Something big is in the works.
For a while I’ve had the nagging feeling that I should be doing something bigger. I’m not sure what bigger means, but I seem to associate it with important, relevant, and life-changing. You know, no pressure on myself or anything.
It could be that I’m itching to get outside my comfort zone again. I have knack for getting my life shaken up every couple of years in a big way and I’m about due. The mind races with possibilities, but almost all of them involve travel. I’m not quite sure what that means either. I’ve longed to go to Europe forever. I have a change jar that I tell myself with be the key to my escape, even if it won’t be fat enough to do so until I’m 70. But I suppose I’m going to need something a little more immediate.
I’ve considered RVing across America. Because hey – I’m pretty sure selling all my junk and moving from RV park to RV park selling kooky little wares and putting Dave’s music on display would be a pretty sweet way to spend a summer. But when I consider the price of gas, that’s not so doable these days. We’d make it to Ohio and have to turn around. And then where am I supposed to put the RV when my plans to drive westward have been socked in the face?
But then I saw a documentary that chronicled the Appalachian Trail. It talked about the history, the technique, and the people who come to conquer it each year. And though I’m not a hiker by any stretch of the imagination, I fell in love with the idea of walking through the woods for 9 months straight. After all, I’m sliding down a slippery slope of allegiance to corporate America and I could use a shock to my system.
Think about all the awesome things that will come out of this. First, I’ll be able to say I hiked the Appalachian Trail. That’s a pretty cool one. Second, I’ll be super fit by the end. Awesome. Third, I’ll reconnect with nature, quiet my mind, and see what happens when I’m left to my own devices to hike 2100 miles.
Of course, there are downsides to consider. Like how I’m going to maintain a decent underarm shave method for 9 months. And ticks. And getting mauled by bears. And I guess the hiking 2100 miles thing. That’s a doozy.
I don’t know. I should probably take some time to consider this. I successfully grew my nails out not long ago, which is a feat I’ve tried to accomplish since birth, and ever since the huge win I’ve felt like I can do anything. Apparently the next natural step is hiking the Appalachian Trial.
So, when I lay out what my life accomplishments will be in the next few years, it looks something like this:
2011: Updated every single day on thejackieblog.com, which became instantly famous and had such a swollen subscriber base that freelance writing offers were hurled at me from top publishers (still working on a few of all those details.) Also, sported a nice manicure.
2012: Hiked the Appalachian Trail
2013: ….
Well I guess I can just stop at 2012 because the world will come to an end and things. Which makes hiking the trail the last major accomplishment of my life.
Unless my change jar tops off soon. ♣
The Jackie Blog 
I think I’ll suggest you read Bill Bryson’s “A Walk In The Woods”. It only fed my fiery desire to walk the Appalachian Trail, even though it offered quite the wet towel of realism about my dream.
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I certainly will. Thank you so much for the recommendation!
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THere are alot of appalachian trail dvd’s out there of people actually hiking it. My husband and I went through this “MUST HIKE THE TRAIL” phase a few years ago. The truth is, we live right off of it so we basically hike it regularly, but wanted to do the WHOLE thing. We just never could wrap our minds around how at this stage of our lives, we could take 5 months and do that.
If you have the ability to do that now. I say go for it!
When you hit NH, I will meet you with some burgers and beers and drive you somewhere you can get a shower 😉
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P.s. i liked this one: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424758/
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Oooh thanks! I’ll check it out!
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Don’t kid me, now. Because you know when I’m tired and starving I’m going to remember that offer. 😛
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The Appalachian Trail thing would be nice and all, but it’s going to be hard to top growing out your nails. That’s MAJOR!
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haha you know, it truly is. I still have them! Almost a whole week!
…I just doomed them, didn’t I?
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I’m in. Sign me up!
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All right. You’ll know when/if I go because I’ll have to make an announcement and stop updating. Meet me on the trail 😛
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