"Not all who wander are lost." - J.R.R. Tolkien
We are one month away from our Go Date: January 5th, 2015. This means a lot of explanations: why we're doing this and what we're bringing and our methodology for not dying. It means a lot of inventory, budgeting, and asking ourselves... Why ARE we doing this?
The answer is easy. Being out there is the most honest way to learn about the world, about ourselves. Plus it's just plain fun. Everyone thirsts for adventure, whether it be through skydiving or parenthood; a new career or exploring the neighborhood woods. Adventure, in its many forms, gives life its fullness and breadth. It gives us the most memorable memories and achy knees and brief pits in our stomachs and our widest smiles. Adventure has brought Brian and I to the far reaches of the West: Washington, Alaska, Montana, Utah, and beyond. It brought us the closest to each other and the farthest apart.
To embrace our tendency towards outdoor adventure, this trip was born. We plan to celebrate graduation from University and the next phase in our life together. We hope to learn more about the west through the lens of America's treasures. We aim to exercise our bodies and our minds, because the inner science-nerds are bound to come out. And most importantly, we're keenly aware that this trip won't answer all of those classic questions we have about ourselves and what the future holds. Finding and facing all those adventures could never be accomplished in one trip, let alone one lifetime.
For those horrified at our contradictory intention to be both homeless and professional adventurers, I hear you. I see you. I encourage you to be "out there" in whatever way feels great in your bones. To give in to the adventure around your next corner. And to those kind souls who worry about us, remember that we believe an adventure is only worth having if you come home safely to the people who love you.
After the New Year, we'll pack what we need for 8 months and kick off (what we hope to be) an incredibly challenging and luxurious* journey across the American west.
We hope you'll join us,
B&E
*To be clear, luxurious means we have fortunate enough to have the physical and financial means to do what truly makes us happy. We will be eating a lot of rice and beans, and will not be showering very often.
The answer is easy. Being out there is the most honest way to learn about the world, about ourselves. Plus it's just plain fun. Everyone thirsts for adventure, whether it be through skydiving or parenthood; a new career or exploring the neighborhood woods. Adventure, in its many forms, gives life its fullness and breadth. It gives us the most memorable memories and achy knees and brief pits in our stomachs and our widest smiles. Adventure has brought Brian and I to the far reaches of the West: Washington, Alaska, Montana, Utah, and beyond. It brought us the closest to each other and the farthest apart.
To embrace our tendency towards outdoor adventure, this trip was born. We plan to celebrate graduation from University and the next phase in our life together. We hope to learn more about the west through the lens of America's treasures. We aim to exercise our bodies and our minds, because the inner science-nerds are bound to come out. And most importantly, we're keenly aware that this trip won't answer all of those classic questions we have about ourselves and what the future holds. Finding and facing all those adventures could never be accomplished in one trip, let alone one lifetime.
For those horrified at our contradictory intention to be both homeless and professional adventurers, I hear you. I see you. I encourage you to be "out there" in whatever way feels great in your bones. To give in to the adventure around your next corner. And to those kind souls who worry about us, remember that we believe an adventure is only worth having if you come home safely to the people who love you.
After the New Year, we'll pack what we need for 8 months and kick off (what we hope to be) an incredibly challenging and luxurious* journey across the American west.
We hope you'll join us,
B&E
*To be clear, luxurious means we have fortunate enough to have the physical and financial means to do what truly makes us happy. We will be eating a lot of rice and beans, and will not be showering very often.