Nomad

March 29, 2019

A new friend was somewhat astounded that I was going to San Diego on my own. The fact that I was going to be walking around alone, sitting places alone, eating alone was creepy in his opinion, that I should go to the conference that prompted this trip and come straight back. Not spend any other time there. He said I was going to be “creepy” all the time I was there- talking to myself- and when I came back I was going to be normal again. His reaction, although direct and full of opinion, was not entirely surprising. It is not the the first time I get some version of this narrative. I generally either get a “You’re so brave!” from women or a “You’re so pretty. Why aren’t you traveling with a man? from men. Obviously, I pay no mind to what my dear friend was saying because from what I know of him- he’s a silly guy who loves to anger me.

But as I was walking around on my first day in San Diego, the conversation crept into my mind. I started tuning into that idea and I guess I’ve come up with a few things:

I’m not the best at establishing long-term relationships romantic or otherwise. I’m not good at looking for or pursuing friends enough to continue and strengthen a friendship. As an immigrant this has become even harder. Those relationships and ties you build with the people that have known you forever, seen your transformation, witnessed your life are only but a faint memory to me. My life is divided from the “back home” to where I live now and the general idea of home at this point is somewhat blurred. My oldest friend in my new life is no longer part of it. Meaning there goes a whole pool of traveling companions. Add to this the fact that in more cases than not I lack the patience to “make things work”. At the first sign of heartache or disappointment it has always been easier for me to pick a fight and walk away.  A friend of mine years ago, who the more I think of it knew me so well… once called me a Nomadic soul. This is now what I think he meant. I do what I want to do and the lack of company or support will rarely stop me.

I started thinking about when was the first time I traveled alone. I went to see a friend who had moved to New York City when I was 19 years old. During the trip, I took a Greyhound bus from NYC to Sacramento, California to meet up with someone else. The three days in a Greyhound bus across the United States at the mercy of the intentions of anyone around me who could outwit me. Added the risk of no one finding out where I was if I came to harm. 1996 was not the time of Internet, SIM cards or roaming plans on a cell phone. I called my mom from the various stops along the way at least to have a last known location, but she quickly got annoyed. I was on my own. I met many people, had to fight my way through a pushy crackhead  lady who was threatening my spot on the bus. I was left in the middle of nowhere, in what I now think was Idaho, without my bags, my ID, my money. I had to run down the road to catch the bus when it stopped for a traffic light. I could write a whole other entry about that trip alone. In the uncomfortable-ness of no decent food, no sleep, and cleansing myself in bus stops, I found a wonderful solitude grazed by moments when the views outside the window showed me the beauty of a landscape I had not seen before. I guess at that point I internalized the magnitude of the process and that it was something I could just: do. Having the confidence in myself that I’m resourceful and independent. I guess that was the beginning of it all. The desire to see new things is not easily silenced. Being out of comfort just jolts my brain.  Figuring things out, lost, working myself through. Synaptogenesis. Being in awe- Happiness.

Keeping track of EVERYTHING! There are so many things to keep track of when we travel. Routes and your belongings being the most significant. ADD makes these tasks overwhelming. I find that when I’m with people I get too distracted for this. I forget things and having to go through the process of dealing with my little mishaps in front of others stresses me out. Being alone when I travel makes the little routines I’ve established calming -it just feels like self-care. It also forces a level of engagement with my surroundings and with myself. Putting me and my needs in the center of everything. After 18 years teaching, being an on and off wife since I was 19, and essentially 22 years as a mother, that has not been something I’ve catered much to in the past.

As I went along the trip I had the same reaction in three separate locations. People wondering how I could enjoy myself alone. I came to the conclusion that the feeling of not having to run anything by anyone or synchronize interest, stamina, food restrictions, fears or any of the little things that as human beings divide us is incredibly freeing. It opens the space to follow that compass that is nothing but your own. To tune yourself to the surroundings and wander into the new opportunities and experiences that are meant and customized by the Universe for you. Interactions with strangers that will give you insight into the human condition fueled by experiences that can be vastly different to my own. Walking through streets in Little Italy, Gaslamp Quarters, the Marina, Ocean Beach, Tijuana, an overwhelming feeling came over me… I know how to grant myself a good time. Call me creepy!

IMG_20190329_200254_977IMG_20190329_172856_516IMG_20190329_172856_515IMG_20190329_134233_574
2019-03-30 00.56.502019-03-30 00.52.382019-03-30 00.51.102019-03-30 00.53.292019-03-30 00.54.102019-03-30 00.54.562019-03-30 01.00.462019-03-30 01.02.162019-03-30 01.02.462019-03-30 00.40.162019-03-30 00.42.222019-03-30 00.44.402019-03-30 00.45.322019-03-30 00.46.432019-03-30 00.38.10

¿A qué le tenemos tanto miedo?

