Gone fishin' - that's what the sign on my office door will read for the next three weeks.
Beginning next Wednesday, it'll be gone hikin'. It'll be a wonderful mixture of car camping and back country hiking. From Sumner Lake State Park in New Mexico to Cibola National Forest (also NM) to Havasu Falls (AZ), it'll hopefully be enough for the next several months.
However, it has got me thinking about unlimited desires, limited time, and changing interests. For the past ten years, I can't think of one Major or Ryder Cup I've missed. I'll even wake up at 5 a.m. in order to watch live action of the Open. This year, however, I won't watch any of the Thursday through Sunday action at Carnoustie so that I can go hike in the desert. Half love never appealed to me; I want all or nothing at all.
Once I get back, I'll re-pack and head out to the Western Caribbean for another five day vacation with Melissa and her mother's family to recover from this vacation.
I'll admit to a mild case of disquiet a few days before leaving on a trip like this. Going into the unknown always stirs my curious side. The only source of comfort is knowing that I better sleep well during the remaining nights I have at home; it'll be the last time to see my own bed or pillow for quite some time.
I'll also admit to over-preparing for trips; it's what I do. The funnest part, however, is the shopping as this is the only event that requires Melissa's participation. The preceding week, she'll come with me to REI and Tom Thumb to stock up on all my necessities. She always seems to find something I can't live without that I would have otherwise not picked up. Our other tradition is trying on backpacks for her. That's always good for a laugh or two.
