Leaving Colorful Colorado

Day 1
Today we are starting out on our road trip and our journey to fulfillment and happiness.  We have sold off or donated almost everything that we own.  Some how managed to get the rest of it into a Subaru Forester with the paddle boards on top and Freckles in tow.  We have set off!

            

 

How to Read this Blog
Ava and I have decided to do different takes and perspectives along this journey.  We both have different perspectives and we understand that this journey will have different effects on us as individuals, as business owners and as a newly engaged couple.  We also hope that having the two different, parallel stories will shed light on our growth and offer you, the reader, greater takeaways from our travels.

Ava's Perspective

We said goodbye to my parents and then to Dylan’s and then hit the road. As we drive off, I’m not as excited as you’d think I would be. I’ve been wanting to make this move since the first time I visited the San Diego area over two years ago. Excitement is the sort of thing I only let out when outcomes are certain, which in my chosen life path is pretty much never. My way of dealing with uncertainty is to maintain a calm, but pretty serious demeanor. I’ve probably spent a good portion of my life in this state. I smile and laugh a lot but if you see me get excited, you should know that you’ve captured a rare moment.

We actually hadn’t even decided on where we were going, our goal was just to get out of Colorado and arrive somewhere we could camp on the first night (meaning somewhere I wouldn’t complain about cold temperatures). I had never been to Moab and neither had Dylan so we headed there for our first stop - intending to stay a few nights and paddle board on calm portions of the Colorado River. We arrived an hour before sunset only to discover that there was literally no where for us to stay...for the next two weeks. All campsites were full, all hotels and motels were full, even La Quinta was booked up. You know times are tough when La Quinta has no vacancy. As we drove from campsite to campsite I realized why I had never been to Moab. The land in Moab felt abused and vacant of everything except people. The views were splendor but beneath it all, the spirit of the land felt dead to me. It was filled with this vibe of aggressive outdoorsy types - something I have found to be pretty prevalent in Colorado. I often get labeled as not being “outdoorsy” because I don’t like pounding canned beer and attacking the land and water with expensive heavy equipment and a competitive mindset. I seek nature for a refuge from the man-made world, for the quiet and simplicity and peace, for a place to reconnect and reset. Apparently I’m different.

At this point it was clear that we were not staying anywhere in Moab and also that we both needed to stop and eat before Dylan got more irritated and before I started crying from a dangerous combination of low blood sugar and intense frustration and disappointment. We stopped at a diner that looked like it didn’t have a wait and wouldn’t be too loud. The food was, well, fried diner food but it did the trick. While waiting for the order to come Dylan booked us a room at a pet friendly hotel in Monticello, Utah. Ever been to Monticello, Utah? I don’t even know where it is but thanks to Siri we found it, checked into our room, expressed a few words of gratitude for the bed, shared a couple of laughs and went to sleep.

Thank goodness Day 1 is over.

Dylan's Take

I believe that this move and journey to CA is a necessary thing for me / us to do.  For the longest time I have had an urge to live in a different place.  Away from family, friends and familiarity.  I believe for my personal and professional growth this is something I need to do in order to define myself and fulfill my potential as an individual. 

I always liked road trips and always thought of them as a time of self reflection.  I can remember driving to the Flagstaff, AZ in college with no radio and just my thoughts.  It was great because it forced me to look internally and focus on my thoughts and actions.  This time is similar, except with more stuff to think about (newly engaged, multiple businesses, rent, bills, etc.).  The difference now is that I feel as though I am finding my purpose and this move and journey is the beginning of that. 

I am open and I am ready. 

Moving right along and After having spent 2+ hours trying to find a campsite and frustration and aggravation about finding a place to spend the night (all hotels booked as well!); we found ourselves waking up in Monticello, UT.  About 45 minutes south of Moab.  I have come to learn and listen (albeit, still a continuous process) to my intuition and the vibe or energy of a place and within myself. 

Moab felt awkward.  The vibe was not sync’ed to me or Ava.  It felt like when you first learn to dance with a girl in middle school.  You don’t really know what you’re doing, you know there is a right way and you have seen it being done, but you just can’t get your hips in sync and your rhythm is just OFF.  That’s what it felt like and my voice was telling me to move on. 

I think what I have learned from this day is to go with the flow and do what feels right.  Intuition is that voice in your head and that feeling in your gut about whether or not something feels right or wrong.  I have found that when I have listened to it and followed it, it has served me well.