Monthly Archives: September 2010
99,000 Miles
The other day, while driving, I looked down to see that I officially hit the 99,000 mile mark. Wow. I bought that car new. The odometer was as close to zero as it could be when I drove off the lot and hit the road.
And this got me thinking. Where have I gone in 99,000 miles?
Theoretically, if there were a bridge that spanned the entire circumference of the globe, I could have circled the Earth almost 4 times. The distance across the U.S. is about 3,000 miles. Meaning, I could have crossed the States 33 times. And yet, I didn’t do any of that. I mean, yes, it is rather impossible to drive a car across the ocean, so imagining I could have circled the Earth 4 times is kinda silly. But still. 33 trips across the States would have been nothing to scoff at.
And actually, I didn’t even make it across once. So what did I do?
The sad truth is, I spent most of those miles traveling to and from work. And I don’t mean to say it’s sad. I mean, I had a job, the pay was good, I bought things, I went places, I built a community around me. And I pretty much stayed in my comfortable neighborhood. Yes, I took the occasional road trip. I drove to Vegas to visit my family. I drove up the California coast. I even took a few drives to Seattle and back. Nothing to scoff at either.
But seeing those numbers and wondering where it was I had been in 99,000 miles got me thinking. It got me thinking that I could stand to be more present in my days. I got me thinking that perhaps I wouldn’t be wondering where I had gone if only I had paid attention. It got me thinking that, just maybe, I should be more deliberate about what I do with the next 99,000 miles of my life. (I know, that’s a lot of thinking for an odometer reading.)
In reality, sometimes days are just days and miles are just miles. And I get that. But it’s also true that your life is what you make of it, your reality is yours to design. And I fully intend to make these next miles seriously count. Where will I go? Will I road trip across the States? Will I ditch the damn car for a plane ticket and some freedom in another country? I don’t know the answer to that yet. Here’s what I do know: The next 99,000 miles — they’re bound to be good.
My Time to Fly
This last year or so, I’ve been talking a lot about traveling out of the country. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I can’t explain it, really. The draw. It eats at me. I daydream about spending months in developing countries. I do internet research. I make lists. I get butterflies in my stomach when I think it might really happen.
And then it doesn’t.
Why? Let me be honest. It’s because of money. I always feel I don’t have enough. And I feel I can’t justify spending a big chunk of change on a long term trip, when my 401K (or something equally as responsible) isn’t in good enough shape.
Well, I’ve decided something: I don’t care anymore.
This is my time. I don’t want regrets from my 30′s. I’ve got enough of those from my 20′s. I read something recently that said, “Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.” Spot. On.
Yes. Yes. We all have to worry about adult things at times. We may have to pay rent and pay phone bills and put gas in the car. But we don’t all have to have the same priorities. We don’t all have to live in super-size houses or buy the latest iPhone or drive a Lexus. Nope. That we don’t have to do. And So I’m prioritizing.
And my priority is this: find a way to get out of the country for six months. That’s right, I’m putting it front and center. I’m tackling #24 on the Life List.
And I’m doing it because that’s what matters to me. It matters more than designer clothes, more than cable television, more than a big house, more than things could ever matter. I prioritize experiences. That’s what I’ll remember in the end. Not stuff. I won’t remember the stuff.
Here’s where you come in. I need your help. I know a lot of you out there have done some serious long term traveling. I know a lot of you have taught English in other countries, have backpacked through off-the-beaten-path locales, have summered across the globe. I need ideas. How did you decide where to go? What did you do to prepare? Where should someone like me even start?
Unfortunately, I’m not independently wealthy, and I’ve used up enough of my savings at this point that I’ll have to work to fund this trip. Which is actually not unfortunate; it’s exciting. But it also makes things more complicated. I have to secure a job in whatever locale I choose — one that pays enough to keep me housed while I’m there (and perhaps allows me to eat, too). I’m considering teaching English. I love to teach. I taught classes while in grad school and absolutely adored it.
So. Do you have any suggestions for this soon-to-be world traveler? Where should I start my research? How would I begin to find paid work? Are there options outside the world of teaching English, or should I keep my focus there? Or should I consider going back to work here for a while, save just enough money and then volunteer with a program that touches my heart (sans pay) or even start my own independent project? Any and all suggestions or tips you have would be HIGHLY appreciated.
And I’ll be sure to keep you posted on how my plans are coming along. Just do me a favor. Don’t let me forget about this. Don’t let me make an excuse and not do it. Send me emails. Post in the comments. Ask me what’s happening with that traveling thing. Hold me to it. Because this is it. This is my time to fly.
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