Wanderlust

"Interesting Life"
Courtesy of xkcd

A house, (crappy) car, good paying job with benefits, no family responsibilities, and an otherwise seemingly normal life proved too much of a burden, so in the spring of 2012 I quit my job (technically volunteered for a layoff, which bought 8 weeks severance), sold my house, car, and most of my possessions to start traveling. I considered renting or getting someone to house sit, but for logistical and practical reasons did not.

I am calling this phase of life a sabbatical since that sounds better than homeless and unemployed. Whatever its name, this will be my first time long term traveling. Although I have gone on quite a few semi-epic vacations, they lasted at most for about two weeks, and I always had a home base to return to afterwards. Not so now. Although my mom let me stash some belongings and always had an open bed, only what I could carry on my back, my wits, and dashing good looks would sustain me.

How this 180 degree turn in my life will go is uncertain. I do not adapt particularly well to change, generally like things planed out in advance, and can thrive on routine (all of which are counter to the vital skill set of a vagabonder). I have loosened up on those points over the years though, so I might have a good change of surviving.

Places Visited

Tentative Plans

• Alaska—Paddle Yukon River and explore the wild
• Australia
• Nepal
• PCT
• Road trip USA
• South America—Andes Mountains, Peru/Chili area

My plans are very loose and fluid, and are more a list of possibilities. I am intentionally keeping things open. Everything could completely change I would have no regrets or disappointments, just trading one experience for another. It depends on who and what I find out there and where the wind takes me. Also when the wanderlust and/or money runs out.

Church

Besides the obvious concerns such as diseases, languages, and zombies that swirled through my head before this undertaking, I also had religious ones. I do not believe one can venture into the world, recluse into nature, or examine the inner self to find God, but the triune God reveals Himself through Scripture. I will carry a bible, but the body of Christ is more than being by yourself. God provides many blessings through weekly Divine Service and the comfort of a caring congregation, but these I will lack on the road. There are countless Christian churches around the world to visit, but that will not provide the same support as a home church.

I also questioned whether vagabonding is a proper use of the talents God gave me. Will this be a purely selfish trip, or can I grow spiritually and do good works throughout? I am not a missionary and this is not a mission trip, but can I still serve God out there as opposed to a more traditional living situation? Although I do not have chapter and verse for a proof text, I believe (and must admit want) it to be possible. The details will look different than when having roots in a single spot, but it can still bare fruit. Besides, even when living with traditional roots, it is unfortunately easy to slip into a self-centered routine and not do His work then.

Pop Music

Love And Theft - Runaway

Afterwards

Assuming I survive, I do not know what lies ahead when my wanderlust (or money) runs out. I do not even know how long it will last, although I am guessing in the 1-2 year range. In any case, I am intentionally not thinking much about that now. I may never program a computer again; I could get back into it; a stint in [Ameri|Peace]corps; something involving the outdoors. Who knows. I have a tendency not to change much through seemingly life changing experiences, but hopefully I'll come out of this for the better, or at least none worse for the wear.