Adventurous Life

Before embarking on the roadtrip, and even while traveling, many of the people who we told about our trip said, "Wow, that's a once in a lifetime opportunity." I know they meant well, but hearing that phrase always made me sad. Partly because I think it's tragic how people place limitations on themselves and their lives, and instead conform to the standards of our cultures. But it also brought be down because I feared that they might be right. That that trip might have been my only adventure in life.

But while we were in Colorado I applied to multiple AmeriCorps VISTA positions, and in Arizona I had a phone interview for one. After we returned to Washington, it was confirmed that the organization had hired me. The exciting part was that the organization is in New York City -- a place I had been only once, for less than a day while we were on the roadtrip. So 5 months after returning from “the trip of a lifetime” I got on a plane (eventually…that’s a funny story) and moved to NYC.

What’s especially cool about this is that before leaving on the roadtrip (by at least a year) I had made a list of things that I wanted to experience in life. Sort of like a bucket list. One of the “goals” was to live somewhere that terrified me (like a HUGE city, or, as I learned on the roadtrip, a ridiculously tiny town) for at least a year. And in July 2011 I accomplished that goal.

I have enjoyed many awesome adventures while in NYC (I'm nearing 2 years here now) and I have many photos to prove it, but sadly Bradellina didn't get out much. So his/her stories are a little less exciting.

A couple months after moving to the city, I joined some newly made friends and one of my roommates on a trip to the beach. Bradellina also decided to join us, and was actually really excited. Unfortunately he/she has a forgetful mother (part of why I should never have kids) and I never remembered to take him/her out of the backpack once we got to the beach. It was probably for the best, though -- he/she burns very easily. 

Return of the Jedi

On September 27, 2009, Hannah, Bradellina and I drove out of Western Washington and began an epic journey that took us to 48 of the 50 United States of America. Four and half months later we returned to Washington State. Being back was difficult at first. We were used to a certain way of life (being somewhere new every few days, for example, and well, being around each other all the time), and things were drastically different when we returned. Hannah stayed on her home island with her family, and Bradellina and I returned to my college town to stay with a friend. I literally had less than $100 to live off of until my tax return came through, and I had to replace Pete's tires ASAP (there was a hole in one of them -- not quite sure how we survived), so I started using my credit card and began donating plasma once a week. I would use the 20 bucks I made to buy food one week and gas the next week. Eventually I started cleaning my friend's mom's office at night, which was much better. It may sound strange, but that was the poorest I've ever been and probably the most relaxed I've ever been at the same time.

Since Hannah and I were born only two days apart, we sometimes celebrate together, and one of our favorite ways is to go camping. So in June the three of us reunited to go camping by a river. It was awesome.

We did all the usual camping things, like build a fire, hike a snowy mountain, cook hot dogs, wash up in a freezing cold river, etc.

 

And just like when we were staying in creepy places while on the roadtrip, we made sure to keep weapons nearby while we were sleeping.