Back to the USA!
July 24 - September 21, 2021
Back with my girls: Summer and Heather
People in other countries love America and Americans. I’ve witnessed this everywhere I go.
Just last week I was pulled over for “speeding” in Morocco. Mind you, I was going over by a mere 8mph. Once the policeman found out I was from California, he smiled and waved me on. “I love America” he yelled as I drove off.
What is it about America that shines so brightly in the hearts and imaginations of people across the globe?
Perhaps it is that people feel that America belongs to them. I often hear, “My brother (or sister or cousin) lives in…” The land of immigrants was made great as folks from every corner of the globe made it their home. We are a land of people of different colors, customs, languages and beliefs. It is our strength.
But seeing America from across the ocean, it seems like it is tearing itself apart. Why is it so divisive? Why is there so much hate?
“What is going on in America?” I often hear.
Maybe I need to find out.
My original plan was to return to the US June of 2022 (when Summer graduates from UCLA). But in early May, during a teary conversation with Heather, she asked me to come home. She wanted me to spend time with her and her sister. She wanted to show me their apartment and to meet their boyfriends. Things I haven’t done.
It was time to come home.
I was somewhat trepidatious about returning. It had been over a year and a half since I left (before Covid, mind you) and much has happened in my life… and in the world.
Maybe I was most curious as to how much I have changed? Traveling to new countries hardly gives you the feedback to know. I can reinvent myself everyday and no one would know the difference. But throwing myself into my old life would be a good feedback loop for me to see who I now am.
And then there is the question about home. People in different countries ask me all the time, where do I live? I say LA, but really? I no longer own a home there. In fact where is my home?
My mind was in a bit of a swirl when I boarded the plane in Athens.
ATH - BOS
Flying to Boston turned out to be a very nice experience. I bid on an upgrade of my economy seat to business class and won. I now know the extreme pleasure of a lie-flat seat on an overnight flight. Even though it was a daytime flight, I managed to nod off and sleep.
MAINE
Waking up groggy, I landed in Boston and then took the two-hour bus ride to Portland, Maine where my mother lives. I got in late but she was waiting for me. That’s what mothers do, right?
I spent five days here. It was nice to catch up with my mom. She is doing great at 89. She’s also one of my biggest fans — always interested in where I’m going and what I’m doing. I think if she was younger she’d love to be at my side.
We spent hours catching up. Going for walks around her “resort”. That’s what I call it. She lives in a lodge (that’s what they call it) with her partner Bonnie. It’s like a small apartment building. There is a central area where they cook all the meals, plus a small gym and a store. She has made many friends since she has moved there. It’s a great support system that really works. It’s a good feeling to have as I travel knowing that she has the support she needs.
Maine is a unique place. So green. So beautiful. Full of trees, granite and beautiful coastlines. Tons of tiny islands sit peacefully offshore.
And of course, there is freshly caught lobster.
The morning after I arrived, I headed to the nearest CVS and got my first Moderna vaccine shot. This was also an important reason for my return. It's difficult as a traveler outside the US to get vaccinated. But here, I basically showed up and got my shot. One month later I would be done (boosters, anyone?).
My timing was also good to see my brother Kirby and his family. They have a summer house on Cushings Island, a short boat ride from Portland. My niece Elise just had twins, so I got to meet them. And my nephew Parker proposed to his girlfriend, Molly, the same day I arrived. We broke out the champagne for that one.
All in all, it was a nice family trip.
CHICAGO
Certainly, the highlight of my trip was seeing Heather and Summer. They are the apple of my eye. So beautiful, so strong.
I feel lucky to have raised girls. I believe that women will play a significant role in developing the future of our society and the world in general. To survive in the future we must encourage them to release their power and listen to what they have to say. Of course with Heather and Summer, they always tell me what’s on their minds.
Chicago is a great place to visit, especially in the summer when the city comes to life. It has fantastic restaurants and areas to get out and enjoy. Heather got a new bike so we loved exploring the neighborhood on two wheels.
The one food group that I missed the most during my time away was tacos. The rest of the world is clueless. It just hasn’t figured it out. I imagined I’d have to wait until LA to get my fix, but my girls were determined to show me what Chicago had to offer. They were right. The Duck Carnitas tacos at Taqueria Chingon were a bit life-changing. I think they were the best tacos I had during my whole two months in the US.
My visit also corresponded with Summer’s 22nd birthday. We all drove to Michigan where her boyfriend Noah’s family has a beautiful home. Wow, there is a lot to love in Michigan. I’ve never been before, but talk about wild beauty. And Summer’s party? So much fun!
