Ooo, I'm so excited about this! Many of you already know this, but for those of you I haven't talked to in a while... I've been developing a new plan of "what to do next" and I'm getting pretty serious about it. As I was flying home from my last trip to Maine, I found myself daydreaming, thinking how wonderful it would be if I could find a way to LIVE up at my stepdad's camp for an extended period of time. I didn't really think it was possible, because a) its so far out in the middle of nowhere, no electricity, no running water, etc, which means that b) it wouldn't be possible for me to have any kind of job, income or whatever. So I just tabled the idea as a dream that wouldn't really come to pass.
But then I went home to NJ for a visit with my brother and nephew (who, by the way, is still so cute, and is now bearing a strange resemblance to Conan O'Brien). I mentioned the idea to my folks, and to my surprise, we spent the whole evening talking about how to make it work, and they were SO into the idea! We talked about ways to stay connected, ie: satellite phone for emergencies (no cell service up there) and portable solar panels to charge small items, like a laptop, radio, etc. No internet, obviously, but the laptop would be for writing. Journaling about my time there, and also hopefully writing a novel! :) Its something I've always wanted to do... no idea whether I could pull it off, but why not try? What better to do in the middle of the woods in Maine? YES! Other projects include: building an outdoor shower, planting a garden, becoming handy with a gun (just in case) and learning to fish. I think I can get out into the little town nearby about once a week for groceries, etc. I'm sure there will also be lots of reading, yoga, cooking of healthy food, and generally being at one with nature. HOLY CRAP how awesome!!So the plan is taking shape as follows: sell my condo next summer and quit my job. Move to Maine for 3-4 months and LIVE. Leave there when one of two things happen: 1) I go insane from loneliness, or 2) it gets too freakin cold to live in a non-insulated cabin. Or, I suppose, 3) I have some kind of accident and sustain serious injury (yikes). Incidentally, I plan to go up over Labor Day this year and I'm sure there will be much scheming on the logistics of the long stay. I can probably leave my "stuff" (of which there will hopefully be little) with my family in NJ, and if all goes well, I can have a job set up for January 2009, hopefully in Boston. But that end of things is still pretty open. Its more the Maine thing that's the main thing. ...Sorry.
The idea of getting away, "checking out" of society for a while, is SO appealing to me. I can't imagine all the things I'll learn about myself, about the subtle interplay of nature, life, spirit, all of it... I think this is an opportunity that doesn't come around too often for someone my age. To be completely unattached and have a place like this to go, that costs almost nothing (only expenses would be food, gas and propane), and the general freedom to do it. I think this may be the best idea I've ever had, and I really hope it comes to pass. Of course, I know a million things could happen in a year to keep me from doing it, but I'm putting it high on my priority list!
