About Dee
I like living many lives in one.
Hi, I'm Dee - a software test engineer by day, and a curious explorer of everything else. I travel, grow (a lot of) plants, dance, cook, write, and occasionally pick up new hobbies just to see where they take me.
I don't really believe in choosing one thing and sticking to it forever. I'd rather be a little bit of everything - a work in progress, always.
My Story
Mysore to Fremont, with a lot in between.
I grew up in Mysore, and now I live in Fremont, California. My days are structured around test and code - I work as a software test engineer at Cisco - but everything outside of that is intentionally unstructured. I met my husband Sunny in Niles, Fremont in 2017. Kutti, our cheweenie, came home in 2020 and has been our constant companion in all our adventures.
Dee Unbound started very simply - I've always written things down. Thoughts, moments, random reflections. This is just an extension of that - a space to document, but also to make it useful, thoughtful, and maybe a little enjoyable for someone else reading it.
Travel Philosophy
I have a complicated relationship with travel.
There are moments - somewhere over an ocean, when turbulence hits - where I question everything. Why am I here? Why leave a life that already feels full - my plants, my family, my routines?
And then there are moments that answer that question completely. A festival in a place I've never been. A conversation with a stranger that stays with me longer than expected. A quiet street that feels oddly familiar.
I lean towards planning, but I won't wait for the perfect plan. If it's between a spontaneous trip and no trip - I'll go.
Experience first
The memory outlasts the itinerary
Efficiency next
Systems that make travel smoother
Comfort optional
Stretch the edges when it matters
Beyond Travel
Home feels just as meaningful.
When I'm not traveling, I'm usually at home - which, surprisingly, feels just as full. I live among a house full of plants - many of which have grown so much that we're honestly running out of space to stretch. I have a small dog - a chiweenie - who runs the house, and a life filled with little rituals I love.
I practice Bharatanatyam, play board games (often with my Fremont board game community), cook and experiment in the kitchen, and occasionally paint. Some days are slow - lazy weekends spent watching TV with my husband, or beautiful evenings with neighbors who've become close friends.
I like building a life that feels full - whether I'm in a new country or just at home watering plants.
"None of this is about doing everything perfectly. It's about trying things, changing your mind, and allowing different versions of yourself to exist."
This space is just a reflection of that.
- Dee