This past few weeks I’ve been thinking about routes and reasons. Specifically, I have been debating where to spend the winter. I had been working on a plan to get me to the Pacific Northwest by end September and then down to the southwest by the new. year. But despite it sounding good on paper, I haven’t been moving ahead with things like reservations and commitments. Something was holding me back and I wasn’t sure what. I’ve been doing this trip planning thing long enough (more than two years now) to know that I needed to wait it out and see what was going on and that if I didn’t push it, the path would become clear. And that’s exactly what happened.
About two week ago, the idea of heading due south for the winter floated up from the depths of my brain. Meandering down the Blue Ridge Parkway, watching the fall colors hit the south, and perhaps some time on Atlantic or Gulf coast (or both) before heading to Florida for the winter sounded like an interesting alternative to yet another cross-country drive.
But, but… my head said. My nieces in Wisconsin. My friends in Seattle. That week of camping in BC. Friends in Santa Cruz. The little babies in LA. The family in SoCal. Glacier, Fintry, Oregon coast, New Mexico in the winter. Lots of good reasons to head west.
And then my heart spoke. I’m tired. Two years on the road, no stop more than 3 weeks and most way less than that is a long time to be always going somewhere new. It’s time to stop for a while, stay in one place, hang out with friends, get involved in the local scene, make the time for reading and perhaps writing books without the constant moving and planning involved with being a full-time vagabond.
And so I’ve been debating the two paths in front of me, and now I see that it’s really the same choices I’ve been making all my life: do what is expected of me (plans already made, promises of visits) or do what I really need to be happy.
So I’m choosing the latter. It’s what my vagabond spirit needs. I’m going to head south from Quebec, be a total NASCAR geek for a weekend in August, take the fall to explore a part of the US I’ve mostly just flown over and driven around, watch the summer turn to fall in places where the leaves turn, and then hunker down in Gainesville for the winter.
For that last few years I’ve collected places and photos, ideas and experiences, without having the time to really work with any of it. I feel the urge, stronger now than ever before, to create more deeply than blog posts, to process all the traveling and memories, to make a colorful, coherent mosaic of everything. I don’t know how it will go. And that’s kind of scary. But it’s what is calling me now.
I’m not stopping the vagabond life, or selling the trailer, or anything close to it. This is the next phase, the evolution of the vagabond from constant traveler to, I hope, thoughtful and creative artist in motion. Just a slower motion that before.
I will fly to California in December to keep the unbreakable promise to a birthday boy and visit friends and family. I’ll miss Seattle and the PacNW this year and that does make my heart ache. In the end, though, heading south and having a quiet, creative winter is what I need. I’ll see all you you west coasters at some point, just not in 2018. And I know you’ll understand. When I do get there, we’ll party, OK?
Trust your own instincts, go inside, follow your heart. Right from the start. go ahead and stand up for what you believe in. As I’ve learned, that’s the path to happiness.
Lesley Ann Warren
It’s important to recharge your batteries. We’ll miss you but will party in Bristol. We’ll still see you in August and your always welcome anytime you want to come. Love you, do what it takes to make your retirement fun and fulfilling. Barb
Maybe I can convince you to daytrip out to Gettysburg. I am drawn to go back there for a stay, early August (so, yeah, hot…) and explore it more. As a westerner, I didn’t really get the civil war till I saw Gettysburg last year, and decided I need to see more, read more.
I’m more heart and brain when I work things out. My brain always goes full-speed, and the heart nudges out what it wants, and then slowly wins in the end. Not sure I could differentiate between soul and spirit, but then I haven’t read Moore.
I’m hoping to get to Asheville, see the scene there, so if you could send me your email, that would be great. I would love to talk with you re: your project.
Thanks, Danielle. And we do need to catch up, I miss our talks. I am back in the US last part of July…
You’re definitely doing the right thing! As much as I hoped to see you this fall, I’m much happier knowing you’re taking care of you, and having some down time to take care of you. Your future adventures will be so much better for your having recharged and refreshed!
Affirming, but hard to hear for me, so far. I’m working on it.
I’m thinking Blue Ridge Parkway in fall just because I’ve never seen it either! Have to figure out a camping solution for that, and will let you know. I’m picking the brains of some locals in the next week or so… And thanks for the compliment on that last photo (Lake Quinault, Olympic National Park).
Love your thoughts on making this choice. I can’t wait to see what you create. 🙂 If your meandering takes you to the Blue Ridge in the fall, let me know and I’ll come meet you. All my years living in MD and I’ve never driven out there in the fall to see the leaves. And…your last photo here just took my breath away. Stunning.
Makes perfect sense. Good for you to listen to yourself. Safe travels.
Listening to my inner wisdom is something I have recently begun to do. So affirming to live from that place.
You don’t have any good beach spots now available in CA do you ever the opportunist here
Thank you Annie. We are starting the path to full time vagabond. It is so tempting to go do see, especially after the AltoGather at Fairmount Hotsprings, followed by a glorious stroll up through Banff and Jasper to Miette.
Back in Seattle now, it’s been lovely to show off our new life to friends and family and ponder how many more places to see this summer. I’m leaning toward slow and erratic travel, Art toward planning. We find we learn a lot from your musings and your experiences, and so appreciate it.
Enjoy Gainesville. We have close friends we plan to see there this year or next.
Was it Thomas Moore who said he differentiated between the soul and the spirit? The soul always called us to home, to be rooted, to cultivate the relationships requiring grounding and being in situ, but it was the spirit that was the restless one, always urging us on out of our nests, loneliness be damned? I wonder in your musings how this plays out? If this is accurate then does your spirit or soul call you south?
If you come near Asheville as you go down the Blue Ridge you know my email address? I would love to interview you for my project if you were so inclined.
I have been in awe of your stamina in all of your traveling. Being always on the move is hard work! I am glad you have a happy decision to rest for a while, it will make the next phase of traveling all the sweeter. And you know you are always welcome to driveway surf on your way back to the south land!
Sure you name isn’t Annie Wise? Can’t wait to see what comes next. Sending you best wishes.
Have I ever said how much I love you, Cindy? You are the best.
Choices are what make us who we are because that’s what life is all about. It is your life and, therefore, your choice. Happy for you is the best choice you can make because it will mean you are truly with yourself and those around you. I can hardly wait to see what this new choice in direction and creativity will bring forth! Let the adventure begin 🙂
Love how you analyze your travels and wish you happiness in your endeavors. Best wishes.
I was feeling vicariously exhausted just knowing your former plan. I think you are making the right choice: reduce the miles and increase the smiles!