It's been 10+ years since I have solo travelled, and about 5 since I've done any kind of 'traditional' backpacking. I'll be 33 next summer when I travel around South America (postponed a year...) and I'm more scared now than I ever was the first time I put on a backpack for the first time at 21. I'm also recently single so that is also adding to my apprehension. Worried about making friends/being too old//being alone/standing out like sore thumb.
I'm hoping it won't take long to get back into the swing of things, but the thing I am most nervous about is meeting people if I don't stay in dorm rooms. I'm not completely opposed to them but I'm hoping the days of 10 bed dorms are behind me. I would typically just make friends by asking room-mates out for food/drinks. What other ways are there to meet people?
(And I'll start on the anti-wrinkle cream now so I don't look THAT out of place in a dorm room if I do choose to stay in one...)
Thank you so much, such a lovely reply! Reading reassuring things like this does really calm my nerves. 💚