Ah, Utah and those legendary National Parks! In more than five years of full-timing in my Alto, I hadn’t yet made it to Utah. Sure, I’d been to Utah a few times before full-timing: a work trip to Salt Lake City, seeing friends in Park City, that sort of thing. But I’d never managed to get to southern Utah or, for that matter, northern Arizona or the southwestern corner of Colorado.
I remember my Dad talking about Bryce and Zion as some of the most amazing places he’d ever seen. I was maybe 11 or 12 years old, but something about those names and the awed way he spoke of those places impressed them into my mind as special. So you’d think I would have made it there post-haste after retiring, right? But somehow, I didn’t. I had crossed the country east to west and west to east half a dozen times in five years, but never had I routed myself through Utah. Until this year. Finally, I would see all those places. It would be one awesome adventure.
Before I dive into what actually happened on this trip, I want to set the stage by starting with what I thought was going to happen when I laid down my original plans. I was going to meet up with two friends in southern Colorado and then we’d travel through the “mighty five” National Parks in Utah before checking out the North and South Rims of Grand Canyon National Park. Sounds simple, right? Only when you’re camping, and trying to coordinate plans with other people, it’s actually never that simple.
For personal reasons, the friends couldn’t make the trip and so they let me know a month beforehand that I’d be back to my default mode of solo vagabond. I was definitely disappointed, both because I knew they so wanted to go and because I had been looking forward to hanging out with them for a month or so. But, and this is the life I’ve chosen, being a solo act means that when plans fall through, you’re on your own. So I sat with those feelings – sadness, loneliness, and wishing things would work out differently – for a few days.
Then I realized I could make it a different trip. I could take the month “off” as a sabbatical from my website and from social media. Instead, I would be “in the moment” with the places I would be seeing and not thinking of how to capture a view, tweet a photo, or write about a hike. After more than five years of publishing my travels on my website, I felt this would be a good time out to think about what I was doing with my time and why. Was Facebook really that useful to me? Did I need Instagram? And what about the constant movement of vagabond life? Did that still fit me or was it time for a change?
This trip would definitely be different than when I’d started planning it months earlier. I wasn’t sure how it would go, but off I went in early September, on the cusp of a new adventure.
And suddenly you know it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.
Meister Eckhart
Totally get that “real life friends” vs. “online friends” thing, my best friends are the oldest ones, we have that shared history of having lived in the same place, or some workplace, or similar for a long period of time. Online friends, or road friends, you see them for a week or two, then try hard to stay in touch with texts or FB posts, but it’s so not the same and it’s so not easy. Also love the “why am I sharing this?” question, it’s something I’m thinking a lot about these days, on all the platforms.
Wow, this article is spot on. I’ve been thinking about many of these issues recently – what am I sharing? Why am I sharing it? Is it a benefit to me or others? Who am I following? Would we actually have anything to talk about if we sat down in the same room?
The difference between our “real life friends” and my online life became really apparent these past few weeks as we visited our old home town and spent hours upon hours with old friends of ours who we’ve known forever. It’s just different, and real, and comfortable, and easy, and I would mourn the loss of any one of those relationships a thousand fold over any of my social media accounts – even if I interact with those accounts a lot more often. I guess that tells me everything I need to know.
Interesting stuff… Thanks for sharing this with me.
It’s tricky thinking about social media when you’re a fulltimer, since FB and Insta are how I stay in touch with people a lot. But, I found this article in the NY Times to be really good (after you get over the title and the first few paragraphs). He’s really thought about how to use social media as tools for what he does, and isn’t all “drop all social media” like so many “helpful” post these days.
Good for you! I love to hear of people stepping back and just being present. Can’t wait to hear more!
Oh Annie, I am glad you gave us a glimpse into your world. Keep us posted what you plan…. my Facebook presence will dwindle to nothing soon.
I’ve been thinking many of the same things (re social media and being intentional with my time, etc.), and your quote at the end is perfection. Looking forward to your upcoming posts. Southern Utah is MAGIC!
Very beautiful!
As always, stunning photos, Annie.
Wait! I imagine it would be relaxing not to write about it…but I want to see it all! 🙂
A cliffhanger for sure!!!
Great prelude – I ended up thinking “Wait, don’t stop now!!!” Looking forward to the next chapter. 🙂
Can’t wait to hear more about the results of your personal explorations as well as your physical explorations of that beautiful area. Perfect that the two go hand-in-hand. So sorry to be the cause of the sadness and regrets, but so glad it resulted in worthwhile contemplation.
It’s a series of posts, one for each place, and some “interludes” on vagabond-related subjects. If I was more clever, I would have made it my NaNoWriMo project for 2021 🙂
Ouuuu! A cliffhanger. Can’t wait to hear more.