Moving & Grooving

I have had a realization and I think the resulting decision will change my life. Definitely for the better!

Since my move to Albuquerque, I've rarely had a weekend that I spend lazing about, not doing anything. I have so many things to do, so many places to visit, so many pictures to take. There are national monuments to see, farmer's markets to visit, lightning storms to gawk at, New Mexican food to consume, and wine tastings to attend. There's so much to do that I have lists of things, by month, depending on the optimal season for each event.

This sense of urgency and activity is not normal for me. I like to plan slowly and methodically, then figure out every aspect of every trip, making sure I have contingency plans, escape routes, and a list of everything I will be packing to take along. Yes, I'm insane.

Since my move to Albuquerque, it's been different. I throw bottles of water and whatever nibbles I have at home into an icebox, trust that my phone will know how to get to my destination, and take off. I feel like I'm going to miss something in my year here if I don't just go, do, see.

While slightly scary at first, I now really enjoy this freedom. I love not having a ton of stuff packed up. I don't need to take band-aids and Neosporin with me when I go places- I haven't injured myself yet, and such precautions are just energy wasters. The only do-ahead tasks that I still complete before going anywhere: charge my camera and pack a hat and sunscreen.

This sense of adventure kicked in early this year, after my whirlwind San Francisco-Korea-Hawaii trips, but there's more to that. I know that my time in this state is limited (unless I decide to stay here for another movie after this one, which I don't think I will be doing) and I want to get everything that New Mexico has to offer.

The time constraint puts a different tinge on things- "this is the only summer I will have here" and "this is the only monsoon season I will see here" and "that festival only happens once a year" and so on. It makes me want to do things that I would normally put off.

In LA, going to the annual Grilled Cheese Fest gets put off because it's in Downtown and I can always go next year. Here, the annual Hatch Chili Festival is only once a year, and I cannot go next year, so I need to go this year. There are a lot of things that I think of in this new fashion. When people invite me out, I tend to just say yes, because it may be the only time that I can see these people, and they're going to take me to this place that I've never been to and may never go to again.

I think this is just what I needed. I was so complacent and settled in LA. I needed this kick to get me out the door, out of doors, trying new things, meeting new people, and generally just being more exploratory. (Tangent: I feel like 'explorative' should be a word, and it totally isn't. How unfair.) The fact that there is a deadline for me to find out all that I can about this new place is fuel for the fire, an extra push when I'm feeling lazy. There is no complacency to be had here, and after an entire life spent in LA, I am glad for it.

Once I am done with this movie, I would like to move somewhere new. Somewhere I've never been, maybe, like Vancouver or Sydney. Or somewhere I've been and love, like London or San Francisco. Whatever happens, I am so happy that I now have the knowledge that I can move without having any friends to rely on, that I won't get lonely being alone, and that I can live in such a different setting without going off the rails.

I can't wait for the next adventure.