I thought I was too old to rave at 35

After 10 years of solo travel I thought I knew how to be alone. I had visited 45 countries, navigated public transportation in different languages, and eaten many solo dinners. Still, I realised my independence had limits: after a breakup I stopped going to raves, not because I no longer loved electronic music, but because I had lost my built-in dance buddy.

I decided to face that fear. I didn't want to miss Fusion Festival in Germany or Berlin's club scene just because I was by myself. If I could backpack Southeast Asia and even lose my passport twice, I could handle a rave alone. Turning 35 made me uneasy, but my new mantra became, "Who cares if I'm the oldest person on the dancefloor?

Someone has to show the younger generation how it's done." At Fusion, after getting off a shuttle from Berlin, I asked a woman for directions; she was alone too and we clicked. When we found her friends they were welcoming—it felt like hanging out with people I'd known for years, and many were in their 30s and 40s.

Germany, Berlin

solo travel, fusion festival, berlin clubs, electronic music, raves, dancefloor, backpacking, southeast asia, lost passport, turning 35