This journal originally started out as a way for me to avoid having to write e-mail (yes, I’m that lazy). In an effort to continue avoiding having to write e-mail, the answer to the question everyone seems curious about is that I’m not entirely sure what I’ll do now. I had originally planned on going off to Spain and living simply for a while in Barcelona, but after the elections I feel like running off again would be an irresponsible move so I’ve put my name in the pool for a contracting job in Burbank. If that job comes through then I’ll be off to Los Angeles for a while to earn some money (don’t worry Jason, I would only be subservient to “the man” for six months). Once that job ends it’s almost a sure thing that I’ll be off on another trip, although the destination is anyone’s guess.
A big part of me wants to just ditch mainstream life entirely and run off, but another part of me wants to have the means to do something when I hear about a plan to clearcut national forests or drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (calling it “ANWAR” diminishes the fact that no matter how much oil may be under it, it’s supposed to be a WILDLIFE REFUGE). Sadly, my people skills aren’t my strong point, so about the only way I can fight these sort of things is either by helping groups like the Sierra Club or else trying to share how special these places are through writing about them or photographing them. Unfortunately both of those options require having a bit of money in the bank — it’s a Catch-22 that in order to enjoy the wilds I seem to have to spend time away from them. If I can compromise by letting the cubicle be a temporary means to an end than hopefully my heart can remain in the wilds while at the same time my mind is working to help keep them wild.