Don't Fence Me In

There is beauty in a fence. For some reason, I love to take pictures of them. Perhaps it's because it is a boundary trying to keep me out while I think of ways I can get to the other side. It's the line that tells you to stay where you belong. Sometimes, there is no beginning and no end. Most of the time, I respect the definition but there are moments I don't listen by crossing to the other side.

I am watching the PBS special, "An Emotional Life" that aired last week. You can watch this three part series online about how our brains react to emotions. Part one is friends, family and lovers, part two (I am watching this now) is facing our fears, and part three is rethinking happiness. I would recommend viewing each one.

What does this have to do with fences? Well, I suppose it's not the actual fence, but what the fence represents that's intriguing to me. I know that I have built fences in my brain in ways where I think that I can't get to a place I want to be because of something in the way.

As time moves on or when I think about it, the fences start to soften and loosen up for me to cross. It's still there reminding me of what I built up in my brain to get to a place I want to be.

I think it's good to question why we put up fences in our brain. Blocks to get to where we really want to be. Fear is a big reason and if we face the fear, the fence doesn't seem as intimidating to cross.

As an example: I had a well paid career that I worked hard at for years to get to a place where I had the flexibility to work from home and the amount of money I never thought I would ever make in my lifetime. Why would anyone give that up?

There were so many fears around the unknown for me. There is a good chance I will never make the same amount of money, have the flexibility and perceived "security" that I had. However, it wasn't what I really wanted to do and it didn't make me happy. After much thought and consideration, I left that world to wander around the country with my dog. After two years of being on the road and living as cheap as possible, it has given me more personal fulfillment and satisfaction than the job I had for 7 years.

Don't get me wrong, I love a challenge and I learned a lot in that career position. It just wasn't me and all the amount of money didn't fulfill my need to be who I truly wanted to be.

So here I am. Taking pictures of fences.

I would recommend watching these episodes if you haven't already. They are well done and gives you a chance to reflect on your own thinking and what you can do to get to the place you want to be. I am thankful that I took the leap to make a much needed change in my life. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Thank you for letting me share it with you. Here are some more pictures of fences I've taken during my travels:






More Fences

How it Began

How did I make the decision to quit my job and travel the country? It wasn’t easy. It took several months to put my life dream into a reality, but I did it. You know what? You can do it as well!

I was working in a job for the past 7 years that was challenging at first, but since the company merged with another, it just wasn’t the same anymore. It got too political, wasn’t creative, and my interest in selling the product was non-existent. However, the flexibility and compensation were hard to abandon.

It all started at the beginning of the year. I continued to go through the motions of work, but my body had something else in mind. I went for a normal routine doctor visit to find that I had a softball size tumor in my uterus that would continue to grow if I didn’t do something about it.

In February, I had a myomectomy.

I spent a month lying on my back with nothing to do but think. That’s exactly what I did. I thought about my life. Where I’ve been, where I want to go, what I want to do. I am so thankful that this happened to me because otherwise, I would have just continued the day in, day out grind. Most people don’t have the opportunity to take the time to think about their life and what’s really important. In a way, the fibroid tumor was the best thing that happened to me. I was able to start a new life.

I quit my job.

I packed all of the things I thought I would need and grabbed my dog, Maggie for an adventure of a lifetime. We embarked on a journey across the USA in my little 4x9 teardrop trailer. Little did I know how much I would learn about myself. Not always easy. In fact, some things were a little surprising to me. Pushing my limitations. Every night wasn’t a, “yay, campfire time” experience, although I did have those moments.

I didn’t have a plan. There were a few places I wanted to go and a few people I wanted to see. Other than that, it was my planned dream of not planning. I would wake up, look at a map and decide in the morning where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do. This is not a “normal” life, but what is “normal” now and days?

Today is day 3 of being home on a “pit stop.” I am still recovering from being on the road for 117 days. I think it’s because I have a hard time relaxing, among other reasons. In the next few days, I will share with you some of my thoughts and findings of being on the road.

I hope that through my experience, you may realize your own dream. It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. However, because I made the decision, it gave me an experience I may not have ever realized in my life. I look forward to the next chapter and sharing it with you.

Living in "Trailie" For 117 Days

Since I’ve been on the road for over 100 days, here are an additional 50 facts and tidbits on this journey thus far (Visit www.mytripjournal.com/alisontravels for more). Although I am heading towards home, this is not the end. I plan on entering the Southern route once the weather doesn’t threaten to sweep trailie away.
50 Facts and Random Figures (part 2):
1. 117 Days
2. 13, 479 Miles
3. 25 States visited
4. 31 Different Campsites
5. Stayed at 11 Homes
6. Motel 6’d it 6 times
7. One oil change…whoopsie
8. Spotted 2 bald eagles, numerous buffalo, elk, deer and squirrels!
9. 100 bags of ice
10. Backed trailie into 1 barn
11. 1 pedicure (I know, gross)
12. You can start a college fund with the amount of money spent on tolls on the East Coast
13. In Provincetown, you are either gay, Canadian, or lost
14. I like to think that animals are just sleeping on the side of the road
15. Best Quotes from people about trailie…
a. “You can win those on the price is right!”
b. “Is that for your dog?”
c. “Do you sleep in there?”
d. “Does it pop up?”
e. “Is there a bathroom in there?”
f. “Can you stand up in it?”
My response to all of the above: YES!
16. Reconnected with 2 people I haven’t seen in years
17. Met up with 5 My Spacers
18. Met one man who lives in his van full time
19. Watched 13 Concerts
20. Swam in 8 Lakes
21. No TV for 100 days
22. Cindy (Navigator) “redirected” me to 3 dead ends
23. Rode a bike through a 1.8 mile tunnel in complete darkness with sides that dropped off
24. Spotted 19 mullets in one day in Spokane
25. Was interviewed on 1 radio show
26. Lake Disappointment is really not a disappointment at all
27. Not a good idea to give dog treats to raccoons, unless you want the entire family over
28. Skip Sturgis
29. If you want Amish people to run away and hide from you, put a bathing suit on
30. In Oregon, there is no self service gas pump. Not a good idea to argue who is going to pump gas
31. Sang Karaoke once
32. Saw the world’s largest picnic basket located in Ohio
33. 12 sushi stops
34. 24 winery visits
35. 3 Maggie Baths
36. Overheard some funnies…
a. A man was buying a few things in a grocery store in Missouri and tried to pay with Canadian coins. The cashier said, “These are Canadian quarters” and the man said, “Yeah, that’s where I live.” Ummm….duuuhhhh….
37. Wall Drug offers you “free ice water”” they have 50 billboards on the road to prove it
38. Wrote 23 blogs since I left home
39. A Bar of “Dr. Brommers Magic Soap” lasts 22 showers
40. One blanket can be a “house sled” for 2 kids
41. A retired Cowboy can be your sushi chef in Cody, Wyoming
42. Washington and Oregon do have sunshine!
43. Trailie traveled on one Ferry
44. Met a convicted felon who says he’s innocent from terrorist threats to the mall (“um, ok. Bye”)
45. Flat tires= 0 (knocking on wood)
46. Costs $2 for a shower in Yellowstone
47. $10 to see Mt. Rushmore for the entire year (I will send pass to anyone planning on going)
48. Favorite Campsite = Vermillion in South Dakota
49. Favorite National Park = Yellowstone
50. Being thankful that I can live my dream = everyday