There is a tranquil feeling touching down in a place where you have spent your impressionable years growing up. My childhood home, a house where my life story is written on the walls and infused in the very land that the house sits on is the ideal place to spend some time before taking off on an extended trip. A feeling of safety and security lays a quality foundation for a walkabout of this caliber and confidence inevitably begins to surge.
As I meticulously prepare my pre-organized bags for shipment the gravity of my current situation begins to solidify. Staged and ready to go if my ambiguous adventures mandate the need for either climbing, skiing or photography equipment, each bag packed with a specific purpose in mind, my imagination runs wild with potential. For the first time I feel butterflies of excitement well up inside of me as the fruits of two years of labor are finally coming to fruition.
Friendly vistas occupy my attention while my mind races in the background. I often wonder what my family thinks of when these deviations from a “traditional” life dominate my emotions and force me to trade in everything I have worked for. Trading in a steady income, a 401k, an escalating savings account, all in exchange for a backpack full of humble possessions, slim budgets and limitless free time to explore internally and externally. A privilege few have the opportunity to capitalize on, and one I feel a sense of obligation to take advantage of given my opportunity to do so.
To set aside time to focus entirely on myself and my desires, is a reality plagued with conflicting emotions— it is hardly a noble feat.
On one hand, the simple fact that I have this opportunity, infuses this feeling of obligation to take full advantage—not to squander something very few ever get the chance to experience. Yet on the other hand, with so much opportunity I fear I am not utilizing my resources to the best of my abilities. Despite this dichotomy of the mind I can’t seem to move beyond the feelings of adventure and exploration that dominate my conscious.
Home has a way of grounding you, providing you the peace of mind to slow down and address these omnipresent questions with company that love you unconditionally. A safe place to really explore the vulnerable side of yourself and spend quality time with people who truly know you.
Preparing to uproot again,coming back to where it all started, where this seed of exploration and adventure was originally planted seems fitting. The San Francisco Bay Area, for me will always be home and a reality I will happily share as I meet others from around the globe.