If there is such thing as an ending, it happened Friday October 10th. Erin and I returned to Colorado where we plan to assimilate back into reality. However, it may be some time before I can reflect upon the past ten months nostalgically. Quitting our jobs, selling everything and hitting the road for an indefinite amount of time isn't so much a plan as it is a theory. In theory we would look back without feeling we made unnecessary sacrifices. Right now it's a bit difficult to gather the data and write a conclusion. Without a job, money, posessions or a place of my own it's easy to feel lost. Right now the big picture includes a lot more questions about the future than my decisions in the last year. But I think it's important to remember the advice Dr. Leo Marvin gave to Bob Wiley. "Don't think about everything you have to do in order to get out of the building, just think of what you must do to get out of this room, and when you get to the hall, deal with the hall, and so... You see? Baby-steps!"
(Hmmm... Pennsylvania, I think?)
Travelling in Asia and experiencing new cultures was one of the more enlightening experiences of my life. To see how the undeveloped world functions makes me thankful for the conveniences I am afforded as an American. So what better way to take advantage of those opportunities than a 10,000 mile, 9 week, 23 state roadtrip?! As many of you know, 2 weeks after returning from Asia we embarked on another once-in-a-lifetime trip across the great US. When we weren't driving we spent our time hiking, biking, camping and enjoying beers with friends. We slept 20+ nights in the tent, all but 2 nights were car camping, which I no longer think of as a cop-out.The remainder of our days we spent staying with friends and relatives, to whom we owe many thanks and favors. If you've hosted Erin and I this year (there is a list of about 20 of you) let me take this chance to extend my gratitude, you've helped make this the year of my dreams.
(Crashing with other "homeless" friends.)
For the first time in a few years I do not have a flight booked sometime in the future, my record year looks like it will end at 16 flights (quite a few when you consider they were all for leisure (If Erin counts working trips she has me beat by 5 flights))! It feels good to be setting some roots and start filling my life with all the things I've forgone in order to save and travel. It's also great being able to end conversations with "See you tomorrow!" Please, please be in touch. I have a lot of favors to pay forward, come to Colorado to pay a visit, if you are reading this I can assure you I would be more than happy to host.
(Cabin owned by family friends where we stayed in upstate New York.)
This will likely be the last entry for quite some time. It's been an incredible year and I hope you've enjoyed reading along, or just looking at the pictures. I figured close family and friends would appreciate knowing my whereabouts but I haven't found many people this year that were unaware of what I was up to. So, it's time for me to keep some experiences to myself until we have a chance to talk and catch-up, hopefully that's sooner than later.
(Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, Maine. First sunlight to reach North America.)
