Boston

I met a guy on the train from Washington to Boston last Saturday. He asked me if I lived in DC and I was unsure of the answer. For the first time in a long time, I don't have an address and I quickly realized that it is not my location that defines me. Or perhaps it is exactly location that defines me and the lack of a permanent address that will redefine me. I no longer have the luxury of telling people what I do or where I live as a way to categorize myself in the world. Instead, I just have me--my experiences, things that I love to do, people that I love to know--just me. It is a crazy and amazing prospect.

I am officially unemployed for the first time since I was 16. I have spent the week roaming around Boston--I spent a day at Revere beach with my brother (family pride), shopped at Whole Foods and REI, and hung out with my folks and after a full week I am left amazed--there are tons of people out during the day! Who knew this other culture of people existed that don't sit indoors all day hooked up to Microsoft Outlook, breathing in and out, in and out. I imagine this is what it would feel like to take a vacation and stay in the town you live in for the week. You begin to see the rhythms of the people who don't leave thier homes for an office every morning--young and old alike. People walking their dogs, sitting in the park, having coffee just for the sake of drinking coffee in the middle of the day. It is luxurious--to observe and to do.

So now I am left with one more week in Boston to see my friends and my family and to buy all of the last minute things that will come in handy in the wilds of who knows where. Today I bought a swiss army knife and a lock. Bear Grylls, here I come.