November 2023

Since returning from our most recent cycle trip, a few folks have asked, “Does it feel good to be home?” Good question with a seemingly obvious and expected answer. Since retiring four plus years ago we’ve spent more time away from Flagstaff than at home. Twelve months were on two wheels in far-off lands and remote regions with only the barest essentials. Over a month has been spent backpacking long distance trails. We’ve lived in the Tardis – our teardrop trailer – for almost half a year. Significant time has been devoted to family visits across the country. Our choice of destinations means we often confront unfamiliar food, language, customs, and challenging living conditions. Our methods of travel mean we are often on intimate terms with Mother Nature’s various weather moods. Given all that, it makes sense that we would share the opinion of Oz’s Dorothy, that “There’s no place like home!” Well….??? “Yes” or “no” is too simplistic. The reality seems more nuanced. We do enjoy being home. We find great pleasure connecting with friends – whether it is an evening at Mother Road, a chance encounter somewhere in town, playing on local trails, or Sunday morning at church. We enjoy the simple pleasure of finding familiar foods in familiar locations at our regular grocery stores. We enjoy getting reacquainted with our favorite offerings from local restaurants. But here’s the thing – we also very much enjoy spending time with people we meet – and have met – on our travels. We love the process of becoming familiar with new and different foods.

So, what to do? How do you balance enjoying the comforts of home with the joys of living on the road. Someone has said, “Never make your home in a place. Make a home for yourself inside your own head. You’ll find what you need to furnish it – memory, family, friends you can trust, love of learning, and other such things. That way it will go with you wherever you journey.” “Never” is perhaps too strong. I think we’ve found it possible to make home both “in a place” AND “wherever you journey.” Especially in recent years as we’ve vigorously indulged our passion for traveling. We usually travel with our tent or the teardrop. In a sense, we take “home” with us. Having a comfortable place to lay our heads goes a long way towards making us feel at home. We have also learned the joy of living simply, taking only what we need and can easily carry. It is possible to feel at home without a building filled with stuff. Wherever and whenever possible, we make it a priority to connect with family and friends. We embrace every opportunity to make new acquaintances. Thus, we are blessed to have people who embrace us and enrich our lives. In addition to all that, and perhaps most important, we have each other. I realize how incredibly blessed I am to have a friend and companion with whom to share this nomadic lifestyle. She doesn’t just tolerate our traveling lifestyle. The ideas behind our more adventurous treks often come from Sharon’s fertile imagination. All of these ingredients combine to make the tasty banquet that is our life. So, back to the question that sparked all this introspection. Does it feel good to be home? I think the real answer is that most times we feel “at home” wherever we are.

In his famous poem, Robert Frost voiced the impossible desire of many who wander…to travel two roads and yet be “one traveler.” Alas, ’tis not possible. There are many paths in life to choose, and choices have to be made. I’ve often said, “Saying “yes” to one path means saying to “no” to many others.” Madness lies down the path of constantly wishing for whatever one does not have in the moment. “I wish I were home” while on the road and “I wish we were traveling” while at home). Seize the Day! Seize the Carp! Embrace the moment! Don’t wish your life away waiting for some magical moment or place where happiness will be served on a platter. Find reasons to enjoy wherever you find yourself at this moment.

We have found great joy during these past months/years on the road, in Europe and at home in the States. No doubt we will find great joy spending the next several months at home in Flagstaff, even as we make plans to possibly relocate “home” to a new city. We also already have a plethora of plans in place to make the road our “home” and will continue to embrace that lifestyle as long as we are physically able. If you’ve made it this far in the post – thanks for sharing this mental journey with me. Hopefully, somewhere or some time our paths will cross. STC!