Alumni Spotlight: Mary Peachin ’63
Alumna shares travel adventures in her most recent book.
Travelers, adventure seekers and adrenaline junkies alike have been missing the freedom to scratch the travel itch during the COVID-19 pandemic. That includes Mary Peachin, a diving and fishing enthusiast and experienced world travel adventurer. Although her bucket is pretty full — she’s traveled all seven continents and checked off must-dos like the world-class diving in Indonesia — she is ready to hit the tarmac as soon as possible.
“I miss everything about travel — scuba diving, fishing, culture and seeing new places,” Peachin says. “I’m not much of a city person and would rather be in some non-touristy destinations not typically visited by Americans.”
Although Peachin has canceled six trips since March 2020, she sees a glimmer of hope. Travelers like her are starting to make reservations, and she sees a resurgence of travel on the horizon. When the pandemic improves, she will be on the first plane out of Tucson. Her first stop: a catch and release salmon fishing trip in northern British Columbia, Canada.
While sidelined during the pandemic, Peachin continues to write about her adventures and recently published “Sleeping Around … Challenging My Comfort Zone,” a biography detailing her many global expeditions.
“My children will love this book one day. They will be able to look at their mother and remember all she did. That’s what makes me the happiest,” Peachin says.
Readers dreaming of post-pandemic adventures will find inspiration in Peachin’s book to start planning. Consider diving with sharks or close encounters with mantas, saltwater crocs and krait snakes. It’s never too late to push the edges of comfort.
