Spring cleaning happens several times a year for me. ESPECIALLY this year, moving from a three bedroom house to a 700ft. shared apartment. But, there is something about getting rid of excess that is so freeing. Something about having more space that feels good. And, something about living with less that feels more efficient.
AS I was cleaning yesterday I found a box with some of my travel patches. I say some, because I could have sworn I had patches from Haiti, Belize, Costa Rica, L.A., and Guatemala...but maybe not, you never know with me and my memory. But even these few that I found set my mind to wander. I have to get out of here for the summer. It's not Austin. I LOVE Austin, and I am so thankful I get to live here and soak up all the fun it has to offer at the ends of every work day and work week. But SUMMER...Summer is explore time. Summer is get outta here time. I haven't been international since the summer before last (Guatemala/Mexico). All I want in life right now is to hike something with a pretty view, without a jacket, and lay on the beach when I'm done. That's all I want. Hiking shoes and a swim suit and plane tickets.
Insomnia came over me last night. I should have been really tired because I was outside the majority of the day yesterday, but instead, I woke up around 3am and didn't get back to sleep until probably 5:30 or 6am. So, I grabbed my phone and started looking at maps. There is a lot I could explore in the Carribean. Puerto Rico is only a $400 ticket, I've never been to the Bahamas, or the Virgin Islands, or Cuba (look, i know what you're going to say...but I have friends who flew there from Mexico City no problem and loved it). I've never been anywhere in South America either but I'm really looking at island beaches and cheaper plane tickets right now. And, as great as all of these places look and cost...my mind keeps heading back to Hawaii! What IS it about that place? I can't explain. Maybe it's the pulled pork at the Grass Skirt Grill. Maybe its some of the most beautiful views my eyes have ever seen. Maybe its the absolute PERFECT temperatures and the fact that I can spend an entire week in my swimsuit and no one even notices. Maybe its that one of my best friends, Randy, really wants to go back too so I wouldn't have to travel alone. Maybe I want to try and spend a month or so there? Whatever it is. I daydream about that place. Even tempted to submit a resume or two out that way. Not that I'm trying to leave Austin. I want to give Austin at least another year to explore. But I, in no way feel married to this city, and if I've learned anything at all in the last six months, its the utter reality that our lives are short and we only get this one shot to see and do the things we dream about.
On a side note, even though I hate being cold and am ill-equipped for anything below 50 degrees, I REALLY want to see the Northern Lights. C'mon, sun particles dancing with Earth's atmospheric gases to make pretty lights in the sky?? I mean, I'm already obsessed with the phases of the moon so I can't imagine witnessing something so space nerdy as the Aurora Borealis. I'll flip out. According to my research, Norway, between November and March, is the best place in the world. You can ride behind sled dogs, out to an igloo to spend the night, see the lights, and they pick you up in the morning. How cool would that be??!! I'll have to get much better at my night photography and star trails before then. Over and out.
