by Pete Barba
Captain Pete, South Water Caye, Belize, 2018
Hi Friends,
In case you don’t know me, my name is Pete and I’m the old man of the house. I’m so looking forward to our year long adventure but also a little sad as well.
Let’s start at the beginning of my story. I grew up on the east coast, in what was the small town of Doylestown, PA. It’s about an hour north of Philly and growing up it was primarily a farming community that was becoming suburbia. In addition to the usual growing up stuff, I had one pivotal experience that led me to a life of travel and adventure. At age 13, I took part in an exchange program for the summer after 7th grade. For 3 amazing weeks, I explored the small town of Mevagissey in Cornwall England. It was such a wonderful adventure. A country where everyone drove on the “wrong” side of the road, the accent was unique, shandy was available in vending machines and I was completely out of my element. What a wonderful experience!
“Safe Harbor” photography by Pete Barba, Cinque Terre Italy, 2000
Then in college, one summer I threw most everything I owned in a car and drove cross county for weeks on end, exploring the beauty and wide open spaces of our country. The freedom of the open road was liberating and the adventure of exploring new places was phenomenal. The road trip was so wonderful that I repeated it again after the first year of med school. For 3 weeks I drove across the country sharing my adventures with my Mom and Dad. It was full of so many wonderful memories.
Then after the second year of med school, I “re-met” my future wife (a story for another time). After our first year together, we decided to take an adventure to Italy for a few weeks. Oh, the memories of wandering through Venice (“not all who wander are lost!”), eating fruitti di mare in Cinque Terre, enjoying fresh pasta in Rome. It was a wonderful trip. The food, the history, the culture. To this day, Italy is one of my top 2 places I have been in my life.
Pete and Gwyn, Venice, Italy, 2019
We built a life around travel. For some couples, they buy cars or fancy clothes. We spend our time and money on travel. Thailand before kids. Vietnam for my 40th. England as the first big trip with our kids. Alaska via cruise and RV. Sailing in Croatia and Belize. Cruises with family. Italy to visit friends. To get immersed in a new culture and see the beauty of the world is what we do.
Sometime after the kids were born, we decided that we wanted a grand adventure someday before they left the house. There are differing stories on how this trip came to be, but it grew organically over ten years and now it is less than 2 months away.
Three Generations: Pete, Peter, Drew, Alaska, USA, 2021
What am I looking forward to most? Spending time with my family. The past 2 years have been extremely hard. When the rest of the world went into lockdown during COVID, healthcare workers, like myself, started to work harder than we ever had before. Early on in COVID I got promoted (demoted?) into leadership and as a result, I have missed way too many dinners and other family time. My kiddos are 11 going on 16 and I am so looking forward to having a year to “just be” with them. They are becoming adults before my eyes and I want to get to know them before they tire of their old man. Equally important is more time with Kate. She has spent the past 2 years being a phenomenal stay at home mom, teacher, and support for me. Just as I have missed my time with my kids, I have also missed so many moments with my love.
In addition to family time, I am so excited to exploring different cultures and landscapes through the lens of 12 year olds. Each time we have travelled with them they have broadened our view. No way would I have eaten gelato 24 times in 21 days in Croatia without kids, and now I’m a connoisseur of lemon-lavender gelato. Or seeing Great Britain through the eyes of a child on the playground in Scotland. Sharing a sunset from a sailboat in Alaska with your son and Dad. They make me see the world in a different way.
Barba Family, Krka National Park, Croatia, 2019
With all our amazing plans, surely there would be no sadness in my heart as we depart on such an epic adventure, but there is. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m a family medicine physician who has been caring for my patients for 17 years in a small town. For many of my patients, I know so much more than what their chart says. I know who cultivates specialty breeds of roses, who drives a Harley motorcycle, whose children are driving them crazy, who used to own a restaurant…. I have been with them during the loss of spouses, the births of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, I have shared an old fashioned with someone on hospice and I have been there to guide them through the process of aging. They aren’t my patients, they are my friends, my family. I am truly blessed. To have to say goodbye to these friends is very hard, even knowing that I will see many of them again. Part of it is my own ego, thinking that no one else will care for them the way I do (which isn’t true), but another part of it is I feel I am betraying some knowing that I will not be there in their time of need after they have trusted me for 17 years. Thankfully all have been understanding and supportive, but at the same time I see the tears being held and I feel the hugs lasting a little longer than usual.
“Dinghy Sunset” photography by Pete Barba, Alaska, USA, 2021
I guess the take home message is this. Live your life to the best of your ability. Plan for adventures. Love your family deeply. Find your passion at work and give it your all. Be kind and respectful to others. Know your purpose.
With joy and hope,
Pete
Vivid Travelers 
6 responses to “A Look Back, and Future Thoughts”
Pete, great bio on traveling.
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This is wonderful. Enjoy your new adventure.
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Loved this bio. Our family has some of the same priorities and I am looking forward to watching your adventure. I’m also looking forward to our paths crossing out there in the world!
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Thanks Rusty for your help the past 2 weekends getting the kids scuba certified. It was a pleasure getting to I know you and I hope our paths cross again in the future.
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have fun pete n family , looking forward to photos
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This time is certainly well-deserved! You are an incredible leader, teacher, physician, co-worker and friend, and you will certainly be missed. Safe travels for you and your family–enjoy!
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