While I was devouring a piece of sushi with one hand and sipping a glass of Chardonnay with the other, a Puerto Rican tourist approached me at the tapas bar of Karma Restaurant and Lounge.

Tourist: So, I ask everyone I meet out of curiosity — where are you from, and what brings you to the Cayman Islands?

Me: I’m from Canada. I came here on a work permit and I wait tables at a local restaurant.

Tourist: Why did you choose to come here?

Me: The job offer was attractive and unique. And honestly, I needed a change — a new experience.

Tourist: What do you do back home?

Me: I work in the service industry at a ski resort. I’m basically a snowboard bum.

Tourist: Is Cayman your first trip outside of Canada?

Me: No, it’s actually my 15th country.

Tourist: Impressive! Where else have you been?

Me: I’ve road-tripped the American West Coast, drank tequila in Mexico, scuba dived in Panama, surfed in Costa Rica, camped in Hawaii, vacationed in the Dominican Republic, toured France and London, backpacked Thailand and Laos, tramped through India, trekked Nepal, visited the Dalai Lama’s home in Tibet, and holidayed in Sri Lanka. Now I’m here in Cayman for a five-month work holiday.

Tourist: Wow! You’ve been everywhere!

Me: Not even close. I’ve only been to 15 countries. There are about 196 in the world (197 if you count Tibet, which I hold close to my heart). So I still have a long way to go.

Tourist: You’re such a lucky girl.

Me: No, Sir. It’s not luck. I chose this path. Like everyone else, I have hard times and good times. I’m lucky to be healthy and to have amazing people around me, but the rest is just decisions I’ve made. Choices.

Tourist: Your parents must be wealthy if you travel this much.

Me: No. I only have my mom, and she does the best she can. All my travels are the result of my own work. I work in the food and beverage industry — it pays well, offers flexibility, and I can use my skills anywhere in the world. I know I don’t have a pension or financial security, but this is the risk I take to chase my dream of exploring the world. Or maybe just of conquering my own world.

Tourist: You’re right… I’m a technician. I only get two weeks’ vacation a year, so I don’t go far — that’s why I come here. I make good money and I’m saving for retirement. I have a wife and kids I love, a nice house, a car. But that’s it. This is my life. I have small memories, short stories. I live a routine. I work and work so that maybe, when I’m 60, I’ll be able to live my life.

Me: Well, Sir, having a family is a beautiful thing. And owning a home is comforting. Traveling the world is scary, and it’s not for everyone. But sometimes, you need to let go, listen to your heart, and do something crazy. Money shouldn’t be what stops your dreams. Make a bucket list and start checking it off. Live your life now. The future will always be there, but this moment will soon be gone.

There was a pause. He sipped his rum on the rocks, looked up, took a deep breath. Then, as he stood to leave, he said:

Tourist: Well, young lady, thank you for this beautiful conversation. If you’ll excuse me, I have a bucket list to start writing.