Porthole

On the path... along the way

On the path... along the way

I commented on a blog "State of Confusion"  by Lilli 🧿 ☕ where she mentions a spiritual journey. I used a metaphor:

One problem with journeys is that everyone is on their own journey. The goal may be the same but the route may be different. Some take the designated highway and check with AAA before they set out. Others just start walking, cycling, driving, whatever and figure it out along the way.

Which is why sharing is problematic. Those who call AAA or Rick Steves, or their local travel agent only get to see someone else's journey. Conventional people go further... they will only listen to one source and never question the map or notice anything unusual on the way. Some will not tolerate distraction (like kids in the back seat pointing at a cow).

Sharing with conventional people may be frustrating because they either don't acknowledge there's another route or are convinced that they are right regardless. Don't expect support if you stop at a park or take a side-road. The straightest quickest well-known way is always best. And they have a point. They set themselves on automatic and snooze for a day, a year or a lifetime.

That's boring to others however, especially if they have an inquisitive mind. Getting lost along the way is delightful... or at least they think so until they're lost. Getting off the path has it's own perils and pleasures. For many finding the scenic route may take a lifetime... but Oh! what a glorious trip!

So, if you know your goal there are many paths.

To wax non-metaphorically in my travel blog:

BOOK

On The Write Path  (13+) ON THE WRITE PATH: travel journal for Around-the-World in 2015, 16, 18. #2032403 by Kåre เลียม Enga

I've met many travelers and tourists. Tourists tend to be conventional. They've been to London, Paris and Rome, visited the churches, museums and monuments. Just as thousands of others have. They feel safest on a package tour. Even if they are adventure tourists seeking out a mountain, a zip-line, a dive into a blue lagoon... they only do what others have done before them. Few are true adventurers going off into the unknown.

Travelers however... may not know what they are doing next week or tomorrow.... why? Because it doesn't matter! The trip is more important than the destination. They may travel with maps and guidebooks but those are only for reference. Why go where everyone goes when there's a neat place to visit just around the corner! And why make definite plans when something better may come along?

Me? I'm in between. My bad nerves do not allow me to just go on the spur of the moment without some plan. I tell myself that I don't have the financial resources if something goes bad... I avoid risk. And yet... I've been in difficult situations and people have helped me. I've relied on the kindness of strangers and been inspired by their humanity. And I do like taking a different path and seeing what others do not see... with my own eyes

In the end I will die. But whether the journey is physical, mental or spiritual the better question is whether I have lived.

Responding to Eric: I will need to go back to Costa Rica. It's just a matter of when. Going to Europe, Africa of Asia though is a better goal. I've thought about a trip: Montana Costa Rica Europe Costa Rica Montana. It may be cheaper than two separate trips out of Missoula and there are direct flights from San José to Paris and Madrid and maybe London and Frankfurt (cheaper and easier than from here).

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