Liberation
The proximate cause of this trip was Loanne’s decision to join me in retirement. My own liberation had come some four years earlier, when something my boss said made it impossible for me to continue working under her, namely: “Your services are no longer required”. (Apologies to Christopher Hitchens but, I thought of it first). Spending six months in Paris confirmed for us that our wanderlust was not confined to short trips followed by a quick return to a familiar place. Southeast Asia was a natural choice: I longed to return and it intrigued and excited Lo. It was the place to go while we were still young (-ish).
The Tyranny of “Stuff”
So everything, well most everything, had to go. Starting with the house, and the “stuff”. There were tons of it. Most we hadn’t used in years: an extensive wardrobe of mine, hoarded for years in the pitiful hope of a return to the status quo ante belly: out it went. Books I hadn’t looked at in years, and which I had an e-version of: out they went. And so on and so on.
The house was more difficult. We had lovingly renovated it, with the indispensable and loving help of a dear friend. Many family and friends came around over the years and had infused the place with memories (most of which I forget, but you know what I mean). But it would pay for our travels, so on October 18, 2013, we became homeless or, as a very wise Persian friend put it: house-free.
Interlude
Previous arrangements kept us in North America for 10 weeks or so and, shortly after spending New Year’s week in New York, we were finally ready to go.
I could write about New York for pages, but if only to forestall the question: “Did you go and see the ball drop?” here is what I have to say about Times Square on New Year’s Eve:
- A woman showed up at 6:30 a.m. to secure a good vantage to see Miley Cyrus – I don’t want to come within a mile of such an idiot;
- At around 4:00 p.m. they cordon off the area. No more nipping into Starbucks for a latte and a pee;
- Drinking alcohol is not allowed;
- Frankly, a million people is about 999,994 people more than I can tolerate being around me.
Having said that, it is somewhat heart-warming to see kids form over a hundred nations having a ball (moan!!!) in peace and harmony. Maybe we’d get along if we all had a full bladder.
Lagniappe
Sign of The Times?
During the Calgary phase of our interlude, we were staying in a 32-apartment building. We were the only ones receiving a newspaper.