Spontaneity is the spice in life

There's a lot to be said about having an open mind and going with the flow, especially when it comes to travel. Things in life rarely ever work out the way they are planned, and this is very evident when you are on the road. It's funny how people go through their life fighting and resisting change with every ounce of their being, when life itself is just a constant changing entity. I flew back to Australia yesterday afternoon after the past seven weeks visiting home in California for the holidays. It was my first time being back to California since January of 2008 and it was an unusual experience. Seeing my friends and family was great, but this time things were definitely different. After being away for so long it was no longer the same place I remember it being in my mind, yet nothing was actually different; the change was within me. State of mind is something we all struggle to deal with and control, but for me, home now has a very stale sense to it. I no longer feel attached to the things I once did, or the desire I once had to live there. Living in the same place, working the same job day in and day out, is, in itself, resisting change. That routine that we all think we need to feel "normal" is in actuality, a self-imposed imprisonment that doesn't end until we "retire." The funny thing is, that people actually think when they retire that suddenly then, they will start living their life the way they've always wanted to. At that point the conditioning of the "civilized" world has taken control of your ability to do so, let alone old age preventing you from enjoying whats left of your life. What is your idea of "success" in the world today? Working and saving money to buy a home with a nice car and fancy clothes? For most, maybe so. For me personally, success is doing what you want when you want, without being concerned with what the rest of society thinks of it. When it comes down to it, in this world, everything can be taken away from you: your job, house, car, everything; except your story, so I'm just trying to live a good one. The different people you meet, places you go, cultures and beliefs you come in contact with, and feelings you experience, is what life is all about. Its tragic that modern society is structured in a way that actually supresses these things in life that make us who we are and give us meaning in our life. I've never been one for schedules or strict plans, and this has allowed me the ability to adapt to any circumstance and actually embrace change in my life. As for right now, I am staying with some friends in Bondi beach in Sydney that I met randomly in Nicaragua back in 2004. Posted above is the view from their apartment that I woke up to this beautiful morning. Summer is in full swing, the sun is shining, and the weather is sweet. I think I'll head down to beach to enjoy the day and see where the ride takes me. -Baldo