Most folks know of my love/hate relationship with Facebook. I’ve been off of it since August (?). And here’s what I’ve found: I have deeper and more genuine conversations with a few people now because I am not in their pocket 24/7, nor are they in mine. Some of my friends actually pick up the phone, email or shoot me a text because they want to talk, and I do the same with them. Some of us even make plans to grab a cup of coffee or a beer. And some of us actually follow through on said-plans and actually have the cup of coffee or beer.

Novel.

Here’s what else I’ve found: With all the “connecting” that Facebook does it also creates a false sense of knowing between some people, and yes sometimes can strengthen and cement friendships, too. (I do see the benefits of the medium, of course).

But on the whole we are sliding around on a very slippery path and here’s why – I have recently received second-hand news about different friends who have had an ER visit, a motorcycle accident, the birth of a baby, and two wedding engagements. Why did I hear this all second-hand? One reason is I guess I’m not as close to these people as I originally thought, or it’s the basic ebb and flow of friendships, which is totally understandable.

Though what I’m thinking is the real reason is a much more insidious thing – it’s because I choose not to be on Facebook and everyone else chooses (and I mean EVERYONE) to streamline their information output and input through one social media source. A source that will most likely fall by the wayside when some new flavor of the week comes along.

So here’s what I ask – out of love and out of a bit of a different perspective because I chose to step away from something I felt was personally unhealthy for me: Love your people; tell them; show them. Live as genuinely and feelingly as you can but don’t forget to have fun, too. Remember who your people are while you’ve still got them. Life is incredibly fragile and if we all rest our communication and engagement efforts into the one basket that is Facebook then we are all missing out. Love and friendship is not effortless; it takes making a conscious effort to be in another person’s life and putting in the work. And I am just as susceptible of losing track of the days and thinking I should be in better contact so please don’t think I’m not looking at my own ways of engagement as well.

But what I’m seeing is an all too rampant superficiality and yes laziness when it comes to maintaining friendships. And where it concerns me is that I’m seeing it from remarkable people who are not superficial or lazy at all. This is all a side-effect of the times. So I’m asking for one of a few things: please consider streamlining your cyber “friends” to a manageable minimum (or at least to people you’d actually consider grabbing a beer with) and also remember that people you love/people who love you are not all on Facebook. Look at who really matters in your life and keep them in your life in a real and valuable way, because when they’re gone you can’t simply hit the Refresh button. Please try to do what you can to maintain the real friendships that matter to you and I’ll try to do the same.

Though I doubt anyone will read this because I didn’t post it on Facebook.

Highway 145 (going through the San Juan Forest in Colorado) has got to be one of the most beautiful drives I’ve ever had the joy of experiencing…

To learn more about the San Juan National Forest look HERE.

I loved this drawing so much I had to share. Drawn by JD Cliffdweller of the Grand Canyon, Salida Colorado, Washington State, etc…

As I mentioned, I’ve been trekking around Florida, staying with family and friends while doing my multimedia work. I’ve also been researching spots for a new place to live. I love the idea of hiking in the mountains on a regular basis but I’ve been thinking the energy of the NC Triangle would be better for me, overall. I’ve also got documentary making friends in the area and that’s more comforting than residing in a town without knowing a soul. As this trip winds down, the challenging part has been in settling into a new space to get into a work routine, then moving on again. Everyone I’ve stayed with has been lovely and willing to let me stay for however long but ultimately I need my own space.

The thing is working to save up for the first/last/and relocating expenses of the few things I have left (what’s in my car and an 8 X 5 storage unit). The Durham area is looking really good but there’s been something sticking in my craw; something I couldn’t figure out until I went out to my car last night. I sat in the back for a while to get things reorganized because when I started this trip I didn’t have a snow coat, snow boots, two hiking packs, hiking boots… these are things that are useful, or will be further north, but they’re taking up space that doesn’t even exist. But as I rearranged the camper/car I felt a sense of calm and focus and remembered a saying that my friend Patti sent me, “Quit waiting for everything to be perfect. You have everything you need right now.” And while I appreciate the sentiment and it’s a good optimistic way to look at things it couldn’t really resonate with me until I sat back in my car and realized how it made me feel, which was comfortable and at home in a surprisingly tiny space.

I morphed the catch-phrase to my own angle and said “What do I want and what “things” really matter to me?” Because I had been without a lot of my possessions for 7 months and the few things I hauled around made me feel at home and centered, even with the constant change.

The theme of a home that’s mine has been swirling around in my mind long before ever embarking on this journey. But the idea of gathering up the initial $2,000 for the privilege of getting a roof over my head and to house my “stuff” somehow seemed like a back-step for me, personally.

We all have different needs, goals and priorities, and while I some day dream of owning land and a home I don’t feel so hot about sweating it out for a place that isn’t really mine, in any one year-round destination. I have friends who are blessed with property and others who are shackled by it; many who dream of it and sometimes pine. I’ve been there.

But on many occasions on this trip my Cruiser was my home and I loved it.

Didn’t I sometimes feel too confined? Yes.

Yet at the time it was the most sensible choice to help make a dream become reality. Still, in coming back to Florida I started to think in the old way I did before leaving, in the way that we were all brought up to think. Grow up, get a career, buy a house, have a family… I don’t look down on any of these things by any stretch of the imagination but I’m really trying to look at my particular circumstances and how to live as true to Me as I can. The world has changed, there is no job security any longer. And as a freelancer I’m afforded certain freedoms but also limitations because of my career choices; and as a freelancer it also scares the hell out of me to try and commit to a yearlong lease in a brand new town.

