What I'm Doing With My Summer

Why think about that when all the golden land's ahead of you and all kinds of unforeseen events wait lurking to surprise you and make you glad you're alive to see? - Jack Kerouac, On the Road

In just over a month, I turn 30 years old. I am not remotely ready. 30 means growing up. 30 means that I can no longer check off the 18-29 box on census forms. 30 means that I can't act indignant when my friends tell me they are getting married, having a kid, or buying a house. 30 means that going to certain bars and concerts starts to become a little sad. "30 means that the half plus seven" rule makes it acceptable for me to date someone born in 1963. 30 means that I can no longer write quarter-life crisis columns and "2/5th life crisis" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Yet you, dear reader, should be very proud of me. Faced with my imminent birthday without girlfriend, money, or defined career path, I choose not to wallow. Instead, I choose adventure. Tomorrow morning, I embark on The Great American Roadtrip with four of my best friends in Boston. Emlen, Julia, Tes, Truong and I are renting a minivan and driving across the country with no clear plan other than to try and see and experience everything that we possibly can. This is one of those crazy 1 AM bar ideas that has actually come to fruition.

To add to the fun, I am going to attempt to document all of our adventures here. I'm sure I will not have the chance to write every night, but I will try to post periodic updates as often as I can. Since we don't have any kind of plan, feel free to send me texts and emails telling me why we should come to your city. Milwaukee may need a hard sell, Aaron.

I have no idea how this trip will go. Julia may run off with a fiddle player in Nashville. Truong may meet a homeless man in Albuquerque and stop to build him house with his bare hands using just the local brush. Emlen and Tes may break up and turn the van around before we reach Providence. Who knows? All I can tell you, is I cannot wait to find out.

Songs I'm Listening To Tonight: Fader - The Temper Trap, Lisztomania - Phoenix, & Quiet Little Voices - We Were Promised Jetpacks

Tomorrow's Destination: Baltimore