We recently connected with Diamond Crystal and have shared our conversation below.

Diamond, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?

I no longer take vacations because my life is a vacation.

I embarked on an intended 60 day wellness sabbatical to Manta Ecuador. I wrote a blog about it here https://thegallivantinggrandma.com/at-almost-60-i-am-in-love-repost/

At day 50, I knew I could no longer return to the life I’d left. A difficult conversation with my then employer ensued. I threw caution to the wind and retired myself. Housesitting had served me well in the U.S. so I got serious about creating a lifestyle which no longer required a vacation.

I applied for a 5 month housesit in Jalisco, Mexico and the rest is history. I now gallivant the globe on my terms, living a lifestyle most only dream of. I am grateful to count friends around the globe as family, my new tribe. I’ve turned this new lifestyle of ease into a brand, “The Gallivanting Grandma” to encourage other women of color to place faith over fear, begin thriving vs. surviving.

There’s a big world out there…I’m gobbling it up one housesit at a time. 2023 will take me to Panama City, Panama, Chapala, Mexico, and the Algarve region of Portugal all within the 1st 6 months and all with free accommodations. What better way to vacation?

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As a global nomad, travel & wellness influencer, I encourage black women to embrace a life of ease outside the US. I speak faith over fear to women over 55 interested in beginning a new life journey. I think of myself as solo travel ambassador for that segment of the population. It’s my truth and I can speak honestly to it.

Who would have thought at 58, I’d regularly push the boundaries of senior possibilities by packing up my laptop, cell phones and camera for the next solo adventure? Sounds like something I should have done at 18 or 19, but I’m proof that it’s never too late to live the life of your dreams. I’ve traveled the continental US, Belize, Mexico and Ecuador as a 5-star housesitter. My daughter started calling me “The Gallivanting Grandma”. I now spend 9 months each year ‘slowmading’ through the world, devoting the final 90 days per year stateside to enjoy Mommy & Grandma time.

The Gallivanting Grandma has morphed into its’ own brand, alongside my signature home goods line PowerPeace™. A high-quality apparel and accessories line, PowerPeace™ speaks to those determined to live their holistically best lives harnessing the power of peace within. My personal and professional lives are perfectly aligned.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I’ve been a face-to-face intentional connector through most of my professional journey. I thrived in social settings where eye contact and handshakes ruled. The pandemic changed all that where virtual meetings and conferences became a new normal. It was a challenging period as an events manager and business owner, requiring me to venture into uncharted territory and learn an entirely new skillset. I had to prove to myself I was still viable in this new virtual world.

It also forced me to revisit the value of social media in building solid personal and professional communities. It was no longer a ‘nice to have’; a digital footprint was a necessity. As a solo global traveler, these communities have been the source of soft landings throughout South and Central America. I lean heavily to supportive online groups for inside travel tips and ‘boots on the ground’ information to make each destination a personal success story.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I followed the lead of my entrepreneur daughter, who has built a thriving ecosystem based on social media management. As a millennial, she grew up in the age of hands-on technology and was comfortable in the space. With her constant prompting, I ventured into the world of social media under her guidance. Her advise was always, “Don’t sell, just share”. That has been the foundation of my posts which have resonated with a mature on-line audience who confirm the value of authenticity.

I now administer two FB groups and a growing IG presence. I’ve curated a series of personal meetups during my time in the states to further encourage senior women of color to travel MORE and travel BETTER.

My advice is to get out of your comfort zone and jump in. Don’t be shy in asking for help, these young people have the secret sauce!
My next goal is to create a YouTube channel to better share my journey and help monetize my travels.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thegallivantinggrandma.com/
• Instagram: @thegallivantinggrandma
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084264040191
• Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
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