My Nomad Journey – Weeks 7 & 8

Stats to date: 2 months, 11 states, 11 beds, 4,000+ miles

Hey everyone! Well this year is off to a crazy start. I’ll skip talking about what’s going on in the world and instead focus on my own little journey. This post should catch us up for now and bring you up to date on the last two weeks’ happenings on the road!

Here’s what I did:

Life on the road has been intentionally stationary, as I continue to focus on a critical work project right now. My friend and I in Atlanta have been very domestic. We work, have dinner and TV together, and run errands on the weekends. Among all that, we enjoy playing with her dog, Bella. Bella is a character and likes to display her human-like moods for us.

Earlier in the month, Atlanta had its first snow in several years. This was part of the huge winter front that blew through the middle of the country, then headed east to us. Folks here went crazy and made runs on the grocery stores, stocking up for what was sure to be a long winter lock-in. Of course, within 2 days we were all out and about again. Crisis averted. The country made fun of Atlanta’s “shut down”. As someone who grew up in Texas, people in colder parts of the country underestimate how abnormal this kind of weather is and how the systems aren’t set up to treat roads and handle snow, ice and other conditions that come with the weather. Metaphorically, it’s like never owning a coat when you only have to shop for shorts. Anyway, everyone got to enjoy the snow and the “no school” days, while it lasted.

Outside of the work routines for the past couple of weeks, I was able to take a short weekend away and continue my “on the road” adventures. I had made plans to meet up with a friend in Charlotte, NC. This is about a 4 to 4.5 hour drive from Atlanta. (It’s actually another hour longer, if you factor in my bladder and my cravings for snacks, sodas and stopping to take a picture.) I very much enjoyed getting on the road, as I have never driving these interstates over here on the eastern half of the country. Even though it is the depth of winter, I still enjoyed the scenery and the beauty of the drives. This is a very forested part of the country, with tall trees lining the freeways and occasional hills to drive around or over. For those who aren’t familiar with the US geography, we are amidst the Smoky Mountain Range. To simplify, the Smokies are in the middle of the region I’m currently in. Atlanta is to the south, Charlotte is to the east, and Knoxville is to the west. So my drive to Charlotte and to points north of Atlanta brings me in viewing distance of the mountains. As a Californian, I’m no stranger to mountains. I so appreciate these Smoky mountains for their beauty and for the trees. So many trees. The mountains out west are rocky, but these mountains are forests that rise to the sky!

Once in Charlotte, my friend and I went downtown to walk around, see the scenery and enjoy a dinner together. After, we went next door to a local ice cream parlor for one of my favorite treats. In the years since I quit drinking I have switched to sugar, so that is the next habit I need to kick! We went back to our house rental and sat up telling stories and gossiping. This was only going to be a short visit, one night, so we had to make the most of it. It was great comparing ideas and solving the world’s problems. We planned out our next day, with plans to depart in the afternoon.

Since my friend is considering the idea of going nomad as well, we talked about what that is like. She is thinking about getting an RV or van of some kind and being able to “take home with her”. I suggested we go to a camper store and look at what’s out there. I’ve always wanted to do that and it made sense for her to get a feel for what’s available. Selfishly, I wanted to explore the idea myself, in case I considered doing this down the road. At the local dealer, she met with a salesperson to specify what to show us. We focused on smaller vehicles, drivable (not trailers), and small enough to park and maneuver in urban settings. He showed us a number of van options. These new camper vans are deluxe! Like upscale tiny houses on wheels. I was fascinated by how they organized the interiors and made use of the space. There were a variety of options and price points. It was really interesting to picture what life in one of these vehicles would be like. For fun, I asked to see one of the bigger ones. We looked at a 40 foot RV that was a top-of-line model. While this was VERY nice inside – spacious, luxury appointments and well-designed space, it felt like “too much” for me. Isn’t the idea of having a camper to “get away” from normal life a bit? That vehicle felt like you weren’t just bringing your house on the road, you were brining the whole cul-de-sac! Not for me. This shopping excursion left me with some new inspiration and new ideas to ponder in the months ahead. While I’m not considering getting a van now, I would like to rent one at some point this year as an experiment. And perhaps, when I get ready to take it to another level, I might decide to get something I could live in while I travel. Let’s see what happens…

When it was time to leave, I stopped at a vegan restaurant for a late lunch on the way out of town. While there, I reflected on how much fun I had with my friend and all of the possibilities and ideas we talked about together. I wasn’t ready for the weekend to be over and there was so much more to see. It dawned on me that part of the objective for doing this was to explore and experiment, so I decided to head a different direction and do some more exploring. After finding a low cost motel option, I decided to point west and go explore Asheville, NC. This is the home of the Biltmore Estate and so much more. It is also one of the places that was affected by the destructive storms and floods this past fall. Without an agenda or any expectations except to see what’s there, I set back out on the road again. Driving west into clouds broken with afternoon sun, while surrounded by mountains, was like medicine. January has been very busy for me and I’ve been dealing with some doubts, worries and fears. This trip was a much-needed break and put me back into my happy place – the open road!

