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| My friend Mike and our bikes on a road trip a few years ago. |
Today, when we go out on a motorcycle ride, we still take our world with us.
It used to be as recently as the 1970s, when we left home, we left our world behind. We couldn't take our telephone with us. There was no GPS. We didn't have mobile computers. We couldn't search for the best hotel rates in advance. We didn't have ATM cards. Even if we had credit cards, a lot of places still didn't accept them.
But today, I still have my world with me. With smartphones, laptops, GPS, SPOT Tracker, GoPro, MP3 players, Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity, it seems being left to our own devices now has a new meaning. And with Facebook, Twitter, Google+, even our friends on the cloud. All that shit I wanted to leave behind? It follows me through e-mails, text messages, and voice. I'm never on a vacation.
When we leave home for a long road trip, we're not really leaving home at all. We're just changing the scenery.
On the other hand, it feels good to remain constantly connected to my world, wherever I am. Even in a strange city full of strangers, I still feel at ease and in security.
But if I strive to remain constantly connected like this, will I ever find the courage to throw it all away and rely on the strength inside?
A vagabond who hauls a motorcycle around the country in a toy hauler, earning a living as a website developer. Can often be found where there's free Wi-Fi, craft beer, and/or public nudity. 
To achieve that, you would have to want that type of separation. So you must ask yourself, why would I want that? When you can answer that question, the rest will fall into place.
ReplyDeleteBeing very social myself, I don't want that. I love being connected to those I know and love. You're far more social than most people realize, perhaps even yourself. So, to separate yourself that way would really just be isolating from the comfort you've created in the relationships you've worked so hard to build.
Love you Highway!
Sash
Steve:
ReplyDelete. . . and we would never have bumped into you two
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
I thought a lot about that on my last long motorcycle trip and concluded that sharing the trip added to the fun. This is especially true if you travel alone.
ReplyDeleteI think it takes strength to go out on the road for six months at a time connected or not.
ReplyDeleteHubby and I are lucky in that we do not need to be connected for work so neither of us have smart phones and we rarely use the flip phones we have. When on overnight trips we will typically take the iPad of laptop with us but don't usually post blogs from the road as it send up a big red "our house is empty please rob us" flag.
So True! Great Post!
ReplyDelete