Thursday, April 23, 2009
Things are pretty good. But I'm going to visit home for a bit soon, and I was wondering if it was a good idea that I ever left. Career-wise, probably. But I don't really get the point of leaving everyone you care about. People used to travel with their tribe their whole lives, as far as I know. It's weird to leave them and correspond through all these fake means, electronic and everything. It's not as satisfying. Modern life is not as satisfying, for sure.
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You say that, but our ability to travel also gives us the ability to learn more about new surroundings, and meet new people. That's a luxury afforded only to us through our ability to easily and cheaply travel.
Also, new and delicious micro-brews. Seriously, totally worth it. The world could go up in flames tomorrow, but as long as I can keep talking up Surly to people back East, it's all good.
I have thought about this, being so far from home and the people I love.
Some people who were exceptionally brave might leave their homes or their tribes--but it was much more difficult to communicate with family and therefore much more difficult to make that decision to leave in the first place.
I think of my grandfather who immigrated here from Sweden. After he left, he had little contact with his family and actually never returned home and never saw them ever again.
It is kind of sad to me, to think of never returning home or never seeing my family again--but I think about the bravery that must have taken back in those days. The internal conflicts people must have experienced between wanting to seek a better life for themselves and their future and not wanting to leave what they know and love.
Today, I am far from home--but I know I can hop on a plane and go home if I need to. I know I can see my family on Skype and talk to them almost instantly via email.
It is absolutely artificial, but it also allows for people that opportunity to move away if they choose to without having to really sever all ties and give up their previous lives.
The world is becoming a smaller place--and there are both pros and cons to that.
I also think about it in terms of attachment. I love my family and friends, but I realize they are no more "mine" than anything else in this world. There are many people out there to meet and to love.
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