So long story longer, while the idea of saving up money for another apartment doesn’t feel so hot I am ready for some consistency again in my life. I’ve tried to feel at home wherever I went and I made huge strides but I’m also a creature of habit and am far more productive when I set myself up with some sort of routine. So instead of finding home wherever I go I think I really want to aim to keep my home with me.

Instead of gearing up to settle down in an apartment I’m strongly considering saving up for a little camper and doing it up.

I’ve got a lot of research to do to see if this move will truly be cost-effective in the long run or if I’ll be spending about the same to park it here and there, but with less comfort than in a more traditional home.

I’ve always been obsessed with Airstreams, little Burros and canned hams and always viewed it as a lottery fantasy or something I did “when I retire”. But who retires these days? The whole point of this trip was in enjoying it Now. But I always thought that “home” and camper would be two completely separate things; not so much now.

Frankly, the idea of paying to haul stuff to another town (spending more than the stuff is worth) to live in an apt I can’t paint whenever I damn well feel like it makes my stomach jump. Whereas saving up to make a mackdaddy little camper my permanent yet portable home really excites me and can possibly tackle many of my logisitcal concerns (Loving Colorado, Southern Texas, NC and Florida… wanting to see more of the country, having my own space, living a financially more simple life…) Again I have to see if this is feasable but it’s where my head is at and while it might not sound “normal” it feels right to me.

And yes I have some lovely things; some old, some new, and some things I would never ever get rid of but others are just “things”. I think I’d rather have fewer things that I really love than a 2br apt full of filler; a smaller space is going to put that theory to the test.

I won’t do anything rash; family treasures need to stay in the family… but it looks like in shifting priorities the 6ft red couch I love but couldn’t figure out how to transport may end up finding a new family to help me reach my goals. I’ll keep you all posted.

So anyhoo, that’s where my head is at right now; I’ve got a lot of things to look into and this may not end up being the best way but right now I’m going to focus on this path. If you can send good energy my way I would greatly appreciate it – and if you hear of a sweet-ass deal out there I will be looking for the following…

A small camper trailer (13 – 16ft and needs to be under 2,000lbs while I’ve got the Cruiser)
With sink, stove, fridge, toilet, shower.
I love the old vintage campers but it has to be physically sound, though in need of cosmetic repairs is totally fine.
Some styles and brands to be on the lookout for: Scamp, Casita, Shasta, Scotty, Airstream (lotto fantasy), Burro, T@B, or any no name canned ham-style campers. See picts for inspiration!

This is an attempt to help manifest some awesomeness and to bring awareness to the task at hand. You’ve been with me the whole way and it’s meant the world to me; if you all can be so kind as to keep an ear and eye out I would greatly appreciate it! I’m also totally up for receiving any links on cool designing tips and ideas, too.

Until, happy 2012 and I hope that it’s everything you hope for!!!

Some inspiration…

(lotto fantasy…)

Just wanted to let you know that I am alive, I do exist. Making the trek back to the Southeast took some doing, which consisted of working/stopping… working/stopping. Here’s a big heaping thank you to the folks that fed me, housed me, made me laugh, gave me dogs and cats to adopt, if only for a few… The kind folks at Mondello Manor, Marty’s Mansion, Chrystian’s Corner, and Butch’s Bodega are some of the key players in this return journey; and many back west who didn’t want to see me go still helped me make it happen – The Richardsons, Reeds and more… all of these folks are the truest of friends. And you pals across the country who continued to donate to the fund when I said or wrote something that struck a chord – no words can express my gratitude.

The big drive to return was that I was real homesick for my family and wondered if I had it in me to face another financial or logistical setback; that with my hiking bros heading to Michigan I knew it was time to make my way back for a few. I limped into Ft.Myers 6 months/1 week after I left Florida, nursing a good dose of bronchitis, a gimpy car and a kind of raw disposition. But there’s nothing like family to cure such a thing (well family and also a Z-pack). My sister made some beautiful meals, I awoke to coffee every morning, and woke up once in the middle of the night wondering where I was (I still do that a lot) and was so happy to know my Mom was in the next room over. I lost two friends while I was gone and I couldn’t help but worry I might not make it back to see the people I love most, or that they might not be around when I did. But thankfully everyone’s accounted for. I shot numerous rounds of HORSE with my nephew, had some liberal doses of spiked homemade egg nog and celebrated Christmas with my closest peeps.

I then came in to Orlando to see a number of friends and was shown great hospitality by friends Patti and Brian and Nora, as well as all who bought me a beer, made me a meal, offered me a hug and some genuine conversation, thank you!

Seriously. The love shown has been overwhelming.

And now I’m roaming the various towns of Florida, visiting gracious friends, working on numerous paid web gigs and formulating a plan for my next adventure. Yes my car’s still a camper, and most likely will stay that way until I finally find my new place to call home. My current plan is to hunker down, build up some cash and to set up shop in a nearby State in order to start a new life but to also be within a day’s drive of my tribe. It’s time to process everything I’ve experienced on this journey. And yep, write another book.

My brain is still scrambled, the constant moving has rewired my synapses or something so that even when I know where I am I’m still programmed to morph it with previous places (seeking out the red cutting board from Stone Mountain while in Chattanooga and remembering it to be from Denver is one such instance; and then physically starting when my friend pointed out a Publix because until she said it I had forgotten I was back in Florida).

Yeah. So it’s been a trip, for sure. It’s one of the greatest gifts I have ever received, both by me and by you.

More details soon, but until then have a WONDERFUL and prosperous 2012.

I want to send a heartfelt thank you to Jess McGrath (and Niki for introducing us). Jess calmly and competently drove me across the following (see pictures). Her calm assurance and great conversation allowed me to put thoughts of death and careening off the road far to the back of my mind and gave me the chance to see some of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. I wish her every happiness in the world.