Just walk out the door

The Dutch have a saying “He who is outside his door has the hardest part of his journey behind him.”

This makes me think of two things:
a) Selling my stuff, packing up, and leaving my apartment maybe was the hardest part.
b) My first lesson on traveling: Get up early!

Maybe a) also has to do with walking outside of Google's doors. It seems - just as I hoped - that ever since I put in my resignation my mind has been open to much more. The floods of planning, activities, trips, future homes, etc. have been rushing through the banks of my mind, down to my fingertips as I search for where do to tomorrow's activities, review today's flight prices, and even peruse roof racks for my car to hold all my toys! Walking outside those doors, whatever they may be to you, is the hardest part. Do you feel like you are trapped in any walls? Is there a direction you want to go in and you just haven't quite crossed that line? Or, is it something more simple...

Just waking up and literally walking out the front door! Or planning your schedule accordingly so you can do the things that you want to do. Maybe it's skipping out on a Saturday night at the bar so you can go to sleep early, get to the beach first thing in the AM, and kayak on the glass like water of Lake Tahoe all on your own. If you need to clean your house and do your laundry, but you also want to go to the beach, well then freaking do it! If you do, you just might end up getting to see a bunch of humpback whales!

No, I did not make these examples up. These are both examples from today, July 27th 2014. I could have easily slept in past 8:30am on a Sunday, in my big king size bed, in the house all to myself (yes I know I don't need to remind you), and taken my time to make eggs, read my book and drink my green tea in the backyard. However, I chose to jump out of bed, throw my bikini on, pack my snacks, microwave some oatmeal, and get in the car! Back in the Bay Area, my friend got up early and got her cleaning done. Even after bearing through horrible traffic on the 17 (yes THE 17) and paying to get to the beach, she was amazed by how much it was all worth it. And she almost did not do it...because of chores.

You know what I got out of getting up early?

I fell in love. Yup. You heard me right. I fell head over heels in love with Lake Tahoe! Another 48 hours and my infatuation has developed into a giddy, making up future plans in my head, twitterpated school girl. It seems like a blur, but I can pinpoint the moment it happened...

I was only a small way into my kayak journey from El Dorado beach to Emerald Bay in South Lake Tahoe. I passed some SUPers, a few power boats, and a couple stragglers on the docks. But then I spotted a fisherman. He was in an older boat, by himself, and I could clearly see a pole with a line in the water. I stared from afar. A lot. Over and over again. I wanted to kayak towards him to ask him a burning question, but I did not want to scare off any potential fish. In my head I assumed the answer would be trout, but I have no freaking clue what fish swims where. Or even that you were allowed to fish in Lake Tahoe! Finally, after we clearly made eye contact, I yelled, across the deep blue ripples, "What are you fishing for?" There was a pause, so at first I thought he did not hear me properly, and I quickly felt a bit embarrassed. But then, he raised his hand in a cupped shape to the side of his mouth and hollered, "Salmon!"

My heart skipped a beat! (Okay it literally could have because I now know that is normal, and I have seen my EKGs). Of course, you are fishing for salmon! Of course, because that is my favorite fish, and I have been aching to go on a fishing trip for many months now! Not sure why, but it has been at the top of my list. And this single solitary moment just sent me over the edge, like a waterfall, unable to be stopped.

From that moment on, Lake Tahoe and I continue with the most incredible date. Shortly after my salmon rendezvous, I was already picturing raising kids here. I wondered when I would buy a house, and how I would do in the winter time. I became more and more friendly as the day went on, saying hello to everyone with a big smile on my face. Admiring the Osprey that was perched on the tall tree, which a nice old man pointed out. Saying hello to the group of 4 male scuba divers right in front of the island that was my destination. I enjoyed lunch with the most amazing view, waving to tall the tourists as they floated by in their giant boats, laughing on the inside. I tanned, I got bit by something, I slipped and twisted my ankle, I jumped off a cliff, I was ignored by an entire family, I found a private beach (and tanned some more), I practiced jumping off of my kayak in the middle of the water and getting back on, and a braved the rough currents brought on by wind and busy traffic all the way back to my launch point.

After dropping off my kayak, my shoulders were burning and I realized that an all day kayak rental shouldn't just have a dry bag include, but also a post kayaking shoulder massage. Since that was not an option, I instead wandered down the beach a ways, to find a spot to my liking, and asked the nice blonde lady if she minds if I shared the picnic table with her. "I just kayaked all day so I don't have a towel, but I gotta take a dip to ease my sore muscles," I explained. She lifted up a blue long sleeve technical shirt, and responded, "I just ran the San Francisco Half Marathon!"

Yada yada yada...we talked about marathons for a good 30 mins.

So here I am, another early night in, eager for the morning time, where I can make my oatmeal with bananas and cinnamon, set out on my next adventure, and fall deeper in love with somewhere I just came to know a few days ago...getting wild thoughts, plans and hopes in my head.

Watch out Austin...you've got competition.

If you read this, I ask that you try something for me...no, for yourself - what is one thing you really want to do, that you know would make you happy, but you can't seem to find time for? It may cost a bit of money, but you know it's worth it. Now, what is truly keeping you from doing it? What is your roadblock? Figure out what the roadblock is, and move it aside. Push it aside. Kick is aside. Whatever! If it's a chore, do it first thing in the morning. If it's a hangover, have one drink, then water, or don't go out that night. If it's fear, punch fear in the face! Or, tap into your inner Curious George: "Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will." If it's anything else, let me know and I am sure I can come up with a solution for ya! Or we can just talk about it.