I was never much of a backpacker. In fact, I did very little true backpacking in my youth. And the little that I did do was never for long. I remember a memorable moment in Frankfurt, Germany when a friend and I booked ourselves into a hostel for the night but after a few beers and some not-so-sober second thought we booked ourselves out of the hostel and into a four star hotel on his credit card! Yup. That was me. A real adventurer. The world was my oyster – but only if the price was right – and I didn’t have to sleep eight to a room. In this regard, Linton is a much more experienced traveler. Her stories on the “high seas” of world travel reveal a “flexibility” and spirit that I have never had. Or at least, I didn’t think I did.
One of my favourite expressions has always been carpe diem. Since my high school days when I used it in a valedictory address, on through Dead Poets Society when Robin Williams etched it permanently into my psyche as the oh-so-ever-inspiring Mr. Keating. The beauty of the sentiment captured in those two words – challenging us all to make the most of our lives – is a mantra I do at times fail to live, but know I never really will forget. I’m not sure why I am so keen on it. Is it because I know that without this type of subtle verbal nudge, my somewhat docile natural state might slip into a form of permanent hibernation? Or maybe, in light of my indifferent, quasi-agnostic attitude toward religion, it supplies me with a direction that the good book fails to point out. Or, perhaps the English teacher in me, the one that likes to give life a good long hard look, is attracted to this term because so much of literature is littered with heroes and villains who were trying to do just that – seize the day. I don’t know. But I do know it’s hard to argue against it.
I also know it’s why I am so proud of this life adventure that the four of us continue to experience. We have, in effect, seized about 400 odd days and chosen to do something that I feel could have just as easily drifted by as another of life’s “wish list” items, sadly unrealized. I’m still not entirely sure why we’re here. What I mean is, why we went to all that trouble to completely turn our lives upside down, just to travel a long way from home. In retrospect and in terms of a comparable expenditure, we could have simply reno’ed the entire house or put a down payment on a piece of vacation property. But we didn’t. Instead, we packed up our lives and flew away – for a little study, a spot of rest, a lot of travel and a pinch of perspective.
Since arriving we have continued to apply this mindset to our exploration of the country and new experiences. When an opportunity has presented itself we have, I believe in every instance, jumped at the chance to see or do it. As a result we have already seen so much of the country – more than many Australians - who have told us as much. Whether in Toronto or Melbourne, we have never been all that comfortable just hanging out at home and that prospect quickly becomes even less palatable when we remind ourselves of just what home we’re hanging in and the endless opportunities lying just off the front stoop. And to date, the carpe diem spirit has worked wonderfully. Though the recent bushfires squashed our plans to camp in a gorgeous national park this weekend, we were not deterred. Not wanting to “lose” the weekend entirely, we booked ourselves into a hotel in Point Lonsdale and so we’re off to Geelong and a drive around Port Phillip Bay.
The thinking is certainly a luxury. Carpe Diem, while suggesting the pursuit of the possibilities life holds, can also seem to ignore its realities. And it is now being seriously challenged as time and money become more of a factor. They are both things we are running out of. And yet, what continues to reverberate in our heads and against our wallets is that, more than likely, we will never be back here again. So while not wanting to be foolish with our finances, we continue to plan in favour of the opportunity. Such is the reason that we are also departing on a four day tour of Tasmania next week. No, it doesn’t fit the budget. Yes, it might mean the last couple of months see fewer treats and fridge magnets. And though perceived regret might not be the best reason to do something illogical, we had to ask ourselves a question that was no less relevant today as it was last September – when will we ever be in a position to do this again? With our kids? In that context, carpe diem will continue to shine ever so brightly, helping us to bank a different kind of wealth.
No comments:
Post a Comment