In Asheville, I checked into my motel and decided to walk into the downtown area. It was cold and the walk was about 1.5 miles, but I was ready for some body movement and fresh air. Downtown Asheville is nestled in the mountains. It is what I describe as “micropolitan”, which means that is like a little city with little buildings and feels like you’re in a part of any large city center. The people were friendly and businesses were plentiful. I can see why the place is popular with tourists and visitors. Lots of restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment options. There are historic buildings and public spaces. I enjoyed walking the main street at night and watching the people and poking around in the stores to see what things they had. No buying for me, however. I’m frugal now and, frankly, there’s no place for me to put anything! This lifestyle is a great way to curb your shopping habits. In various places, I chatted with people about where I’m from and what I’m doing. People always love hearing the story. I also got to hear from the locals what they have experienced as a result of last year’s storms. They are deeply affected by the loss. One person told me that the loss of life is much greater than what is reported in the news, with as many as 500 people still missing. Horrible!

After a good night’s sleep, it was time to head back to Atlanta. However, since I had time and was in no rush, I decided to see what else there was to explore in Asheville. I had already decided not to visit the Biltmore Estate. I can come back another time when I have more time. Also, the ticket prices are between $79 and $99!!! I’m sure that’s fair, but I wasn’t ready to commit. I decided to check out another part of town near the estate. What I discovered was mind-blowing! I had either forgotten or didn’t know that the floods had actually run right through the middle of Asheville. When I was aimlessly driving through the Biltmore Village area, I realized I was at ground zero in Asheville. I first noticed the roads that were blocked off. Then I noticed boarded up businesses and that’s when it hit me that this was one of the areas that had been destroyed. As I drove on, I saw more and more of the aftermath. I was so moved that I parked the car and decided to walk around on foot. (It was early on a Sunday morning and there was no one out for me to disturb.) The setting was really shocking. Along the creek and railroad track areas was a path of destruction blocks wide and blocks long. This is a dense business district with a combination of historic buildings and hotels, as well as newer businesses like fast food and shops. All of it was closed, boarded or even completely destroyed. I grew up in Texas and live in California, so I’ve seen my share of tornadoes, storms, wildfires and earthquakes. However here, it wasn’t just what was closed or destroyed, it was the trail of litter, debris, broke trees, and damaged infrastructure that was laid along the path of the creek and railroad tracks, where the flood waters had raged. Keep in mind that they have been cleaning since October/November already, and they still had so much work to do. It will be a slow recovery for them, based on the extent of the damage. What was also shocking was the volume of debris that was being sorted. The waters had washed everything in their path through this district. There was a plot of land filled with equipment and piles of things that were being cleaned up. At first I thought that it was a salvage yard that had already existed here. But when I saw the piles of truck trailers, tires, trees, appliances, etc., it dawned on me that this was all from the flood. There were even a few semi and truck trailers that were still overturned in some of the parking lots or wedged up against the bridge overpass. My heart goes out to all those affected by this event. I also know that there were also so many more places and people who were affected. I can only hope for a healthy recovery for these folks and towns.

The drive back to Atlanta was filled with appreciation for the gifts that I have and the fortune that I enjoy. Worries, fears and doubts aside, I am still a very lucky human and I am so grateful for the ability to do what I’m doing right now.

One last thing to note from this last two weeks… I did fully delete my Facebook account. I actually delete this back in 2020 or 2021. It no longer served me. However, I setup a new account this past year as a way to promote my podcast. I have only used it as a place to post promos and information about podcast guests and episodes. I was already having doubts about whether this was useful. When the events of this past week unfolded, I realized that this was one account that I no longer needed to hold onto. I am also considering deleting Instagram, as this is a Meta product too. I have been wondering what life might be like if I deleted all my social media. I find it useful to stay in touch with people. But honestly, I contact people through other channels when I truly want to connect with them. I’ve been telling myself that I have to hold onto social media to support my business (as someone who’s self-employed). But honestly, I have yet to get a client or gig from social media sources. I will continue to ponder this. I find myself pulling further and further away from conventional ways.

Here’s what I learned:

When I made my weekend trips over the past month, I only packed a small duffel back with some clothes and toiletries. For these 1 or 2-night stays, I went really minimal. Honestly, with as cold as it’s been, I’m able to get 2 days’ use out of one outfit (with fresh underwear and undershirt, of course). So I really don’t have to pack much. I really, really enjoyed putting one small bag in my truck. It was nice knowing I didn’t need any of the “what about…” or “I might…” kinds of things. The freedom of not having to carry a bunch of things with me was amazing! I would like to challenge myself to keep finding new ways to downsize and let go of things. In fact, I’m developing a workshop to help other people start to explore the possibility of decluttering, downsizing, and deconstructing. Look for an announcement soon about this! I hope you’ll sign up!

