What Next? A New Adventure · 7:01am Jun 11th, 2022
Hey there, fellow adventurers!
So, this is me checking in with another progress report and an announcement or two.
So, first and foremost: I am doing well. I've been focused on taking care of myself and being mindful of my well-being. Last time I talked to you all it felt like life just couldn't give me a break, with one crisis after another after another. Thankfully, blissfully, that streak of unfortunate events finally came to a halt, and I've been able to finally take a breath. I am better, my mindset is healthier, and I'm less stressed.
Secondly, I've been thinking a lot about where I want to go forward with my life. My mother has assured me that she will be fine and is even looking forward to having more time to herself, so I can feel good about leaving the house and moving out. In fact, the following was HER idea.
One day, driving home from work, I was struck with the almost-overwhelming urge to just... keep driving into the horizon. I'm sure everyone is struck with a little wanderlust now and then, but recent events have pushed my dromomania to new heights. The next day, while chatting with my mom, I lamented the loss of the old west and the ability to simply go to another town and instantly start life over.
Her response was a confused "What's stopping you?"
She suggested I put in my two weeks' notice, take my last check, and just... do what I want and literally head for the hills.
After nearly burning my brain out planning, arguing with myself, and consulting with good friends I know have my best interests in mind... I've decided that's what I'm going to do. I've hated living in Texas the entire time I've been here, and living in this house where my dad died in the backyard has been a constant reminder of that tragedy... so I'm getting out of Texas entirely. I'm packing my life into my car and heading North. My current plan is to head to Provo, Utah. It was where I made my first attempt at college so it's familiar (and beautiful) territory. Being a college town, it's also rife with inexpensive housing and plenty of jobs. I want to be in a place with mountains and greenery, two things that I know will lift my spirits just by seeing them after essentially living in the desert part of Texas for more than a decade.
Part of me still thinks this is sheer insanity, but... I also feel like I've gotten affirmation after affirmation from God/the universe telling me this is the right call.
I put in my two weeks' notice at work two and a half weeks ago, and now I'm in the process of packing, trying to get as much money together as I can, and getting ready to live in my car for at least the duration of the trip to Provo.
Ironically, though... I feel optimistic that I'll be returning to work on my stories soon. I plan to take my time on the trip. My only restriction is gas/food money and finding places to park overnight. I've very rapidly fallen in love with the idea of driving during the day and curling up in the backseat with my laptop at night to write. Having left my job as an assistant manager in retail, a huge stressor is off of my shoulders and I feel more free to work on what I enjoy than I have in months, possibly years.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I get there. Most good opportunities in a college town like Provo are found face-to-face. Maybe I'll get a job in a garage. Maybe I'll go to college and finally finish a degree (third time's the charm, right?). Maybe I'll just be a doordash driver by day and write in my car by night.
No matter what happens, I'll be keeping you in the loop here. Thank you all for your patience as I've taken the time to work myself out through all of this. The aftermath of my father's death has been a minefield, and I know that I'm only a couple months into what is sure to be years of grief I'll need to work through.
I'm thinking about vlogging from the road and calling it "Penn's Odyssey." We'll see how that works out, but for now I've got a lot of packing and optimizing of space to do in my little two-door coupe. Take care of yourselves, friends.
Thank you, and I'll see you soon.
Happy adventuring!
-Pennington Inkwell
Sometimes you just gotta get up and get gone.
I wish you the best of luck.
Well, the best I can say is good luck mate, hopefully everything goes well :)
And yeah, a little blog of the trip would be appreciated, maybe you can even make it a video series (like this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FgC-KCGkMPM); but as everything in life is up to you and in what medium -written or video- you feel more comfy.
In the meantime, I’m sure I talk for everyone when I say that we will be waiting patiently for when you can have the time and pease to come back and continue your fics
Anyway, until next time and take care ^w^/
I live in Salt Lake. I don't know how crazy Provo is compared to here, but I just have to say: good luck, bro.