You could subtitle this; What I like about being on the road. Catchy.

I’ve spent some time in the first week thinking about this in a more analytical way. Driven, I think, by feeling a much less dramatic sense of anticipation this year before departure. Then boom, I was gone, and a strong and immediate kinship to all of the tasks and activities of the first days took over. The first hours began in the dark with heavy snow flurries, and ended some 18 hours later down in Alabama. I stopped mostly because I knew I should, rather than feeling like I needed to. I was dialed in. The next morning, into the stargate. (see, Alabama Sunrise)

The desire to explore is the heart of this boys’ wandering. Doesn’t matter if it’s driving, biking, hiking, riding the Metro in DC, taking the bus from Irving Park to Wrigley, a van trip with friends across Massachusetts, going to a new spot in Mexico with my kids, seeing and learning more about Guatemala every time I go, going up the north shore for what seems like the 500^th time; The list of treasures built up from exploring and experiencing could go on and on. And there’s always more. Exploring keeps all of our senses working.

I like living outside. When you’re on a camping trip, regardless of your choice of shelter, that’s what you are doing, living outside. I believe the feeling of living outside is what makes campers. It’s just different than say, hiking or biking all day and then having a shower and dinner and sleeping in hotel bed. I suppose that sounds more obvious than it really feels, ‘cause the differences are not that far apart. Anyway, I just like living outside. Maybe that doesn’t really need much ‘splainin’.

I also like it that life is “simpled down” when I’m on the road. I know that really isn’t a phrase but it seems descriptive enough. It’s like Tiny House Nation on wheels. Creating a self contained environment that you can live in while moving from place to place is challenged by the fact that you can only carry just so much stuff. Having a smaller pile of necessities is liberating. When you embrace this you are simpled down.

This wouldn’t be something that’s true of everyone, maybe not even most, but when I’m on the road I go nearly media barren. I’m around TVs for short bursts but pay them almost no mind. I’ve yet to turn on the radio in the truck. The risk of some naivete with current events seems no price at all for kicking talking heads and mindless “content” out of my life for a while. Ok fine, be that way.

People might be the ultimate riches of travel. Campgrounds are insanely friendly places. There’s a very purposeful engagement by total strangers that makes campgrounds different. You feel it and experience it but can’t necessarily describe it that well. The result is just affirming and up lifting.                                                                                                          And anyone who has followed my blog knows that campgrounds are not the only places you find characters. The road is liberally sprinkled with characters that are the seasoning of each day.

Each day hands me some mixture of fear and faith. I try to balance my sense of adventure with common sense. Exploring by nature has unknowns lurking. I believe we all have some version of fear of the unknown. If it’s too strong, then maybe we don’t even go down a road. I mean that in both the literal and the figurative sense. I like it that traveling challenges that for most of us. I also like it that my faith is that God has my well being at heart and wants to watch over me and keep me safe. He also hopes I don’t do something stupid. 🙂