Odyssey is the adventure travel journal of an independent woman of middle years, with a young and endlessly curious spirit and a conviction that life is infinitely fascinating and challenging, wonderful and enriching. The writer's experiences and impressions will enhance those of the reader. For the armchair traveler, they provide a different perspective, a new way of seeing other worlds. For the would-be traveler, they inspire to reach out and venture into new endeavors. For the more adventurous but intimidated traveler, these experiences encourage and help overcome the  last reservations.

Adventure is not solely the wilderness, remoteness or inaccessibility of a place. Quarterman shows that it is the personal experience we seek, how this translates into a permanent imprint in our psyche, and to what degree it enriches the soul, that truly defines adventure.

This ten-year Odyssey is an interrupted series of smaller journeys, strung together by the broader objective of becoming part of a much larger world than the one we happen to live in. In the process, the writer discovered a passionate connection with the Inca civilization, a fascination with ancient cultures, and a consuming interest and admiration for the earth- and nature connection of indigenous peoples.

The journeys  take the reader into the heart of South America, high up in the Andes, in search of ancient ruins; to the lands of fire and ice; to the countries "Down Under" and to the Ukraine. With insight and humor, Quarterman challenges her perceptions of self and the world around her. She learned to reach beyond perceived limitations in physical strength and endurance, and appreciate that values can differ and be equally valid. 

Discoveries and exploration have not been exhausted, but merely changed, according to the author. Not the first to express this, she agrees that we have transitioned from locating and mapping to understanding. New discoveries continue to excite experts and amateurs alike. But they are rarely anymore the geographic wonders or extreme conquests. Instead, today's discoveries add to our knowledge of cultures, evolution, species, and will lead us to the skills necessary to preserve and protect our cultural heritages. Technological advances are vast and exciting enough to possibly deflect from our peripheral vision, the importance of our morality, our sense of decency, our compassion, and our spirituality. Reconnecting with our past, other cultures and values, will help us to maintain balance and redefine our own priorities as humans.