The Journey Continues...

[DDT (12)]

                                                               Life goes on...

I rode down to Mexico Beach, FL, to clear out some cobwebs and to obliterate the funk that had snuck-up on me. It worked. I got a room with a fabulous view (thanks for the suggestion Joe!) mere yards across a beautiful white sandy beach from the Gulf. I spent the next couple of days doing what I sometimes do... think, think some more, then think again...

Nothing focused, structured or organized, as there are no major problems to address. Just randomly visiting an eclectic assortment of various topics as they haphazardly bubble to the surface. I do a lot of this, and it always seems to occur in its purest clarity when I'm on a road trip, particularly solo. I'd come closest to this 'magic carpet ride' back in my sailing days... Once I started to seriously ride, however, sailing soon lost its luster, and long distance riding became my passion.

I now find myself in a wonderful situation... Following early retirement, I received the gift of freedom at a time when I sorely needed it. I had enough funds squirreled away to carry me (modestly) for an indefinite period, if I didn't take stupid, of course; and, I had already been united with ALI, our bike. My health is still pretty good, so my ability to be mobile is very much in-tact... for now. I have noticed the onset of advancing age, though, and the stark realization of its inevitable consequences is beginning to manifest itself.

One of the many wonderful, helpful, and therapeutic discoveries of my journey through life has been the powerful nature of serious, objective, critical consideration to impact my views on different things... Indeed, to shift my thinking entirely sometimes, but always to lead to a more satisfying place to be mentally, morally, emotionally, and spiritually.

While letting my mind free-fall and dance, hop, leap from one topic to another, I received a text from one of my cousins. He was giving me a heads-up that another cousin of mine, his older sister, had just lost her husband. WOW! This news really hit home, as I'd known him well. It also struck me that this news served as a poignant exclamation point to many of the responses my most recent posts had elicited...

Whatever it is that we want to do in life, we need to get after it... Common sense of course, and something anybody will readily agree to. Still, and I'm as guilty as anyone I know, we frequently find ways to procrastinate, delay, or avoid pulling the trigger... and time passes. More like it slips away, actually, and one more opportunity is missed... Opportunities are a finite resource, and missing them, no matter how skillfully explained away or rationally justified, still means they are gone forever. Another one gone, a limited, and now smaller, number remaining...

I'm sitting around dining on delivery pizza today waiting for a weather front to pass and with it the accompanying rain. I had figured I'd most likely return home tomorrow, as my primary mission has been accomplished... Now, I'm thinking it would be better to continue this road trip... maybe towards Texas, one of my frequent, and favorite, default destinations when I'm looking for... whatever.

Much has happened on this seemingly short ride during the last couple of days... Actual miles-wise, only a few hundred or so. 'Spiritual miles-wise', however, quite a lot... Too good to pass up or prematurely end, and I always have the option to cut it short later and head for the barn at any time. I'm thinking maybe I should practice what I've been preaching in this piece!!! What do y'all think?

DDT

[GiG]

I think you should send a post card, where ever you land, Buddy 

Happy Trails, Bruce!

[Valkorado]

9 degrees here right now.  I dream about riding a Valkyrie -- somewhere, anywhere -- for nearly six months out of the year.  I won't be able to hit the ground running (figuratively speaking) this spring.  Both bikes need some basic TLC before the joy begins again.  I can't wait!

I know what I'd do it I were in your boots right now.  Get a move on, you're burning daylight!

[kybigmac]

Just keep riding, you'll wake up one morning and know it's time to go home!

[..]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TD_pSeNelU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QexOuH8GS-Y

[cookiedough]

congrats on early retirement and travelling/relaxing. 

I can't wait for that time to come myself, if it ever comes.   

[Oss]

I think if it aint broke dont mess with it

Ride on Bruce

When you come to the fork in the road take it

[trout dude]

Hope to see you on your way thru to Texas tomorrow Be safe and keep ALI rolling Buddy. 
  Trout Dude

[Thunderbolt]

Just keep riding, you'll wake up one morning and know it's time to go home!

I agree.

[hubcapsc]

-Mike

[Rams]

Envy is the only word that comes to mind when I think about Bruce. 

[KG]

Read my signature line

My father in law had a massive heart attack and spent a long time in a bed waiting for a heart. I bought my I/S and a camper and he told me I needed to save my money and in case something happened to me.
Told him that I would rather lay in bed remembering what I did instead of laying in bed thinking about what I wanted to do.

[DirtyDan]

I would rather lay in bed remembering what I did instead of laying in bed thinking about what I wanted to do.

so true, im hurt right now don't know if im going to recover or not

but I can say I rode more than most

we are going to spend a long time dead

go do it

dan

[cookiedough]

I would rather lay in bed remembering what I did instead of laying in bed thinking about what I wanted to do.

so true, im hurt right now don't know if im going to recover or not

but I can say I rode more than most

we are going to spend a long time dead

go do it

dan

although I don't necessarily disagree,   others like me feel savings for a rainy day puts them more at ease especially as I get into my 40's with college tuition coming up for 2 kids and other stuff as well.  It may very well change though back to go for it and get er' dun attitude once into my 50's or so though much like I was in my early 20's. 