Back in Chicago, I got the tattoo that I’ve been thinking about. My multi-tattooed daughter, Summer, of course knew of someone good that I could go to. It’s my favorite. Really shows who I am.
Damn bike thieves!
In the middle of the night someone sawed through Summer’s bike to get to Noah’s bike that I had borrowed!
NAPA
There was someone else’s birthday I wanted to hit, so my next stop was dropping in to see my old friend Chris Blanchard — the sweetest wino I know (he’s actually a Master Sommelier). He lives in St. Helena, smack dab in the middle of the beautiful Napa Valley.
Chris works as a rep for Opus One. Impressive.
We had a lovely visit. I saw his new house and met his new daughter Hadley. His wife Lauren and the kids had to leave right after I arrived, so it turned out to be a boy’s visit. We went for long walks amongst the vineyards, caught up on life and travels and of course drank a lot of wine. Sounds amazing and it was.
REMEMBER ME?
I had been warned by a few experienced world travelers that when I return back “home” and see my friends, it wouldn’t be the same. I would be an outsider. We’d be looking at eighteen months where I was was “over there” and they were here. After a quick “how was it?” there would be few questions, but mostly I would be left feeling isolated and unconnected.
This did not happen to me.
Maybe I’m just lucky. But many of my friends were curious (and sometimes jealous) of my travels. They wanted to know what I saw and who I met. But even if they didn’t, they were glad to see me and wanted to hang out. That was enough for me.
This certainly was the case as I drove to Santa Barbara, where my dear friends Nancy and Neal live.
SANTA BARBARA
I’ve known Nancy and Neal a very long time. They are two people who always have my back. They themselves are world travelers and we’ve kept close contact wherever I’ve been. They are born and raised in LA but escaped to SB many years ago.
Santa Barbara is a wonderful town filled with creative people who can’t stand the thought of living in LA. Although they do like the proximity to being close to such a vibrant metropolis.
While you’re there, you can enjoy small-town life with a plethora of lifestyle choices. It’s a great place to live (if you can afford it).
But I was there to indulge myself in warm friendship and conversation. Long walks on the beach. Lovely dinners eating outside under the stars. And even smoking a cigar with Nancy.
LOS ANGELES
Yo-Yo Ma at the Hollywood Bowl
Of everyplace I was visiting, LA had was the place I was most nervous to see. It was my home for thirty-five years. It is where I started my career, raised my family and made most of my friends.
Taking a taxi from the airport, a rush of feelings came over me. I knew every turn, every street. Where the traffic would slow and what shortcut to take. As we drove through Los Feliz, I was filled with memories. I got sad thinking about Kelly and how much she meant to me while I lived here.
But as I settled in and got into my groove, I remembered why I love LA. It will always be a part of me.
It’s now my home without a home.
“Family” reunion. Bridgett, Heather, Summer and Zara.
BIKING
I was almost in tears when I got back on my bike. LA is a great bike town and I rode all my favorite paths and trails. On my first day, I rode for almost five hours. I would go out with friends or by myself, it didn’t matter. So good. It nourished my soul.
Our homecoming with Gus!
One of the hardest things I faced leaving LA was what to do with Gus — our family cat of 12 years. We got lucky when our neighbors, Heather and Alex, adopted him. They gave him the home and love he needed. They even created an Instagram account: @foriamgus. Check it out!
LA FRIENDS
What can I say. I have so many wonderful, smart, sexy friends. They let me stay with them. We had dinners. Lunches. Bike rides. Everyday was filled with fun and conversation.
I have to say a huge thank you to Ken, Mitchell and Laura, John and Torrie and Lisa for giving me a place to park my head during my visit. It was lovely to have a place to call home.
Sushi!
The food I missed most (besides tacos). I haven’t been to Japan yet, but in other countries I’ve visited, it’s very difficult to find good sushi. I stuffed myself with it here.
Too much vino!
All those years of collecting wine and what to do with it?
I pulled out a few cases, and wherever I went, I popped open an aged wine to share.
Everyone seemed happy that I did.
STUFF
I made a quick stop to my storage unit to pull out some bike clothes. But as I was doing so, I also saw a lot of stuff that looked foreign to me. Stuff I haven’t thought about since I put it in its box. I asked myself — why do I have it? Why am I paying to store it? Will I ever use it, and would I miss it if it disappeared?
I was stressed. Seriously. It was hard to shake. I didn’t want to think about it. I wanted it all to go away.
