Summing It All Up

Like a summer romance, the end of our journey brings with it the sweetest of memories and the realization that this has indeed been a life changing experience. I think about the stoker that waved goodbye to our friends and relatives on that cold and windy Sunday morning in February. Fearful of what lay ahead, I was awake most of the night fretting, and was too nervous to eat the delicious breakfast prepared by my favorite Aunt. There were too many unknowns, too many things to go wrong, too many possibilities to fail. At that point I was only concentrating on the destination- bicycle travel from Florida to Oregon via the Lewis and Clark Trail.

On the first leg from West Palm Beach to St. Augustine I began to trust that providence would be kind and see us through. In a larger sense, the destination was no longer as important as achieving certain goals. What were those goals and were they reached?

• After a 30 year career in corporate sales I needed a change. But to what? I spent a great deal of time thinking about what type of job would be satisfying and make me happy. I have some good ideas now and am excited about what lies ahead in St. Augustine. More details will follow.
• Most people who know me think I am serious and task oriented and do not have time for people. I was not happy with this trait and vowed to loosen up during the trip. I was surprised that a smile and a "Hello" will usually get anyone to chat. This makes me happy.
• Those same people who know me will also say that I am wound too tight. Well, I was. Four months on the road has caused me to slow down, relax, smell the roses. 
• Most of the past 30 years have been spent in New England and Florida. Jana and I wanted to sample other areas of the country to see how they compare. We are excited about relocating to St. Augustine, an area where we have spent many vacations. However as Jim Morrison once said, "The west is the best".
• Jobs are important, but I will now work to live rather than live to work. I have lots of interests and some new ones to try. I have friends and family and a loving wife and daughter.

I am lucky and going forward, I know things will work out.