My last week in Chicago was a flurry of emotion, packing, hard work and goodbyes.   The way the timing worked out,  I left my job and moved all in the same week.  And also came down with some kind of horrible hacking cough and disappearance of my voice.

Thanks to help of my fantastic friends to keep me sane and and on task, I was able to finally organize all of my stuff into what could fit into my 1997 Geo Prizm.  Then, it was time to pick up the ride share that I found on Craigslist, Jana, and we were off to the west.

While I’m glad that I was driving at this point since I know I’m not quite ready for a bike ride of the same magnitude, the three days of driving wasn’t enough to really give significance to the changes in landscape and and feeling.

Thankfully, little Geo made it over the mountains and through the plains, and through more plains and a few more mountains.

I did start a project to make balloons to signify the different states that I passed through. There are a few that I need to retroactively twist into being, but I feel the project is off to a fantastic start.

Today was my first day to really relax, and I’ve savored it.  I’m staying at my Aunt’s home in Anacortes, WA and felt very privileged to head up to a high point and look out at the San Juan Islands and watch a mother bald eagle teach a juvenile how to fly and catch the right drafts and soar and soar. Even the overcast skies seemed like a welcome home.

Tomorrow, I’ll be heading down to my mom’s in Spanaway and then on Friday, it’s on to Alaska. I can’t even comprehend it!

A week left at my job and then it’s onto the biggest traveling month of my life, so far. Here are the travel plans that I know of at this point:

Chicago to Washington State

First I’m going to drive from Chicago to Anacortes to Spanaway WA in a 1997 Geo Prizm with all of my earthly possessions, my cat, and a person I met off Craigslist* plus two bikes.  Oh, and the Prizm has no stereo. It should be an interesting time and will be over 2000 miles of driving.

**I’d previously met said person at a picnic the previous summer, and we have several mutual friends, and we’ve met in person and are now Facebook friends.

Fairbanks

Then I’m going to fly to Fairbanks, Alaska and do whatever my old college roommate and friend, Elisa says is fun to do in Fairbanks. We’re also going to visit Denali National Park…and some hot springs.  I’m desperately hoping to get a peek at the Northern Lights, but unfortunately the time of the year isn’t the best for the Northern Lights. We’ll have to see how it works out.

Fairbanks to Seattle

After that, Elisa and I are going to drive from Fairbanks to Seattle. She’s moving and I’m going to keep her company on the drive. Another 2000+ miles.

Washington Again

Then, I’ll get a chance to ride my bike! I’m planning on riding places in Western Washington and Oregon.  Places that I want to hit: Anacortes, Arlington, Seattle, Tacoma, Vashon Island, the San Juans, Portland, Eugene…maybe more.  

How many places can I visit in 3 the three weeks I’ll have before I need to get back to Chicago?  I’m hoping to visit with folks from back home as much as possible. It looks like I may have some balloon events lined up in Tacoma, but if anyone in the Puget Sound area would like a balloon delivery, let me know!

Back to Chicago

Finally, around mid-June, I’m going to be heading back to Chicago. Most likely via Amtrak.

After getting back to Chicago, I want to try to make it to Iowa for Superhero training, but I’m not sure how well timing is going to work. I may see how the pieces fall into place.  I do know that I will be organizing many weekday over night (and longer) trips around Chicagoland

Adventure awaits in May and June!

When I first decided to quit my job and possessions to go bike around the country making balloon art, I knew that one of the hardest things to do was going to getting rid of stuff.  While I’m not particularly attached to most of my belongings, the sheer volume of what I’ve accumulated in the six years of Chicago is a little staggering.

It was supposed to be a gradual process through the month of April. However, the complication of subletting my apartment to a friend who needs to be moved by April 1 has shortened the timeline:  tomorrow, I’m getting a new roommate. These past two weeks have been spent organizing what I’m going to be purging and what I’m actually going to keep.

 I’m trying to think about this run through as a kind of first draft, and the stuff I have left is going to require more editing as this last month passes by. I’ve scheduled a garage sale into my calendar for April 16, and I’m really looking forward to seeing other people enjoying the stuff that I’m choosing to leave behind.

The only things that I’m planning on keeping are items that are either going to be functional on my trip or have true memories attached to them. I read this post on Rowdy Kittens and started thinking about my own processes. It is going to requite more editing. While I will be able to fit quite a bit into my car, I want to make sure that what I do keep is meaningful. I’m trying to find the sweet spot for me that will let me maintain a link to my own history.

I’m trying to keep in mind that I want to have things that will help me illustrate a story in ten years. I’ve always loved going to established homes and seeing an item, commenting on it and getting to hear a story that I might not have heard if I hadn’t seen that item. I’m fortunate that I’m having the opportunity to keep some items in storage for free, so I’m hoping to have conversation starters for whenever, and wherever I end up settling down. 

Do you have any items that provide lead to wonderful conversations? Did you ever lose something (either on accident or by choice) that you wish you had again?

In May of 2005, a week after college graduation, i I loaded up a new-to-me car with my cat, several clarinets, some suitcases of clothes, a big box of “Important” papers and various other possessions and drove East to Chicago from Spokane, Washington.

I was the rare soul who leaves the West for the hustle and bustle that resides east of the Rockies.  I had fantasized that I would begin my adult life by finding a fantastic social justice position and I would suppliment that meager income with freelance writing, and I’d find myself being truly happy in the city of broad shoulders.

Life didn’t quite work out the way that I planned. Instead I got a ho hum non-profit job,  dabbled in blogging, dodged the law school bullet,  became obsessed with biking and discovered a unknown talent for balloon twisting.  I also fell in love with Chicago, met amazing people and realized that a job sitting in a cubicle was not at all fulfilling.

So, now in May of 2011, I’m going to do a little bit of backtracking.  I’m going to pack up that now Chicagofied 1997 Geo Prizm (which is now missing a stereo), with that same cat, just one clarinet, an awesome bike, camping gear, a few changes of clothes and whatever other sentimental possessions I decide to keep and that will fit in my little car.

It’s strange to think that that car was packed completely full when I moved to Chicago.  Now, I can barely think of many things that I’m planning on keeping. Over the six years I’ve been here, I’ve lived in 4 different appartments, with many different roommates and have accumulated an entire set of belongings. Granted, almost everything was bought secondhand, at disreputable furniture stores or at Ikea, so I feel like starting over won’t be as hard as it could.

Have you ever thought about starting from scratch?  What do you own that you could never imagine giving up?  Do I own anything that you’d really like?