Lake Constance, I Can't Choose

Where Germany, Austria, and Switzerland Argue Over Who Makes the Best View.

🚨 Travel Obsession Alert 🚨

See this fabulous jacket I am rocking?

I borrowed it from a friend while staying in Switzerland, and let me tell you—it changed my life.

Why?
✔️ Lightweight? Check.
✔️ Super warm? Check.
✔️ Fits into its own tiny little bag like some kind of magician's trick? DOUBLE CHECK.

This jacket became my new obsession as someone who travels with carry-on only. I NEEDED it in my life. The moment I handed it back, I made it my mission to find one just like it. (The hunt was more intense than navigating a Swiss mountain trail without a map!)

Have you ever borrowed something and thought, "I can't go on without this in my life?" Let me know what it was like. Maybe we can start a support group!

Why am I telling you about a jacket I borrowed in Switzerland? Because it’s the reason I barely saw Lake Constance. 🙄

I know—totally unlike me. After nearly a month of minimalist living out of a carry-on, something snapped. Instead of soaking in the sights, I spent my two days there hunting for that life-changing jacket. Priorities, am I right? 🤷‍♀️

Here’s my full confession: I only go shopping about once a year. I prefer spending on experiences (i.e., travel) rather than collecting new things. Plus, I genuinely dislike carrying anything extra—I don’t even carry a purse! I can’t stand feeling weighed down. This philosophy, of course, extends to my life as a whole.

Anyway, I bounced from store to store searching for the “perfect-color-perfect-size-perfect-fit jacket.” Amidst the obsessive jacket quest, here’s what little I managed to see at Lake Constance:

Nestled in the heart of Europe, Lake Constance borders Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, showcasing a stunning blend of serenity and charm. My visit was a mix of whimsical moments, a sprinkle of chaos, and subdued poetry—like a journey that etches itself into your memory with indelible ink. (Okay, that turned poetic, didn’t it?)

My adventure kicked off with an unforgettable greeting: I found myself at the wrong train station. Yep! A friend I made in Greece generously picked me up and hosted me for a few days. Instead of a warm welcome, she was met with... me, running late and utterly lost. What an entrance!

And when I say train station, I mean a train “stop.”

Train Stop. Not Station.

I stood, bag in hand, staring at an empty platform as my train seemingly set off on grander adventures. But this time, I had a friend who kind-of, sort-of knew where I was! Eventually, she located me, and we wasted no time finding a spot to grab a proper beer and a bite to eat.

On our way to the libations, something very exciting happened. A rainbow arched across the sky as we drove from the train stop. It felt like Germany’s way of saying, “Welcome, Jolene. Things might not go as planned, but you love that, don’t you?”

At this point, I had been lost, found, fed, and had spent time with my friend—and, oh yes, witnessed a rainbow! What could top this?

Another friggin’ rainbow!!!! Yep, right when we arrived at her house. I have such magical thinking around pretty much everything, so these were all very good signs for me. I was in the right place…to find that jacket!

Lake Constance wasn’t just a lesson in history and serendipity—it turned out to be a crash course in self-discovery. Of myself, the world, and, yes… that jacket. Obsessed doesn’t even begin to cover it. Possessed might be more accurate.

So, here’s the situation: I’m traveling with a carry-on, already packed tighter than a can of sardines. Not even a single sheet of paper could fit. And yet, I went shopping. Not just browsing—hunting.

Picture this: I’m prowling through stores like a wild animal, every rack of clothes my unsuspecting prey. Jackets were everywhere—taunting me, teasing me. It was a full-blown fashion safari, and I wasn’t leaving without my trophy. 🧥🎯

I had just walked out of the dressing room for the third time because, guess what, I found these amazing jeans. They were the softest jeans I ever felt. And the perfect color grey! And not in my size. 😡

Soon to be obsession number two.

I think it must have been into the third hour of my hunt when I came to my senses as I grabbed for these AMAZING leggings.

There was no way I could fit any of this in my bag, not even the jacket I needed and could actually wear.

Defeated, I walked out of the last store like a forlorn hunter returning empty-handed. No jacket. No jeans. No leggings. Just a really cool sweater coat and this funky hat/scarf combo I couldn’t resist. On the bright side, I still had my friend—thankfully, I hadn’t completely worn her down with my shopping obsession.

We spent the rest of the day wandering the city, eventually stumbling into an amazing antique shop. Naturally, I spotted countless treasures I wanted to take home. But, being realistic (for once), I refrained. Then, I saw it: a table marked “Free.” On it were sheets of old piano music—beautiful, weathered paper begging to be repurposed. Inspiration struck, and I knew they’d make a perfect art piece.

Finally, my hunt was complete, and I walked away victorious… just not in the way I’d expected. 🎵✨

Isn’t it amazing how long I can go on about a jacket?

But wait—there’s more. Weeks after I got home from my trip, guess what showed up in my mailbox? Yep, that jacket! My amazing Swiss friend tracked one down and mailed it to me.

So, after all that hunting, obsessing, and dramatic defeat… the jacket found me. Moral of the story? Sometimes the things you’re desperate for won’t come from hunting them down—they’ll show up on your doorstep with better timing and way less effort. 🧥📬✨

Okay, remember my love letters to cities?

A Love Letter to Lake Constance

Oh, Lake Constance, you’re unhinged...or maybe it’s me?

You trickster of a destination. You lured me in with your promises of history, beauty, and serene shores, but instead, you gave me… a jacket obsession.

Yes, I know you tried. You offered rainbows twice to try and remind me of life’s magic, and I only took them as signs you would deliver what I really wanted. You gave me charming streets, antique treasures, and even free piano sheet music to transform into art. But let’s be honest: you knew where my heart was. It wasn’t in your waters or picturesque promenades—it was hanging on a rack in your stores.

I’ll admit I got distracted. I hardly walked your walked your shores. Instead, I hunted. Not for adventure, not for enlightenment—for a jacket. The jacket. I couldn’t stop thinking about the one since I borrowed it in Switzerland. You watched as I prowled your shops and tried on jeans, leggings, and even that funky hat/scarf combo I didn’t need. You saw me leave empty-handed, defeated, yet clutching a sweater coat as consolation.

I wandered your streets, sad and cold, until I found these men to keep me warm. It didn’t last long, and they were just as cold as I was. Maybe even colder.

I left you feeling as though I had barely got to know you when you wanted so much more from me. In my defense, you were difficult. It felt like a setup from the beginning, especially with the rainbows. I am not bitter; I just wanted to hear one thing from you. Is that so wrong to be so bold?

You could have just told me you didn’t want to get serious, but instead, you went behind my back and conspired with fate (and my friend) to teach me one last lesson. Weeks later, that jacket showed up at my door.

Now I feel like I owe you an apology. You gave me more than I deserved. I see now those rainbows welcomed me to your shores as if to say, “Stay awhile. Forget your plans- and the damn jacket.”

And while I failed to know you fully, I found pieces of you to carry home—a scrap of music, a story, a lesson in surrender. Lake Constance, you’re an enigma, a puzzle I couldn’t solve. And perhaps that’s why I loved you.

Yours,

Jolene