I've said it before and I'll say it again. Many people want to travel, but not all would handle it as well as they think. I am steadily beginning to understand that for myself. I personally didn't expect things to play out in the fashion they have. My own experience driving across the country has been an entirely new one for me. Between the ridiculous fuel prices and growing tired of bread and butter. I've had to make a ton of decisions daily as to how I want my trip to play out. Initially the idea of total and absolute control over a trip agenda sounds great. With no one but myself to appease, I can do anything!
Sometimes fantastic, sometimes not so much. When I pictured myself over here, I imagined the tide would take me where it would. But most everything takes serious initiative. The benefit of having a life back home is that some days had events planned out. All alone, every day requires a decision. Perhaps it's a byproduct of being a creature of habit, but newness every day isn't always inspiring or exciting. Some days alone are wonderful, thoughts and actions taken are new and would not have been made had I been in the company of others. While other days I want nothing more than to be with those I love. Driving along the winding highways of New Zealand is perhaps one of my favorite pastimes. Were it not so expensive, I would do it all day after day.
The largest drawback to perpetual drivingt however is missing opportunities to document or comment on the wondrous sights I see. Most must fade into memory as they pass by, never to be shared, and it seems a shame. Sometimes I have to opportunity to stop by and snap some photos, and I would do so more often if I didn't have to drop from 60 to 0 mph in a split second. Alas, I have discovered that unless you have books to listen to, road trips alone are to be taken seldom, at least for myself. I am quite used to spending long hours alone in a car, it had been my job for some time. What wasn't the case was driving through one of the most beautiful backdrops the world has to offer in that setting.
Sometimes fantastic, sometimes not so much. When I pictured myself over here, I imagined the tide would take me where it would. But most everything takes serious initiative. The benefit of having a life back home is that some days had events planned out. All alone, every day requires a decision. Perhaps it's a byproduct of being a creature of habit, but newness every day isn't always inspiring or exciting. Some days alone are wonderful, thoughts and actions taken are new and would not have been made had I been in the company of others. While other days I want nothing more than to be with those I love. Driving along the winding highways of New Zealand is perhaps one of my favorite pastimes. Were it not so expensive, I would do it all day after day.
The largest drawback to perpetual drivingt however is missing opportunities to document or comment on the wondrous sights I see. Most must fade into memory as they pass by, never to be shared, and it seems a shame. Sometimes I have to opportunity to stop by and snap some photos, and I would do so more often if I didn't have to drop from 60 to 0 mph in a split second. Alas, I have discovered that unless you have books to listen to, road trips alone are to be taken seldom, at least for myself. I am quite used to spending long hours alone in a car, it had been my job for some time. What wasn't the case was driving through one of the most beautiful backdrops the world has to offer in that setting.
Since I left Auckland, which was shortly after I first updated this blog, I have visited and passed through most of the North Island. I have experienced but a small fraction of what there is to see and do on this island. In the amount of time I've had to visit each place, I have done an underwhelming amount of things. And this is where travelling alone comes into play with affecting day to day decisions. I didn't do as much in each place, without the presence of company to offer suggestions or pursue the obvious activities a group might enjoy. Thus the amount of restaurants I have visited has been minimal at best, I have driven past countless wineries, without dropping in and exploring, the Rotorua hotsprings, remained simply a sign and the lingering odor of sulfur as I passed on to other places, no sand dune surfing, or zorbing down hills for me. I couldn't justify in my mind doing such things without others to share the joy of the experience with. No, my choice of activities has been primarily hiking, camping, eating crummy precooked meals, dropping by the occasional café, and watching the coastline change as I descend from north to south.
But, as one goes on as some sort of homeless traveler, they get better at doing it. Now I have a rudimentary kitchen I take along. The cuisine which I prepared has evolved. From peanut butter and jelly, to prepackaged oatmeal and noodles, to grilled cheese, eggs sandwiches, and homemade oatmeal. Yes, I do in fact live like a king now.
With all that in mind, it only made me ever more eager for Thanksgiving, which was a wonderful meal I got to celebrate with my first hosts and their family. Surprisingly I have discovered I prefer being with people to eating noodles and oatmeal out of the back of my car. I have just purchased my ferry ticket for the South Island; the vista backdrop of Middle Earth. I look to settle in Christchurch or the surrounding area so I never have to be apart from people again.
"I used to be legit, but now I'm not legit, I'm unlegit, and for that, I must quit."
The life of a loner was not for me. I saw many beautiful things and did many fun things. But in the end I realized none of it measured up to the company of people. I am now beginning what I truly set out to do.
Cheers Everyone, I hope my next update will come more swiftly. I have photos in the link, because I don't feel like formatting them in the website template.
