Peripatetic (noun) Origin: Greek | peri·pa·tet·ic A person who spends his time wandering.
If there is a word that most describes me, it would be this word. I AM a peripatetic. I started my life as one and I believe that is how it will end.
I have mentioned this several times, but from the time I was a very small child. I read books on travel and adventure. From the wild west to space exploration. I loved the idea of being anywhere and everywhere. I loved all things related to magic, space, the future, the past, immortality, and any form of travel, survival, and escape.
My first attempts at travel (meandering and wandering throughout the world), were simple road trips close to home. I’m not sure why my mom and dad allowed me to drive from Spokane to Shelby at 16, by myself, through a mountainous, and over a sometimes dangerous highway. But they did, so I did. Meh, it was the 80s. I’m still alive.
My best friend in high school was also game for wandering here and there. I think we started in what appears to be the 1800s?
We wandered by car, dance, skiing, and apparently a bit of cannibalism. At 17, both of our parents allowed us to drive from Spokane to Seattle and off into Canada. Again, it was the 80s and meh.. we are both still alive..
I have wandered with friends, cousins, kids, and whoever else was game. I have wandered by train, plane, moto bike, bicycle, boat, balloon, parachute, hashing, hiking, tram, subway, slide, skeleton, camel, elephant, my daughter’s back, and car (just to name a few modes of maneuver).
My favorite wanderings were by car, followed super closely by train. I love seeing new things ahead of me but also love seeing what I’m leaving behind in my rearview mirror.
There is something magical about wandering across the U.S. and other countries by car that is difficult to replicate. One of the beautiful things is when you are in a car is that everything is directly in front of you. Sometimes it is annoying (heavy traffic) and other times, it simply takes your breath away.
You are going slow enough to really see things. If you see something you like, you can stop and take a photo, interact with the actors in this flick that you have just created. You can experience your surroundings in any way you choose. Admittedly, sometimes it can be terrifying and sometimes you feel like you have been taken hostage, or you have taken your passengers hostage!! I’m delighted to say that both of my daughters have developed a love of wandering as well. I personally feel that the many wanderings we have made, have drawn us closer than nearly anything else we have done in our lives. We have this expansion that has happened in our heads that can never be reduced or taken away.
The same goes for walking. When you hike or walk, you are in the thick of it. You can be invisible and interact or you can simply pass through. I think so many people miss the purpose of travel because they are constantly flying from here to there, simply to get there. Dude!!! For me it’s the journey.
“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher
Wanderings: mousumi; fanny; srikanth; islandtraveler; dave; janny; sonofasailor; alec; ab; artsyfartsy; karen; Gary; laura; geekyhooker; Ruth
rfljenksy - Practicing Simplicity 