Money is the root of all evil. Money isn’t everything. The best things in life are free. Health is better than wealth. Yes, these are all true. However it is also true that in order to drive across the country, eat healthily, and avoid busking for spending cash one must have some money in the bank. Money is not something of which we have an abundance, so of course I am a little worried about spending everything on what is at best a romantic adventure, and at worst an excellent way to ruin our chances at a comfortable future.

My definition of comfortable is obviously going to have to change. I am pretty spoiled. In fact, most Americans (even those in relative poverty) are spoiled on the global scale. Which makes me VERY spoiled. I will have to get used to sleeping in a small trailer (hopefully procured soon), next to my lanky husband and with a large, furry husky mix on top of my feet. Currently Zephyr is not allowed on the bed, which is how I like it, much to his dismay. I am sure this road trip will be the best thing that has ever happened to him.  I will have to get used to not showering daily. I will have to get used to using fast food restrooms. Most of these things will come easily to me, as I am an avid camper and lived in Honduras for a semester in college. I can get used to being dirty and having cold showers. I can give up my pedicures and shopping sprees. But I have never had to worry about my next meal. I have never had to choose between fuel for my car and fuel for my body. I am hopeful we will not get to this point, but one never knows. If we blow our transmission.. well, you may see us slacklining in a park with a hat set out.

And what about that future? Is it really for the benefit of one’s future to work endlessly, saving up for that rainy day and paying monthly bills? Yes, if we ever want to buy a house we need to save and build our credit. Yes, if we want to have a kid, we better be financially stable enough to support it. But at the same time, won’t a trip like this add dollars to our bank of experience? Won’t the stories we have and the memories we make be worth more than the money we could have earned in the months that we are gone? I like to think so.

Very soon I will be unemployed: On August 3rd I am losing my job. I have known about this for several months (I was notified the day before my wedding in April), and have had time to get used to the idea. I am not mourning this loss. The job was fine, and my coworkers were great, and I learned a lot working here for the past 4 years. I have no regrets. But it was time for a change, and change was handed to me, willing or not.

I am newly married. It is a wonderful, exciting, new title that I thoroughly enjoy. Married. Many of my friends are experiencing the same thing. A lot of us at this age are getting married, and it’s been fun comparing notes. An entire facebook thread revolved around this topic: “Sometimes I just call my husband “Husband!” when I want his attention. It’s great!” I do this too. It’s unbelievable how great it feels, despite the silliness of it all. Sometimes I look over at him and blurt out “we’re married!” I can still hardly believe it. A part of me feels that this could be related to our relatively short “courtship,” but I think getting married completely revolutionizes your life. And I think no matter how long you’ve been with someone, taking this step really makes an emotional and almost tangible difference in your relationship with each other and the world around you.

We don’t have kids. Yet. I’m required to say yet, because you never know. Those of you who know me well know that I don’t have much maternal instinct. I’m more likely to tell you the bitter honest truth about something that’s bothering you (ie: “yes, your boyfriend is a total loser and you should dump his sorry butt”) rather than shower you with hugs and pity and comfort you. I’m not a jerk, I’m just not a mother. I feel awkward around small children. I love playing with my little niece Grace, but I don’t actually know what I’m doing. If she cries, I’m hopeless. In this way I am the opposite of my twin. Meghan is wonderful with kids. I always figured that if she had kids, it would be like having my own kids, since we have the same DNA and all. Of course now that I’m married to a wonderful man who would make the World’s Greatest Dad, my thoughts are slowly evolving. But I do know that I currently do not have kids, nor do I plan to have any in the immediate future. I’m not ready, and I think it’s relatively mature to be able to admit that.

For the most part I have lived my life in the standard way that is expected of young Americans. I graduated high school, went to college, had my crazy semester abroad, graduated college, moved back in with my parents for a while, moved out on my own, got jobs along the way, and now I’m married. I’m ready for an adventure. Something unexpected, something that will engender growth in my self-awareness and a broadening of my worldview.

In summary: No job + Newly married + No kids + General Antsiness = what better time than NOW?

Right?

I own my stuff, it doesn’t own me!

So the saying goes, but put into practice this is actually very difficult to live up to. Maybe it’s the American consumerist in me, but as we start to sort through our belongings to determine what to keep, sell, or toss the decision is often much harder than it should be. A lot of the objects have a history, and therefore some sentimental value. I have to remind myself that if it has lived in a box for the past two years, I won’t likely miss it. As I go to toss something in the sell pile, I hear a little voice in my head: “you’ll just have to buy another one of those later!” Shut up practical Micha. Later is a long ways away…and maybe I can learn to live without.

We have a LOT of stuff. You would think that moving into a studio apartment last year would have forced us to downsize already, but access to our very own garage has kept that from happening, and it seems we have gathered even more crap in the past 12 months. It doesn’t help that my mom just moved to Australia, thus forcing me to take back my old books, photos, and projects that I thought would have a home in someone else’s home indefinitely. I guess that’s a big part of growing up…taking ownership of your own life’s memorabilia and saving it for the next generation’s entertainment.

Andrew has a lot of gear: rock climbing, camping, snowboarding, surfing, slacklining; ropes are coiled in milk crates, metal hooks and rings abound, and tent poles are wrapped together with bungees and tossed into various storage nooks. Propane tanks, multiple stoves, water jugs, and sleeping bags mean we are set for the forthcoming Zombie Apocalypse.

I have a lot of clothes. Two closet racks and two mini dressers worth, not to mention piles and piles of shoes. A furry sweater vest that Andrew hates and that I wore maybe three times since I bought it is the pinnacle of my silly fashion purchases. I also have oodles of cosmetics: lotions, potions, oils, hair products, gels, sprays, wipes clog my bathroom drawers. In short, I guess I’m a bit of a girl.

When we went to Kauai for the first half of our honeymoon I fell in love. I fell in love with the humidity and damp tropical air. The constant jumping in and out of the ocean. These things made makeup and hair products useless, and I gave them up with glee, my only regret was that I felt it necessary to bring all of it in the first place. The hiking and constant use of flip flops and sandals tore up my feet and made them fat and happy, making the thought of stuffing myself into my new heels laughable. The casual island vibe also made dressing up seem like a surefire way to be pegged as a clueless tourist, so my dresses and jewelry stayed safely tucked away in my suitcase.

The feeling of freedom I gained while untethered by these articles of consumerism and “beauty” was powerful. As I sort through my crap, trying to decide what the next several months of my life will look like, I will reflect on my time in Kauai and think to myself, “will I really need this while hiking in Yellowstone? Will I feel ugly without mascara as we drive through Arches in Utah?” I think not. And what could possibly be more exciting and exhilarating than the freedom to be so unburdened?