written by Ed
“All my bags are packed and ready to go…don’t know when I’ll be back again!” Well, the words of the John Denver classic have never felt so relevant, as Jayne and I embark on our nomadic adventure.
Over the past few months, we’ve done our very best to shed most of our possessions including our condo, cars, most household furnishings, many clothes, books, etc., to the point where what is remaining resides in a 10’x 10′ storage locker. In some ways, it feels odd to be home-free (as opposed to homeless) with no set itinerary, while at the same time feeling very “light” and unencumbered.
These last few months were also a time for reflection, as we said farewell to familiar places, restaurants, scenery, and of course, the fabulous friends and people who have made the desert a special place for us to live over the past 20 plus years. It is, more likely than not, that we will not live in the desert again, so these goodbyes have felt different from others I’ve experienced in my life. Part of the excitement of our upcoming trip is the uncertainty of it all, including no itinerary to speak of, the COVID situation, and where we might settle when the traveling is complete (then again, what does “complete” mean?). That uncertainty extends to friends we have made in the desert, but with modern technology, there’s no excuse not to remain in contact.
Our decision to downsize and travel has been brewing for several years. Personally, I had voiced my desire to travel the world before I hit 70 (this past October was my 70th birthday) as long as we were both healthy and could afford to do so. Jayne has always had a wanderlust soul, so there wasn’t much convincing I had to do with her. Obviously, her letting go of her successful business, Desert Yoga Therapy, was quite difficult given the impact she made on so many, and the sangha (yoga community) she created, but she was more than happy for us to take this journey together. What many people have told me when I’ve mentioned our plans was something along the lines of, “I would love to do that but my partner, spouse, whatever, would never agree to that” or alternatively, “My spouse, etc. would love to do that, but I could never see myself doing that.” So, we recognize that we are lucky and fortunate in that regard. We both love to travel (and are good travel partners!), we both might be considered risk-takers, and we’re not alone in knowing that life is short, and we must enjoy it while we can. So, here we are!
The first leg of our journey begins tomorrow, July 19, as we fly to, where else, the glamorous metropolis of Albany, NY. An odd place to start, one might say, but it is the gateway to Cooperstown, NY, and the Baseball Hall of Fame (we are both die-hard Dodger fans).
The following day, we will drive to Springfield, MA to visit the Basketball Hall of Fame (Kobe admirers) and finally, attending a family wedding in Newport, RI. We’re excited to be with family and in a celebratory mood prior to our first overseas destination of Denmark.
Jayne and I will both be writing when we feel the urge, so it may not be on a regular schedule. As you might imagine, we’re attempting to be as “irregular” as we can be. If you’d like to follow us and receive notifications of our latest blog, simply go to www.desertyogatherapy.com and in the lower right portion of the homepage you’ll see an icon FOLLOW. Click on the icon and follow instructions and you’ll be all set.
Cheers!
