Tuesday, July 28, 2009

adventures

I once knew this guy named Adam and he once noted that it had been a long time since he had seen the ocean, and he guessed that he should. I think he had a valid point.

There is something incredible about the ocean. I think its a combination of its size and constancy and change. Same kind of thing with mountains and the open road.

Another guy I once knew named Trey asked "Can't this wait til I'm old? Can't I live while I'm young?" I think he had a valid point too.

If autumn is the time for revolution, I think summer might be the season of adventure. I don't think that is really true, because I watched Alexander Supertramp engage in his escapades throughout the year. And I know real adventurers know no season. But I suppose idle summer hands (like those of idle college students) create more adventuretunities. And my hands have been itching.

The problem with adventure is what you have to give up. The old-school explorers and sailors were giving up everything for adventure. Soldiers who join up to go on adventures give up a lot. Even beatniks and hippies and bums who go out on the road or to the woods for adventure give up their place in society. It takes a lot to give it up and live in a van down by the river or to quit your job and backpack through India for a few months. Adventures are not easy.

I believe that somewhere in everyone there is an internal need for adventure that can be met in a million different ways.

Buying a house is definitely an adventure. So is having a child. Or a dog. Or a killer puffer fish.
So is climbing mountains, bonking, getting altitude sickness and splurting from both ends. So is canoeing. So is beach camping. So is sailing a catamaran. So is teaching the future of our nation. So is being married. So is trying new food.

So when your hands start itching for adventure and you feel like you've got to be a Kerouac or a Supertramp or a Persig or a Columbus or that guy from Kon Tiki or a Hilary or a Finn or a pirate/cowboy/revolutionary sailing/riding into the sunset, remember that adventure comes in all kinds of packages and to appreciate the everyday adventures instead of pining away for the adventure that might be a billion times better in your head or requires too much of a sacrifice.

Remember that, but don't forget to keep wanting adventure.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

nothing

after a couple days of not blogging, its not hard to start back up again.
let a couple weeks go by and you begin feeling like you really have to have something worth saying to blog again.
the feeling gets stronger after 8 months or so.
i decided the feeling is wrong.











so i am posting about nothing.