This post alone has been an adventure in itself. I started it a few weeks ago and have kept coming back to it, its many revisions a reflection of my scattered thoughts and emotions. I am in the final stages of cleaning out the family home and preparing it to go on the market, a task which has exhausted me physically, emotionally and mentally. Part of me wants to avoid the end, even though I know it will bring me the freedom I desire. My head and my heart have been at war with one another.
People keep asking me when I’m going to start traveling or think I’ve already been abroad this summer. While I had thought that by this time I might have traversed Canada by rail, lived in a remote Swedish forest training husky dogs, or explored the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest, I have not done any of these things (yet). I have, however, spent dear time with family and friends, gathered ideas and inspiration for new projects, and made some big decisions. The trips I’ve taken this summer, all to mostly familiar places, were fantastic. And exactly the trips I needed to take.
Sometimes, I get stuck in thinking that in order for my life to be really interesting, it has to resemble the pages of a National Geographic Traveler magazine. Or at least, that’s what both I and others expect, because I’ve dreamed and talked about going off and exploring for so long. I even get embarrassed and wonder what conclusions other people are making about me because I haven’t gone yet–silly, I know. A couple of weeks ago, I came across a blog post that really spoke to me. It’s author, Bob Landham, or “Mr. Bob” as I’ve always called him, is an avid adventurer and dear friend. He’s hiked the AT and spends a great deal of time in a kayak. In his post, he admitted to what he calls Adventure Snobbery:
What does Adventure Snobbery look like? It looks like a guy who doesn’t count a day hike as a ‘real hike’, who doesn’t call it a ‘trip’ until you wake up under ripstop. It looks like somebody looking down on any so-called adventure that doesn’t include at least three forms of transportation to get to the jump’n off place…
Right now, I have things to keep me grounded, such as weddings I don’t want to miss and finishing the preparation of the house. I’m learning that being grounded is okay and in truth, where I need to be. While packing boxes for donation or taking a walk at the park down the road might not be as exotic as climbing a mountain or dining in Italy, lessons and excitement can still be found. And you know what? Fascinating people and places are everywhere…one just has to look!
*Image Notes: This is a snapshot of a mug I bought at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn earlier this summer. Fabulous, artistic creations were in abundance, and I found myself drawn to so many of them. This is the one piece I walked away with though, and my choice surprised me. I mean, who really needs another mug? I love the craftsmanship and simple beauty, and the quote obviously hit home. What can I say, I bonded with it! Check out Nelle’s work at http://nelledesign.4ormat.com/home
**Want to read Bob’s full post on Adventure Snobbery? Check it out on his blog, Expeditions 2020. He’s got great things to share. http://expeditions2020.wordpress.com
this grand adventure 