Barbara Belmont

I grew up on Long Island in the heartland of suburbia. After graduating from a Catholic women's college in 1968, I discovered the exciting, often dangerous worlds of sports and travel.

While my peers were raising families and securing successful careers, I spent decades of my life in a world of outdoor challenge and excitement; single, curious about the planet, and totally mobile. One year I lived in 17 different dwellings. I also lived in vans, campers, trucks, cars, tents, yurts, huts, caves, and the out-of-doors. Often, the sum total of my belongings could fit in a VW Bug, sometimes a backpack. For every story I've written, there are 10 more waiting to be told.

Between adventures I worked an absurd variety of jobs--chamber maid, salesgirl, au pair, gardener, grape and apple picker, ski teacher, coach, translator, florist, massage therapist, real estate agent, sled-dog racing consultant, kennel hand, secretary, switchboard operator, legislative assistant. When not earning a meager wage so that I could travel third class around the planet, I engaged in extreme sports. I climbed rock, mountains, and ice. I raced sled dogs, kayaked rivers and oceans, cycled alpine passes, piloted a hang-glider, flew an airplane, surfed, scuba dove... I competed every chance I got. I lived in a world of men. Women were simply not yet on the scene.

My greatest challenges came later in life and not out in the wide world. They are long-term Lyme Disease, Breast Cancer, and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Boy, did they try to crimp my style! While my memoir speaks to people of all ages, to women and men, both active and arm-chair adventure enthusiasts, I hope that it will also bring entertainment and inspiration to my fellow Lyme sufferers and those dancing with cancer and brain injury.