Manifest Destiny, pt. 5, For the Thrill of It

“To those devoid of imagination a blank place on the map is a useless waste; to others, the most valuable part.” - Aldo Leopold

I have a book list to read on my phone that I won't get to before I die and I don't have a clue what most of them are about. I enjoy the thrill of going into a novel blind. 

After my remote getaway in Northeastern Washington I felt the pull of finishing the job of viewing the Pacific Ocean. I have a friend who lives in Tacoma, WA so I decided that it makes good sound sense to check in on him. One thing I learned is that Central Washington is a dry, flat high desert with not much around but a reservoir now and then.

In Tacoma, we spent a couple days talking about elk hunting and catching up like pals do. I didn't love Tacoma, but I'm sure there are nice people and places there that I didn't explore.

Continuing the tour, I moseyed my way down to Portland to meet up with another long time amigo over burritos and beer. I stayed in a vibey, renovated hotel called the White Eagle above an old saloon in downtown Portland. The rooms were actually at one point the brothel portion of the business....

The atmosphere and current conditions of Portland seemed pretty tumultuous so I carried on south to Bend, OR while stopping at some recommended hiking sights along the way.

Bend is a vibrant town despite the current pandemic. I loved that tourists and locals alike seemed to be using and gathering in the downtown area that is full of breweries (there's a theme here in my travels) and good food. You don't see that with all downtowns. Then again, not all cities were created equal.

Following a night in Bend, I decided to steer the ship back in the northeast direction. So here I am and it's probably a good point in the story to let you know that I've taken my talents to Missoula, MT.

It may seem spontaneous but it really hasn't been. Moving west has always been an intrigue of mine, I just needed to confirm that my suspicions were true before pulling the trigger. While the past 4 blogs may make it seem like a flippant and easy decision, it hasn't been. I think before someone has a spouse or children, we're always wrestling with the decision to make life choices based on the "missing people" versus personal happiness emotions. It's a matter of being self-disciplined and taking the time to prioritize ultimately what's the most important to you. We're only here for 80ish years. Pursue your happy.

Loneliness and self doubt I've found, are similar to nausea. They surface and it sucks, but will eventually dissipate. What our culture isn't used to is letting these feelings run their course and learning to process them like adults. What we've grown accustom to is numbing them through social media, connectivity and current events. 

To give you some out of the ordinary details, I'm working as a server at a fun brewery along with the Farmers Market on weekends.  I'm letting my interests lead me to financial gain and muffling any pride when evaluating jobs. While the wildfires are making it smokey this time of year, I'm loving the city, proximity to recreational activities and general outdoor commonalities I have with folks here. 

The hardest part has been missing the comfort and enjoyment of my established friends and family, but I'm better learning how to reinvent myself both professionally and personally and I'm enjoying the uncomfortable process of that challenge. Just like my book list, I'm learning as I go. 

If you're feeling the claustrophobia of the city and current events, just know that you can get out of the city limits, even if it's for a weekend. I'd recommend it. 

New in my life: ZooTown Cup of Joe just doesn't have the same ring. Deer B tags and chili. Quads and Cavs are Division 3 status.  

Keep smilin'

JM