Additional Coverage:
- I often feel lost because I’m not married and have no kids. My 93-year-old great aunt gave me a freeing piece of advice. (businessinsider.com)
Wanderlust and Wisdom: A Great-Aunt’s Century of Insight Guides Unconventional Journey
For 37-year-old Anna Zucker, the past year has been a departure from the traditional path. Instead of settling down, she embarked on a full-time travel adventure, a journey that, despite its picturesque facade, often brought stretches of loneliness and self-doubt. Yet, it was the distilled wisdom of her 93-year-old great-aunt, Beverley, that ultimately provided the key to embracing her unconventional life with joy and confidence.
Zucker’s odyssey began in September 2024, after she ended her lease in Washington, D.C. What started as six weeks of remote work exploring Spain’s Mediterranean coast blossomed into a nine-month trek across Southern Spain, England, and Montenegro before returning to the Iberian Peninsula. While on paper it looked like a dream—beaches, new cities, new experiences—the reality included profound loneliness and the quiet ache of watching peers achieve traditional milestones she hadn’t.
She grappled with her choices during a bleak December in London, where the sun set at 3 p.m., and faced a national blackout alone in Spain. It was during these challenging moments that the perspective offered by her great-aunt Beverley, then 92, became invaluable.
A Quest for Belonging and Family Roots
Amidst her travels, Zucker began the process of applying for EU citizenship by descent, reviewing old documents belonging to her grandparents and great-grandparents, who were born in Poland. This deep dive into her family history, particularly the fact that her Jewish ancestors had fled Europe to escape persecution, added another layer of complexity to her desire to return.
During conversations with her mother, Zucker learned that Aunt Beverley was “so proud” of her, a sentiment her mother echoed. This encouragement from her great-aunt, a living link to the family history she was researching, soon became a beacon. Beverley, born in Brooklyn after her parents and older sister Florence arrived from Łódź, Poland, was described as bubbly, funny, and outspoken – a stark contrast to the quiet, reserved demeanor of her grandmother and great-grandmother who rarely spoke of Poland.
“Do Whatever You Want”: A Life-Altering Philosophy
Zucker initially struggled to comprehend why a woman of her great-aunt’s generation would approve of someone her age without a partner, children, a traditional career, or a stable home. “She thinks people should do whatever they want,” her mother explained.
This philosophy was affirmed during a visit to Beverley’s Las Vegas home in July 2025. “I am so proud of you,” Beverley told her.
“Keep doing exactly what you want, as long as you’re happy doing it.” Her great-aunt, who radiates warmth and joy, confirmed that her own sister and mother had rarely spoken of their past in Poland, only stating they’d “never get on a boat again.”
Finding Joy on an Unconventional Path
This past summer, Zucker considered renting an apartment, adopting a dog, and settling down in the US. However, an undeniable pull to continue exploring led her back to northern Spain, where she is now editing her memoir and working on her first novel.
While she still grapples with loneliness, the desire for stability, and questions about the meaningfulness of her actions, Beverley’s unwavering support remains. When Zucker shared her decision to continue traveling, her great-aunt, who had predicted it, still approved.
“You have to stay positive, even at my age,” Beverley advised. “I always wake up with a smile on my face.
Even if I’m achy, I think, ‘Oh well! That’s one of the perks of growing up!'”
Zucker acknowledges that she isn’t always happy, even while doing what she wants. But Beverley’s outlook serves as a potent reminder that while her ancestors fled with trauma, her inheritance also includes a legacy of joy.
Her great-aunt concluded their call with one more “Beverley-ism”: “Stay happy, stay healthy, and keep smiling.” At 93, Beverley continues to wake up smiling, a powerful lesson for her great-niece to embrace her journey, aches and all.