I’d like to be able to take creative ownership for this entries title but in all honesty I ran across it while inspecting a bathroom graffiti art book that I discovered on a side table at the flat we crashed in Montreal a few weeks ago. It seemed like an appropriate line to go with what we’ve done and to cap off my final update on this site, for now.

Going back a few weeks now; I left Jordan in Halifax with the car to start on whatever is next for him but what seems to be most impressive to people is that we are still great friends despite being stuck in a box for the better part of two months. Having now made it home through a series of last-minute decisions and an inexpensive standby flight, I’ve had a few weeks of pondering what to make of our big adventure. . .

This has been the first year that I’ve taken a summer off. Even in my school days I can’t remember a time when my family took a vacation for more than two weeks and normally the trips were to my grandparents or cousins place. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy those experiences but after spending several months wandering around looking for something I think I may have found it.

Going into this trip I did my best to prepare on the equipment side but to have absolutely no plans or expectations for anything else. In my mind we were going to have a plethora of indiscriminate fun while enjoying the limitless amount of time that we had set aside to make it all happen. The reasons for our trip were so clear at first but as the towns rolled by and we tried different activities it became more about our changing perspective on the world and less about our destinations. It soon became apparent that, although we were able to enjoy many unique experiences, there is always something happening no matter where you are. Even more amazing is that we generally aren’t aware of what is going on around us to any extent outside of our daily routine. It was a rare moment to take a few steps outside of that and to see what we have in our own backyard. Sure we took a fair while trying whatever we could but all-in-all I think what I mostly realized is that we were only scratching the surface of what is available out there.

So what am I going to use this new found knowledge for? Well, among other things, to rant at others what I’ve observed around me:

- Old people are cool and they know stuff

- Computers have their place but they can’t replace the real world that is out there

- People aren’t generally happy, they’re just really busy

- Tourist attractions are for tourists

- When you leave, everyone’s world still continues on

- Change can be good so learn to accept it

- Text messaging is not a viable form of communication except for getting directions

- Jordan is a good musician

- I wouldn’t make a very good sailor

- I think I like people

- It’s really easy to get on television

- Work is a lot of work

- Spend less money, do more

- I dislike “The Forks” at 1 a.m.

- Go on, try something different. . .

Hopefully, with these realizations and many others I will have a more balanced view as to what is happening around me and it will effect my future decisions in a positive way. I guess there is only one way to find out. . .

I also wanted to use my last post to thank everyone that was involved in helping us before, during, and after our travels. We met a lot of exceptional people in the various places we visited and without them this trip really would not have been possible. I never would have thought that my idea from a few years ago might even remotely matter to anyone, yet so many people we talked to could identify with our project. It proved to me that if you set your mind to something and are willing to follow through with the effort you may even surprise yourself as to what you can accomplish! I know that sounds cliche but I’ve learned to take a chance on my dreams even if they don’t follow the standard confines of our society and I can only hope that our experience will prove that to someone else wondering if they should follow through with an idea.