The road is my happy place. I’ve known this for a long time. Yet it still amazes me how much I am reminded about this. Since childhood I have enjoyed exploring and wandering. Since I got my first drivers license, I’ve enjoyed exploring and wandering on wheels. Each leg of this journey continued to bring me peace, serenity and enjoyment when I get on the open road. I generally don’t listen to much content while driving, either. A lot of the drive time is spent with the audio off and just watching the scenery and listening to my thoughts or exploring my feelings. I was carrying a lot on my mind when I left Atlanta. Lots of existential worries and stresses were on my mind. I wasn’t even on the road for 2 hours before they literally just dissolved. It was like driving out of a fog. Mind you, none of those problems went away. But being in the car and focusing on nothing but the driving and the exploration ahead of me brought me to a new place from which to look at my situation. I am still awed by how this works for me and so grateful, as well. Note to self… when I’m caught up in the self-created drama of my own catastrophizing thoughts, I should get “out”. Walk, drive, go!

Speaking of that, I wanted to share a little thing that I do. When I’m driving, my creative juices really start firing! This shit comes out of the universe to me and I can’t keep up with all the ideas and inspiration that downloads into me. Since I can’t write or make lists while I’m driving, I’ve got this little workaround. I have an iPhone (yeah, yeah… I know…) and use Siri to voice text myself sometimes. Particularly when my hands are full or occupied. So, when I’m driving and have an idea or need to remember something, I simply say “Hey Siri, text Paul Briley iphone…” Then I dictate. I know I could also send it to calendar and other things, but this works quickly and efficiently. So I text myself whatever is on my mind. Sometimes it’s a todo thing. Sometimes it’s an idea. Sometimes it’s just thoughts or reflections. Regardless, I can voice text it to get it out of my head and into an editable form that I can act on. Often, I’m sending separate texts, one after another. But it’s a great way to capture and document things while the idea is fresh!!! When I get settled at a destination, I go through my texts and attend to all the messages. I can copy/paste to my Reminders, Calendar, Notes and wherever else I need the information to go. This has been HUGE, because so much comes to me while driving. In fact, on this last weekend’s drives, I finally broke through some blocks on two different workshops I’ve been needing to create. I literally voice texted myself the outlines and much of the content for both of them! When I got back to Atlanta, I immediately dropped my bag and drew out some mind maps to capture all my thoughts. Knowing that all the details were in my text messages was reassurance that I had everything that I needed.

Here’s what’s next:

Okay, here’s what’s up next. Some of this may be a repeat from earlier posts, but this section tends to be a running tally:

The first weekend in February, my Atlanta friend and I are making a road trip to Savannah, GA. I’ve never been, so it’s a chance to explore and see more of the country. This will also be the first road trip for her dog, Bella. We are excited to see how she does with the car, staying in a house rental, and possibly experiencing the beach for the first time.

Also in February is a trip to California for some work projects, personal appointments and visiting a few of my many friends there. I’ll be flying back and leaving my car and things here at my friend’s house in Atlanta.

After California, I will continue my longer journey down to Florida to visit friends I have there. I anticipate staying a few weeks there.

After Florida, I hope to explore more of the Carolinas and Tennessee with some friends. Perhaps Charleston, SC for a long weekend. I may also explore some other areas and take some downtime just for checking shit out I’ve not seen before.

In March and April, I have some potential teaching assignments in SoCal and Las Vegas. I’m considering taking the car and driving back for these assignments. This will give me an opportunity to circle back to some people I missed along the way from Sacramento to Atlanta and let me take my time going there and back.

After that, I will come back to the east and continue my journey northward. No solid plans before heading up to the Northeast and beyond in the spring and summer.

I’m also hoping to build in some international travel. Mexico, UK, maybe others? This will depend on budget and how booked my work calendar is. I have work to do to build up my own business offerings and start exploring how to expand what Off the Comma is and offers people.

So that’s the latest report. I hope you enjoyed this update. I continue to procrastinate when it’s time to write these posts, because they take so much time. But today, the pressure and the inspiration culminated at the same time. So when the house went to bed, I went to the keyboard. It’s 11:50pm eastern time as I type this last sentence. I hope you are all safe, healthy and loved. Until next post, be well!

As always, please interact with this post. I love getting your questions, your thoughts, and your comments. I’ll reply when I’m able.

Please enjoy yourselves in this week ahead and look for another update from me next weekend, or later, if I get caught up in the adventures of the journey. Be well my friends!

Want to hear other people’s stories about getting off their commas? Check out the podcast!

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