Let’s face it — I’ve been traveling the world for a year and a half with a carry-on and a daypack. That’s it. I rarely buy anything. I basically wear the same clothes over and over (thanks to merino wool).
But I wouldn’t change a thing. I love the simplicity. I love the freedom.
I made up my mind to go through all my boxes when I return to LA next June (for Summer’s graduation). It’s time to take the lessons of my simple life and keep it going. It’s a happy path.
That’s all there is baby!
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Returning to the US after traveling the world has given me some perspectives that I’d like to share.
How does the US compare to other countries in how they deal with this miserable epidemic? Every country is different of course, some are pushing vaccines, others it’s almost impossible to get. People are hurting — very little money even for food. Trust me, America has it good compared to places in Africa I’ve been.
But what I don’t see in other countries are the battles between people (battles with their governments is another thing). People more or less accept what they have to do. They’re not looking to fight each other about it.
Upon my arrival, a few other things popped out.
The first thing that surprised me was that, outwardly, everything looked about the same. No huge construction projects. The streets were as I left them. It dawned on me that I left before Covid, and that the world went into a kind of suspended animation — the country was basically shut down. People went inward. And that’s where the change happened. People are restless. They are not satisfied with the status quo. They’ve lived with less money and are okay with that. I feel that it will take some time to see how this shakes out.
Another trait that has stood out of me is how we love to consume. A large part of our lives and energy are focused on things to own and buy. We have so much and we want so much more. It’s insatiable. It isn’t that way in other countries. For one thing, they don’t have as much money. But they also don’t seem to be consumed with that desire. It’s refreshing to be around it. I wonder how many of us realize what a trap we’ve fallen into?
The last thing that stood out was how quickly everyone moves — the way people drive. And how everyone seems to be pressured to go go go, and with that, the pressure inside of everyone seems high.
This probably wasn’t different from when I was living here, but I guess I’ve slowed down as I’ve visited parts of the world where people don’t move as fast. Nor want to.
That, combined with the constant barrage of negative media, led us to the breaking point. People seem stuck. And with little time to look for options.
What a dilemma.
I want to tap people on the shoulder and say that there is a better way. Maybe turn away from the negativity by watching less TV news. More books. Less driving. More walking. Less buying. More gratefulness for what we already have.
These are little steps. But taking control of our lives is one of the most important things we can do.
The world is an amazing place. We can have it all. It’s up to us. We have the power to make our lives and this world better.
SANTA CRUZ
Right before I was about to get back on the road, my friends JJ, Jeff and I headed north for one last mountain biking adventure.
Our plan was to drive to Mammoth, but because of the ubiquitous fires throughout the state, the forest was closed. A little research showed that the Santa Cruz mountains were open so we headed that way. It has been on our radar for many years, it so here was our chance.
Wow. Great decision. The redwood forests were mind-blowing. And trails everywhere.
My happy place
SO HOW HAVE I CHANGED?
This was the big question I had when I arrived back to the US. How has 18 months traveling the world affected me? How am I different?
I can say, without a doubt, that I have grown during this time. Maybe shed is a better word. In many ways I feel like I’m closer to who I was in my twenties. Freer. More open to change. Living in the moment. And going through life with open eyes and heart. It’s been enlightening to feel this connection with my past.
At the same time, I am very grateful to have money to support my travels and adventures this time around. I can do what I do and sleep in a nice bed. I don’t worry about having to find a job to pay for my lifestyle. It’s all green lights ahead for which I am extremely grateful.
I also have noticed that fear is not a big part of my life. I trust that good things will happen to me and even if I face difficulties, they are for the best and will lead me to something I never planned or expected.
Lastly is that I am very focused on living in the moment. I still love to think about and plan my future adventures, but so many days start without having a clue what will happen or what I’ll do that day.
Most importantly, I find myself in somewhat of a spiritual awakening. I meditate more. I focus on the good in my life and the people I meet. It’s a feeling that is growing inside of me and I’m embracing it.
Let’s see where it takes me.
IT’S THAT TIME
As I return to my world travels and leave this wonderful and confused country, what am I going to miss?
I’m going to miss cooking veggies on the grill.
I’m going to miss my knives.
I’m going to miss my daily bike rides.
I’m going to miss walking into a grocery store and seeing rows and rows of fresh vegetables and every conceivable type of food.
I’m going to miss the amazing diversity of restaurants.
I’m going to miss sipping on a proper vodka martini (with a twist) and drinking great Pinot Noir.
And most importantly, I’m going to miss my family and friends. Without them, life wouldn’t be the same.
But rest assured, I will be back. It’s still my home.
Next stop… Portugal!
