The Backpacking Lifestyle
Question:
I so much enjoyed your presentation at The Bivouac in Ann Arbor yesterday (May 3). I guess my question is this: how does one work up the courage to do what you did? Currently, I am 56, single (no kids), and unemployed with no job prospects at the moment and what I most feel like doing is unloading my current life stuff, loading up my backpack and doing a long-distance hike to hopefully get a handle on what I want to do with the rest of my life, and perhaps find the answer to the question “What is the meaning of life? What is the point?” Would greatly appreciate any directions, ideas or advice you could give. Thanks so much! Also, I really like the Leki Pathfinder Trekking poles I won yesterday; though t! hey are kids’ poles, because I am short, they fit me perfectly! Thanks again. Pax, Kathy Handyside
Answer:
We first would like to say thank you for attending our tour stop at The Bivouac in Ann Arbor , and we hope you continue to enjoy the LEKI poles that you won. When it comes to addressing your other questions, we should start by saying that while we were living those moments, the moments when we were deciding to sell our home and leave our jobs, it really didn’t feel courageous. Rather than Courage, we would say we were overwhelmed with Passion! Everything felt right, like we were doing exactly what we were supposed to be doing, no matter how unorthodox it seemed to everyone else. As far as determining the meaning of life, or “the point”, we would never for a minute pretend that we have any of that figured out. We can say, though, that in following our passion we have been able to search out a slower pace, one less cluttered by material objects and unnecessary distractions. Our backpacking adventures have enabled us to take a good look at the way others live their lives, at the opportunities that exist in this country, at the choices we all have and at the consequences of those choices that forever affect the ever-changing “path” that leads us to our next set of choices. We know first hand that backpacking is a great test, a test that will offer you an opportunity to spend quality time with yourself and an opportunity to meet quality people you otherwise would never be exposed to, a test that you can’t fail, but rather a test that allows you to get an honest evaluation of where you are and where you want to go. One step at a time!
We wish you good luck, happy trails, and lots of getting out more!
