Throwing away the Ruby Slippers

"In these trying times, I don't, in a manner of speaking, know what I want; perhaps I don't want what I know and want what I don't know." (from Marsilio Ficino, in a letter to Giovanni Cavalcanti) guess when this was written--c. 1475! and yet, I find what is true for this guy in 1475 is true for me, in that people often ask when I plan on settling down, getting an 8-5, M-F, getting married, having kids, what my life will look like in 5 yrs, etc. I don't really have an answer for this, except this quote seems quite appropriate. it's not that I plan to live the life of the nomad for all eternity, it's just that I've yet to find anything else more interesting, a reason to stay in 1 place, doing 1 thing day after day. I look @ the classifieds in the newspaper & simply can't see myself doing/being interested in any of the jobs listed; therefore, I look elsewhere, & end up doing things like being a sky ranger in CO, or a Jeep tour guide in AK, or packing fish in NZ. I am not a travel snob--sometimes I run into people who denigrate those who stay @ home, don't leave their comfort zones or experience the world, etc. I, on the other hand, am glad that people can be content w/ that life; besides, I need someone to be an accountant b/c I need help w/ my out-of-control taxes (6 state & a federal last year, no more 1040EZ for me)! I do, however, get sick of those who listen to my stories & look @ my life & say, oh, I wish I could do what you do, I want to travel, but I just can't b/c....(litany of excuses inserted here). it's really not that hard--you simply make up your mind & do it! I leave in just a couple hours for home, on a 2 1/2 day trek, really. I've made sure to wear my comfortable pants & t-shirt! When I get home, I've got lots of friends in the midwest to catch up w/, that I'll be sure to exchange stories w/, even share pictures w/. What will be disappointing is that in all the words I use, all the thousands of pictures I show, I'll never be able to explain what my life has been for the last 6 months, what it means to experience NZ, how my (literal) mountaintop experiences suffuse my self. you've just got to do it for yourself, in order to understand it! that's the end of my rant--I've had a fabulous time w/ Jessica, living on a hillside on the beautiful bay, watching the sailboats go by, and am now fully used to civilization again (i.e. showers, beds, sheets & blankets, eating @ a table w/ dinnerware, etc.). As usual, I am sorry to be leaving, but excited to see friends & family @ home. I have the feeling that these flights home are going to feel like an eternity--I'm ready to be there already, & I haven't even left!