The Partner Ship - Last Night at Home

Our friend Fiona once asked me if our car had a name. I thought she was crazy, really who needs to name their car? But thanks to Ruby, our trusty Subaru Outback has a name, and I'll get to that.

Leaving one's family and friends for 6 months brings up lots of emotion. It is easy to feel selfish (hmm, is selfish an emotion?). As my Aunt June would say "family comes first" and travel feels like self coming first. There is sadness knowing you will be devoid of regular, physical contact with those you love. I specifically fear that something bad might befall my parents or children while we are too far away to help. I envision parties and celebrations friends will have without us, and feel a little pull on my heart. As our friend Gayl Creutzberg quoted on her blog site "Reclaiming the Miracle of Food and Farming":

"Is there anything as horrible as starting a trip? Once you’re off, that’s all right! But the last moments are earthquake and convulsion and the feeling that you are a snail being pulled off your rock". Anne Morrow Lindbergh (Thanks Gayl - love it).

However, the truth is that we have been surrounded by love and support during this entire process of preparing to leave. All the goodbyes and bon-voyages have now been said. I have held those I most love to my chest, drinking in their presence, filling my spiritual well (which I plan to draw on in the future!). We leave light in spirit, even though we may be a little heavy in packing.

Which brings me around to our car. Many people, including Charlie and Ruby, have shared that our decision to travel has inspired them. One morning I woke up to a beautiful FB message from Ruby full of love, encouragement, and gratitude. She wrote about her admiration for the partnership Barry and I have shared for over 30 years, but misspelled the word "partner ship". As Barry and I were driving to Hillside Festival last Thursday I was sharing with him this very special email from Ruby and I commented on her spelling error. He enthusiastically patted our Subaru on the dashboard and said "good old Subaru - the "Partner Ship". Really, how perfect is that?

So off we go in the Partner Ship - leaving to visit family in North Bay tomorrow. We leave behind a family, community, and home that has been the world to us, to explore some of the world beyond the cozy corner of our abundant life. Already we can't wait to see them again! Ironically, as we prepare to let go of what is comfortable and familiar, it is these very connections that will help us fly. Thanks, thanks and more thanks. We give each other strength.

Debbie

The Partner Ship

Pre-travel thoughts from debbie

At this point in our adventures I marvel at 2 things.

First, that there is a wonderful, mysterious, synergy that seems to kick in between Barry and I. We discuss and dance around options. We read guide books, and listen to travel advice from friends. At times we bicker and annoy each other. However, in a moment, one of us will say something (for example, "I think we should go to Nepal", after months of considering only SE Asia) and it is just so clear that this is right for us. It's as if our right choice is already there, just waiting for us to catch up to it. After so much fog, the road ahead clears and we can see which way to go.

Second, that many of our decisions are connected to a single sentence offered up by a friend (usually over a meal!). A seemingly innocuous comment from Daryl has lead us to India; Leslie drew me a picture of how to best sew a sleep-sheet over coffee. My friend Joan called from BC right at the moment Bar and I were pouring over our laptop and road atlas simultaneously, trying to figure out how to get to the Queen Charlotte Islands and then back to Vancouver (a rare phone call at that). How else would I ever have figured out the ferry trip down the inside passage from Prince Rupert to the northern tip of Vancouver Island? Brenda's detailed packing notes will be in our car as we head out, and it is her voice I hear coaching us as we prepare medically (shots, meds, etc). What of the funky, aluminum, collapsible little table we bought from MEC because Jenny recommended travelling in the car with one. The list goes on, but the point is that as we travel and look at certain things, or find ourselves in certain places, we will think of our friends and the contributions they made that have helped shape our entire adventure. I love this association of action with people. And of course, there are some choice items people have given or loaned us for travel. You should see the PERFECT enamelled metal teapot Fiona gave me from her collection of collectables. One example of many. Who recognizes what was once theirs in the photo? In addition to what I said above, we are here on the edge of departure grateful for the varied support of friends and family.

Enough for now. I think I might like this blogging thing.

D

Still contemplating the best web device to take on the road...and overseas. small laptop; ipad; iphone; also the one that best supports the blogging and email functions. Lots of other issues to decide on as week work our way towards departure...also Hillside Festival to work www.hillsidefestival.ca

Second post of the day....with picture



just practicing with webcam



3 weeks to blastoff

Soooo, this is first in what will be a series of posts from the road as Deb and I "hit it" on July 31st. The first leg is 3 months in North America including North Bay, across the prairies to southern Alberta Dinasaur Prov Park, the rockies, queen charlottes, vancover island, washington, oregon, california, Nepal, India (if we get our 6 month visa which we applied for today!!! in Brampton; beaches of Vietnam, Thailand and other SE destinations to be determined; then back to San Fran and slowly, via Texas Gulf Coast and Arizona then back to Walkerton....after the snow, maybe. In the spring, we plan to visit Scotland and Iceland before once again landing in Walkerton....and back to work!!!!