it came in the form of a scuba diving trip. Whilst submerged in the turquoise waters of Honduras she met someone who opened her eyes wider than when I first saw my dragons hatch. This wise soul whispered sweet nothings of freedom and travel claiming it was 'easier and cheaper than you think.' Can you imagine? And just like that the corporate chains began to loosen. She returned home worked like a Dothraki slave and quit the next year. It seems even the Mother of Dragons approves of such bold moves!

South African Sojourn: 'Dracarys' to the Status Quo!

Three years she spent gallivanting across the globe a true testament to breaking free from the wheel. But fate it seems had a twisted sense of humor. An unexpected message arrived during her sojourn in South Africa: her aunt was unwell. The call back to Wisconsin loomed like the Red Wedding! 'That flight was probably the moment where not a single ounce of my being was like 'Yay I'm going home.' It was like 'I don't want to be here. This isn't it for me.',' she says. 'I love being on the islands. I love having the ocean near me. That took away the hesitation I had in previous years about selling the house.' Sounds like someone was about to say 'Dracarys' to their former life!

Overlanding Beckons: A Toyota Truck Named Drogon (Probably)

With her aunt cared for the house prepped for sale and the wanderlust burning brighter than dragon fire Ashley turned her gaze to new horizons. Enter: van life! But alas traveling by plane with a canine companion sounded about as appealing as attending a Lannister feast. Then through the magical portal of Instagram she discovered overlanding. A couple shared tales of conquering the wilds in a Toyota truck with a camper. The pieces fell into place faster than the Unsullied decimating their enemies. Our heroine purchased a Toyota Tacoma for a sum that could probably buy a small Unsullied army and named him Drogon. (I am just speculating!)

No Plan is the Best Plan: Embracing the Dothraki Spirit

And so with her new steed Ashley embarked on her grand adventure starting with Baja California Mexico. 'My life is kind of like 'the plan is there is no plan.'' she declared channeling her inner Dothraki. Most people plan such journeys for years but not this one. She embraced the chaos the unknown the sheer thrill of it all. She spent her time in Mexico plotting renovations because even a Khaleesi needs a comfortable ride. She upgraded her vehicle with a camper solar power and all the bells and whistles of a mobile dragon's lair to traverse the Pan American Highway from Alaska to Argentina. And even though borders and bureaucracy are exhausting 'it's definitely one of the coolest adventures of my lifetime.'

Life is Too Short: So Fly My Pretty Dragons Fly!

After conquering numerous countries and facing challenges fiercer than a White Walker horde Ashley learned one invaluable lesson: 'Life is just too short.' Indeed! My own father the Mad King learned that lesson a bit too late wouldn't you agree? So heed her words my friends. You don't need to quit your career to travel the world but live! Chase your dreams like a dragon chasing sheep (or perhaps a more vegan friendly alternative). As Ashley’s father wisely said 'You can be anything you want when you grow up and you can do anything.' Now go forth and conquer my dragons! The world awaits!