Hello, everybody,

As many of you know, I am leaving my job at OMSI to travel. Not a vacation, but an extended trip -- a year or more, possibly three years.

My first destinations are along the west coast of the Americas: first the San Francisco Bay area, then a marvelous-sounding adventure tour in Peru with my friend Kristi.

I'm giving destinations first, because that seems to be the inevitable question that most folk like to ask. But for those who will be interested, it's important to let you know that for me, the destinations are secondary. I'm exploring wherever seems right, and that's based on a lot of subtle factors.

I've been finding destinations based on a variety of reasons ... sometimes "reason" is a stretch, but let me desribe the flavor of the dreams I'm exploring.

For starters, I've been interested in a wide range of fields. Some of these interests: environmental and sustainability issues, economics, human education and development, science, art, writing, building, the outdoors. There just doesn't seem to be time to explore them all while working. So while I have my time in my own hands, I'll be looking into new jobs, lifestyles, and situations that might reflect these interests.

You might think that Portland is the perfect place to explore these ideas, so why travel? And you may be right. I like Portland. But I want some perspective on just what makes other places different.

You could call it amateur anthropology: I'm asking, "What is important to people?" "How does that seem to work out for them?" and, "What does that mean for my own life?" But since these questions are too big to ask directly in many cases, I'm finding ways to explore them indirectly.

That's the philosophical angle.

Personally, it seems like, with my family getting engaged and married, right and left, I'd better enjoy being unattached while it lasts. I do anticipate settling down at some point. So it seems like a good plan to travel now. Either I'll find it easier to settle down in a few years, knowing I made the most of my opportunities for adventure; or possibly, I'll lose all desire to settle down. Either way, I hope to avoid unnecessary resentments about the path not chosen.

Travelling solo, exciting as it is, also gives me pause to think about safety. So I'm researching destinations and building my support network with that in mind.

From a gut level, I've been holding out for the "next big thing" for several years. It's finally time to do something, now. In a way it doesn't matter what -- except that my mixed feelings about most of the many options make it hard to choose something standard. In going off on my own, I feel echoes of a lot of fictional quests and journeys, as well as the richness of historical exporation. There's a spiritual, almost mythological sense of entering the unknown region.

Practically, I'll be building skills, and collecting material for my literary and visual arts. I particularly want farm and outdoor-work experience, and increased fluency in Spanish, French, and other languages.

And, of course, I'm going to have fun. Indulging my fantasies is going to be a kick, even if my practical brain claims it's only to "get them out of my system."

It will be a grand adventure. I'm giving myself room to let it redirect my life. I hope I get a chance to connect with you along the way.

Watch for updates ... on this journal site and elsewhere.

:-)

Love,

Erica