Luego de nuestra estadía en Seattle nos dirigimos hacia California por la costa de Oregón.  Una ruta más larga pero al estar encerrada entre tierra tener la oportunidad de estar cerca del mar no es algo que se deje pasar. Fuimos parando y disfrutando de las vistas tomándonos el tiempo de detenernos y disfrutar de la naturaleza y landscape del camino. Esto no fue algo que hicimos en nuestro viaje de 2015.  Teníamos ambos muchas ansias de llegar a nuestro destino y por lo tanto no disfrutamos del camino. Esta vez ha sido diferente lo que me muestra que hemos evolucionado y estamos más dispuestos a poner la atención en la jornada más que en el camino. Esto alargó uno aún más la ruta y al hacerse de noche tocaron las curvas de la carretera entre la oscuridad, la neblina y el reflejo de las luces de los carros que venían en dirección contraria. Toda esta escena parecía un episodio de Stranger Things. Finalmente vemos nuestro motel al lado de la carretera al cuál no le tomé foto de lo que me arrepiento porque no hay palabras. Me estaciono cerca de la oficina que se alumbraba con el reflejo de la luz roja de neón proveniente de la seña “No Vacancy” pude ver dos hombres adentro y le dije a Pablo “¡quédate en el carro!”. Entro a la oficina y me encuentro con los dos individuos vestidos de negro con un aspecto poco saludable hablando.  Respiro e intento no dejar que todas las ideas preconcebidas que he podido haber adoptado durante mi existencia me lleven a concluir que estoy en peligro. Respiro, sonrío y expreso mi intención de registrarme. El otro hombre sintiendo que sobraba en la oficina pequeña aún para dos, se marchó. El attendant extiende la mano para agarrar mi identificación y al alzarse la manga de su hoodie negro queda al descubierto una svastika que llevaba tatuada entre el pulgar y el dedo índice de su mano izquierda. En este momento le doy gracias a Dios que tengo un nombre cuya procedencia es difícil de pillar y además de que llevo tanto tiempo escondida del sol en el norte que mi piel no me delata. Continuamos con la transacción y regrese al carro. Le comento Pablo el cuadro que me encontré que no le dejó nada impresionado. Nos estacionamos frente nuestro cuarto y tan pronto abrimos la puerta fue un golpe de energía super negativa. Un cuarto con dos áreas cada una con una cama cosa que nunca había visto y sin aire acondicionado lo cual implicaba que teníamos que dejar las ventanas abiertas en un lugar donde por el momento no nos sentíamos nada seguros.  Pablo se pone muy nervioso mientras yo intento recordar que es solo un espacio y que yo resido en otro plano que hay luz dentro de mí y alrededor de mí, que el miedo está en mi cabeza. Trato de tranquilizar a Pablo, que pedía que buscáramos un Best Western, alentándolo a pensar en otra cosa que realmente no había justificación para tener miedo ya que no nos había pasado nada. A lo que él comenta que según lo que ha visto en la tele cuando las personas entran a un lugar así no salen. “I blame the media!” me repite una y otra vez. Yo me río de sus ocurrencias y me voy a duchar tranquila. Al irme a acostar sentí mucha sed y decidí ir al carro a buscar agua armándome de valor para salir en semejante oscuridad. Cuando de repente veo a un hombre parado al lado de un carro poco más abajo mirándome fijamente. Debido al desorden en el que viajabamos encontrar el agua no sería fácil. En ese momento los medios de comunicación se apoderaron de mí también y entré al cuarto; sin agua. Aunque me calmé me sentí con la responsabilidad de quedarme despierta a velar por Pablo. Al salir el sol, el panorama era muy distinto. Lo que cubría la oscuridad eran unos alrededores hermosos.  Con la luz del día entendí que el hombre que estaba fuera en el medio de la noche era el mismo que se fue de la oficina cuando llegué la noche anterior y que debía ser el hombre que velaba por la seguridad de todos los que nos alojabamos ahí y de nuestra propiedad. ¡Que ironía! Lo que me confirma las ideas que nos hacemos del miedo y como éste puede paralizarnos sin ningún motivo. Con la luz todo queda más claro.

DSC_0001_(1)[1]DSC_0003_(1)[1]DSC_0025_(1)[1]DSC_0034[1]DSC_0035_(1)[1]

DSC_0099[1]

 

DSC_0103[1]

20180722_194921

20180722_195430

 

All-focus