While out muddling about today, someone asked me about leaving town. We talked a bit and I explained a little about my plans to travel around the world. When we parted she said, “I hope you enjoy your adventures.” Later, as I was thinking about it, the true meaning of her words dawned on me. [...]
While out muddling about today, someone asked me about leaving town. We talked a bit and I explained a little about my plans to travel around the world. When we parted she said, “I hope you enjoy your adventures.”
Later, as I was thinking about it, the true meaning of her words dawned on me. Then, like a mis-quote from “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” I thought,”Adventures! Adventures! I don’t need no stinkin’ adventures.” I just want to travel, meet people and see stuff.
So, I don’t know. If your idea of an adventure is ziplining on the highest zipline in the world, you won’t be reading about it on my blog. I don’t want to skydive and I don’t want to hang-glide. I sure as hell don’t want to bungee jump.
I can just see me bungee jumping. There I am sailing out over some shear drop, trailing a line behind me, going down, down. Then, I hit the end of that line a 150 feet down. SNAP! The only part of me that would be jerked back up would be my legs. The rest of me would just keep on going until I landed with a big splat on the rocks below. Not my idea of an adventure. More like suicide.
An adventure is a disaster you survive with only a couple of manly scratches. It’s not voluntarily being dismembered or having your spine separated into several pieces.
No friends, neighbors, kinfolks, and others who have stumbled on this site through lucky chance, here are the facts. I’m 63 years old. I’ll be 64 in January. I’ve been pretty much sitting on my butt for three years. Getting off my butt – that is going to be an adventure.
For an old guy who has been sitting around for a few years I guess I’m in pretty decent shape. But not like I used to be. Once upon a time, six or seven years ago I did hike from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to the South Rim in July, in temperatures up to 125 degrees. In 14 hours. That is true. It is also true that I lost all my toenails and had blisters on my heels as big as a – well really big. Now that was an adventure, sort of. But that was then. This is not then. Know what I mean?
So I don’t want to bore anyone but here’s the deal. My idea of an adventure now is not going to be the same as it was even ten years ago. Right now, my idea of an adventure is surviving a plane trip to Guatemala in coach. If I can manage that then I will see if I can get from Guatemala City to San Pedro by bus – but probably not a chicken bus if I can avoid it.
Then, I intend to spend somewhere between 2 – 4 weeks in San Pedro taking Spanish lessons and seeing the local sights. After that, it will be on to Xela for another month or so of Spanish lessons and seeing what is to be seen.
While I am waking up the mind learning a new language I’m going to be attempting to get the old bod back into some kind of shape. I don’t think there is a gym in San Pedro but I know there is in Xela so I’ll be using that when I get there.
After Xela, the plan gets a little hazy. Probably Mexico for a month or so, then Australia. After that Southeast Asia, China, Russia, India, Eastern Europe, Greece, Egypt, Italy, Spain, and then where ever.
The plan is to go slow, usually stay in one place at least a month at a time, with no limit if I’m liking it but to keep moving on. Eventually I intend to circle the world. It might take years. And, I’ll be eating better and just in general, getting out, breathing air, talking to people, and living. And this is what my traveling and this blog is going to be about.
I intend to find out if there is more to life for an old(er) man in today’s world than living in the states on social security, in government housing, eating pot pies, and watching the idiot box every night.
For me, the answers to those questions has to be a resounding YES! It is going to be “yes” because I am going to make it so. I don’t know about anyone else, but that sounds like an adventure to me.
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About the Author: Gar Williams
Gar Williams liquidated his former life, sold all his possessions that wouldn’t fit into a 46 liter backpack, and left it all behind at age 63. He is now traveling the world, and, in his words, is finally doing what he wants to do. Gar stops by at VagabondJourney.com from time to time to offer his wisdom and advice on the Senior Vagabond series. Gar Williams has written 65 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.
Gar Williams is currently in: Ecuador
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November 5, 2011, 6:10 pm
You go Man I can’t think of a better way to spend what time us 60 plusers have left.You are a brave man to try it but at least the last years for you will be exciting. It is not that any one thing will be an adventure but the whole of your life will be an adventure.—–Sis
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November 5, 2011, 6:28 pm
“Us sixty plussers”? Surely you can’t be over 50, 🙂
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November 5, 2011, 6:28 pm
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November 5, 2011, 7:33 pm
This is going to be exciting for me to follow you in your travels…you will be able to give me a heads up on where to check out on the great planet earth for my next nest of a year or two…your trip blows what I am doing out of the water…I cant imagine moving from place to place every month or so…going to travel the globe slow as you know, but parking in one spot for a lengthy period of time is kind of key for me…. you definitely are off on an adventure! I so love it…another fellow traveler, outside the box, and going for life not a life sentence… hey the way I look at your adventure is it will be an inspiration for me to keep on doing what I have begun, it will be like you are paving the way… your adventure my new friend is going to benifit me in more than one way…it will be good reading material for one…lol…i lack in reading material…hee hee..
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November 5, 2011, 9:37 pm
Hi Diane,
Sure happy to have you drop by. Thank you for all the kind words. I’ll be down that way soon. I’m collecting ebooks for you. I hate to think of someone with nothing to read. Take care.
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November 5, 2011, 9:37 pm
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November 12, 2011, 10:29 pm
Definitely sounds like a wonderful adventure, one I hope you will love!!! We will miss you lots but will also envy your initiative to go on such an adventure, have fun and remember you still have family who love you in Arkansas!!!
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November 12, 2011, 10:34 pm
Thank you. Don’t worry. Like the “bad penny”, I’ll turn up again here again. I sure enjoyed today with you and my TWO god-daughters.
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November 12, 2011, 10:34 pm
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November 21, 2011, 7:17 pm
Hey Man, I love the blog—just noticed your post on peanut butter on the TBEX forum and came to investigate. I’m sure you’ve heard about them already, but as far as bus companies serving that part of Central America, I wanted to put in a good word for Hedman Alas (hedmanalas.com)—if you spring for ejecutivo, in addition to a giant seat, you get the worlds most giant footrest and a pack lunch. Really top-notch and usually less or the same as the busses the tout at the hostels. I love that part of the world. . . am sure you’ll find a little more adventure than you’ve bargained for, but you’ll be sure to have a blast!
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November 21, 2011, 7:23 pm
HI Greg,
Appreciate you taking the time to drop by. Thanks for the compliment and the advice. I’ll check out the bus and your blog too.
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November 21, 2011, 7:23 pm
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