[..]

When they carry you out in a pine box feet first it's too late to be lying there saying "I wish I'd......."

[Tailgate Tommy]

Bruce my friend, keep on keepin' on!

Hope to see you out in Colorado next summer!

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[Skinhead]

I think I want to be Bruce when I grow up!

[Patrick]

Told him that I would rather lay in bed remembering what I did instead of laying in bed thinking about what I wanted to do.
end quote





Yep, well said.
So many folks I know are afraid to live.

[t-man403]

Sorry about your cousin's husband Bruce....

As to what I think......well to me there is living and then, there is real life.
So, if real life isn't calling, I'd just do a whole lot of living and enjoy every mile of it! 

[MP]

I would rather lay in bed remembering what I did instead of laying in bed thinking about what I wanted to do.

so true, im hurt right now don't know if im going to recover or not

but I can say I rode more than most

we are going to spend a long time dead

go do it

dan

although I don't necessarily disagree,   others like me feel savings for a rainy day puts them more at ease especially as I get into my 40's with college tuition coming up for 2 kids and other stuff as well.  It may very well change though back to go for it and get er' dun attitude once into my 50's or so though much like I was in my early 20's. 

There certainly needs to be a balance.  Especially with kids that age.

MP

[Rams]

I would rather lay in bed remembering what I did instead of laying in bed thinking about what I wanted to do.

so true, im hurt right now don't know if im going to recover or not

but I can say I rode more than most

we are going to spend a long time dead

go do it

dan

Dan,
While I appreciate the attitude and understand the philosophy, not everyone has the freedom to just go.   The responsibilities of life do restrict what some of us can do, when we can do it and how long we can do it.   Although it is possible to throw off almost all the responsibilities we have taken on in life for some, everyone does not have that option.    I'm not suggesting that Bruce (or you) have thrown off or avoided any responsibilities but, not everyone has the options Bruce or you may have.

There are special people who have the time and resources to do as Bruce does.   I envy that.    In this case, envy and jealousy are totally separate feelings.   

[John Schmidt]

Bruce, here's hoping you decided to roll on west. As you know, my chances to ride are limited so I live it vicariously through the adventures of others. If you happen to get around Ft. Worth, you should give my good friend Carman Allen a shout. He's the one that did the leather work on my bike.

Ride safe and long, keep us posted as time and inspiration allows. 

[DDT (12)]

Didn't mean to sound 'preachy' or like I was suggesting how others should prioritize their lives! More than anything, I'm just reveling in the hand I've been dealt in life and how 'the dealer' keeps giving me Aces... not always, but mostly...

Life can be like that sometimes... All roses, all stink weed, but mostly an assortment of both. We each must do what we must do... I'm only saying that this is what I'm doing... and if anything I write resonates with another person, so be it. It ain't always easy being me, but it sure is fun! At least so far... stay tuned...

DDT

P.S. There has been a change in plans... I'll write about it later...

[Misfit]

Roll on Bug Killer, roll on. Thanks for the pic the other day. It was a bute.  

[..]

Bruce, here's hoping you decided to roll on west. As you know, my chances to ride are limited so I live it vicariously through the adventures of others. If you happen to get around Ft. Worth, you should give my good friend Carman Allen a shout. He's the one that did the leather work on my bike.

Ride safe and long, keep us posted as time and inspiration allows. 

Carman is a leather working wizard.

[RDAbull]

Bruce, You have to keep these adventures going so that I can join you on a few after I retire.

I need to toss in a thought from a friend I lost a couple of years ago"  " It's not that I regret not doing more things while I still could.  It is more that I regret not taking the time to more thoroughly enjoy the things that I DID do while I could."
Roger

[DDT (12)]

Bruce, You have to keep these adventures going so that I can join you on a few after I retire.

I need to toss in a thought from a friend I lost a couple of years ago"  " It's not that I regret not doing more things while I still could.  It is more that I regret not taking the time to more thoroughly enjoy the things that I DID do while I could."
Roger

Mr. Bull,

Lesson learned! Once upon a time I was riding around the Dallas metro with a now deceased Valk pilot. I'd been thinking about how I hated city driving... all the traffic plus all the other distractions. I pulled along side of him at a stop light and looked over. He had a huge grin on his face as he threw back his head and bellowed at the top of his manly voice, "I am an urban man!!!" He was having the time of his life, while I had been miserable! We were both having the exact same experience, yet totally different outcomes... Attitude, perspective and choice are vitally important, and he had just given me an important lesson in life. Thanks for the reminder...

DDT

[gordonv]

About all I can add to this post. Every day when I great others, I say "Good Morning" and mean it.

Many times, they ask "what is good about it?".

My replay, "I don't know about you, but I woke up this morning!" Most times a light usually turns on in their face. I hope I have planted a little seed of something.

I can't and don't do nearly as much as I would like to do. But I don't regret what I've done or haven't done. Just would like to have had the ability to do more.

But then, that is why I ride a motorcycle later in life.