Back to Chicago. The adventure is over. Final assessment: 7 months and 9 days, 29,559 miles and a lifetime of memories.
After re-assessing the economics of it, I decided to drive Large Marge back to Chicago - it made more sense for her too, she didn't want to leave any business unfinished. The trip back went well. From Florida, a short sleep-over in Atlanta, a fun night in Nashville, lunch in Louisville with a friend then back to the Windy City.
And I cannot believe the weather. It is mid-March, and it hasn't been below 75 degrees in the week I have been here. I believe this is a sign. Chicago seems happy to have me back.
So where does that leave me ?
I don't know yet. The world is full of possibilities. Perhaps I will stay in Chicago. More likely than not, I will move South somewhere as I don't want to be subject to another harsh winter. Perhaps I will move as far south as South America, who knows ? And perhaps I will be an actuary, perhaps I will open a business, perhaps I will wait tables, it will be as much a surprise to me as it will be to you.
Was the trip a success ?
I don't think that's the right question to ask. I don't think my trip could be defined in success or failure, given that I didn't really have any expectations for it. For sure, even though my trip ended up being far more costly than anticipated, I do not regret a minute of it. Had I not gone riding into the sun, I would have spent my life dreaming about what-if scenarios, second-guessing myself.
There is no second-guessing now. I am finished with that important chapter in my life, and I am happy.
So what really did I get out of this ?
For one thing, I feel truly free for the first time in many years. I can do whatever I want right now, and I don't feel restrained by mundane things such as money, comfort or society's expectations. I realized that I don't need a big house, a fast car or a lot of money to do the things that I like to do. I realized that interesting people really don't care how much I make and what I do for a living. I am ready to take risks again. If I fail, so be it. I can get back up and try again. At least it will be for a good cause.
There was no great revelation through the past 7 months, no epiphany, no drastic change in my point of view. It was all a gradual movement towards shift in priorities. I didn't answer too many great questions about life, other than I now care a lot more about people than I do about things, and I have a newfound respect for humanity and its immense capacity to deal with any kind of situation.
Finally, I wanted to thank everyone who has supported me through this great adventure. Whether you were reading, giving me feedback or news from home, silently worrying or whatever else you did to remind me that I wasn't alone, I felt it every mile of the way. As far as I may have been physically to some of you, somehow I felt a lot closer emotionally than I have in the past. Distance does have a way of making people closer. Thank you for everything.
That's all folks. The last posting of this blog. The rest of my life begins... now. I am not a new man but I have learned a lot. I feel a bit older, a bit wiser, and a lot more realistic about life and what it can offer me.
Thank you for listening, and good night.
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| The completed Moebius Strip. 29,559 miles. 7 months and 9 days. |
