Thursday, July 31, 2008

I'm moving to Oregon

I'm was watching The Office on my laptop. At 7:21pm I'm lifting the laptop with my right hand and placing it on the armrest of the leather couch I'm sitting on - reclining with my feet up. I paused the show because I can't stop thinking about how I don't know where my spectacles are. My glasses. They're misplaced. I did a hard target search of the house, vehicles, even beside the corn field I was looking at last night around sundown. I quit. What did I do?

I can't be rolling around with no spectacles. Shrug. I'm getting new glasses tomorrow.

I wrote an email to a girl, Carrie, who I've been emailing from Craigslist for a fairly long time now. It explains why I'm moving to Oregon - which I am. I'm going to paste it here because it's better than trying to re-articulate my feelings about the whole thing.
What's next? Relax?? :) Funny you should mention these things. I've decided to move to Oregon, pretty much effective immediately. Most likely leaving on Saturday. I'm tying up loose ends today. My reasons are several fold:

1) I don't feel like I belong here, and I want to see new things. I live in a van... totally mobile, no ties, it's as easy as putting in some gas and stepping on the pedal. I love that I can take advantage that ability.

2) I've been to Oregon, and I felt something like love for it. I almost moved there a couple years ago when i DID have ties to apartments and a relationship. Now? It's sooo easy to split...

3) I'm chasing a dream job. A bicycle company that I love, respect and admire is hiring people. I have shop experience, a frame building class under my belt, and a killer reference. I want to try my hardest to get this job. I need money bad, and I can barely fathom working for anybody in this area. The bicycle jobs are limited to shop mechanic or self employed. This opportunity is big. And it includes medical benefits - and I really think I'm an awesomely prime candidate to be hired. Welding the frames for people's bicycles that will be ridden all over the world.

So I'm nervous and excited, but no matter what, I think I need to be in Oregon for awhile. I'm glad that I'm going to get out there and figure something out. It's beautiful there. (As I remember it).

About the trip: damn, if that wasn't the best bicycle trip. It got so weird and tripped out at times, and I saw so much beautiful stuff. The bizarre return to pseudo-wild was great. New perspective on life, more affinity for simplicity. I ended up getting way too fucked up and spendy though - but it was such a great time. I learned once again how to be alone and enjoy it. And the people I met, I will
never forget.

Now I'm back in Kennett Square typing on the awesome new laptop that my parents bought for me out of the blue. So nice to be on a fast computer with a normal keyboard. I'm spending tons of time on the internet and sitting on a leather couch and feeling comfortable but also like I absolutely don't belong here. My parents are out of town until the 3rd. I realized after two days here that I miss them and I'd prefer it if they were home. This is such a big empty lonely house without them here. So many comforts and frills - but without people it's not good. I don't think I'm going to see my parents before I leave. I almost feel like a squatter in their house. I never want to own anything this big with so much automatic stuff and electrical stuff to break. So much air to either heat or cool. So much furniture. A fortress fighting against the outdoors. I can get used to it, but right now my view of this house is warped silly from sleeping in the woods and in a van. I think I prefer simple. Some day I want some land and a tiny home. Very tiny. Until then, I'm fine with whatever I've got.

I WANT THIS JOB THOUGH. Nervous excitement. Wish me luck.

8 comments:

burs said...

i live 10 minutes south of 80/90 in the middle of indiana, approximately 12 hours from the philly area. i work evenings and can therefor really only offer this for sunday night, but if you desire a bed to sleep in or cold beers to drink on then you're welcome to stop in. burs1(atsign)mac(dot)com if you're interested.

Pixy Stoneskipper said...

I'm fairly sure that I'm going to be traveling with three people and a dog that are headed to a hobo festival in Iowa - In which case we're probably camping or driving and/or I'm sleeping in the van. If I'm traveling solo, I am accepting every single invitation to do anything. You had me at "cold beers."

zenny1313 said...

will you pass the drug screen, it'd be a shame to drive 3000 miles to fail a drug test, not to be a bummer,riding bikes, smoking dope, eating mushrooms, some how i don't think that's the way your loving parents thought then they were raising you. this could be the chance to turn things around and have your patents be proud of you.

zenny1313 said...

will you pass the drug screen, it'd be a shame to drive 3000 miles to fail a drug test, not to be a bummer,riding bikes, smoking dope, eating mushrooms, some how i don't think that's the way your loving parents thought then they were raising you. this could be the chance to turn things around and have your patents be proud of you.

The Urbanvandweller said...

Chris - Do it!

Cheers, Urban Vandweller

Anonymous said...

I think it's amazing that you have that job connection. I truly hope they greet you as others have on your way up the east coast; you deserve it. Go well.

Still if your friends haven't teased you relentlessly about quitting that trip they're just no fun.

stranger in a strange van said...

i think you made a great decision. i wish you well on your journey and if you end up in colorado, please stop and hang out for a night! i will most likely be moving to the pacific NW in the spring after my winter of tropical bliss. welcome to the wild wild west.

Pixy Stoneskipper said...

Zenny - you're fucking hilarious, thanks. Drug screen? Who's tripping now, dude? There's no drug test, and I'm not ashamed of shit. My parents raised me to turn out awesome - and we all love each other. Turn things around? For the worse? HA! Why are you reading my blog if you don't think I'm acting right? Peace, bro.