California Dreamin' and Schemin'

"The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun." ~ Christopher McCandless 

Winter in Western New York: the miserable time of year when I inevitably begin desperately seeking escape. This year is no exception, but I'm taking a different, more daring approach.

Last year at this time, by New Year's Day, in fact, I had booked a mostly-inclusive guided motorcoach tour stretching from Phoenix to Las Vegas. Sure, it was more expensive and restrictive than if I had planned and booked my own personal tour, but as an inexperienced traveler, I was happy to pay a little more to let someone else do all the planning and driving. 

And in hindsight, I've never  regretted that decision, one I'd highly recommend to any other nervous traveler, for a moment. Instead of being a nervous wreck all week (though believe me, I found plenty to worry about, including being nearly assaulted by a hostile elk at the Grand Canyon, but anyway...), I was able to sit back in a comfortable air-conditioned seat, enjoy the spectacular Arizona vistas (so unlike anything I'd seen at home), and follow an expert's smooth-running itinerary of the best places to see, stay, and eat. 

After a wonderful week, I was dropped off at the Las Vegas airport and free to do what I wanted, which was scare the hell out of myself at the Stratosphere Tower, see a Vegas show, and dine at an extravagant buffet. All of which I'd planned months in advance. What can I say? As much as I'm working on becoming more spontaneous, I'm just too Type A to wing an expensive, likely once-in-a-lifetime vacation. So when the rare opportunity to venture cross-country arises, I need to wade through all the possibilities to determine what I need to see before I go home.

Which brings me to this year's vacation. The tour company that I traveled with last summer also offers a similarly-priced and paced California coast adventure. As early as last summer - basically the minute I flew home from Las Vegas - I started dreaming about a glorious week in San Francisco, Monterey, Santa Barbara,  Los Angeles, and the essential Yosemite National Park. During the intervening months, I've compared similar tours at varying prices, ranging from minimalist camping treks to luxurious five-star accommodation vacations. 

Truthfully, I shocked myself by briefly considering a hippie-style jaunt down the coast in a commune on wheels, forgoing daily showers, privacy, and other necessities, in order to save some money. But I thankfully returned to my senses before pulling out my credit card. Despite my love of nature, I'm not a camper (just a hiker), and I don't expect a weeklong bus tour that requires sleeping with strangers would turn me into one.

So I went back and forth, spinning my wheels, while the holidays passed and the first month of the year zipped by. I'm running out of time, which has forced me (in a good way) to start making firm decisions. I've started planning, with the help of Google and travel guidebooks, my own customized tour along California's coast, stretching from San Francisco to Anaheim.

Exploring the seemingly-endless options is both overwhelming and exhilarating. (One day in Yosemite or two? San Diego Zoo or Disneyland? Disneyland or California Adventure? Or both? Hotel in LA or Anaheim?) I totally understand now why I booked a guided tour last year. After spending months researching flights, hotels, restaurants, attractions, and transportation options, I can emphatically say it is so much easier (and quicker) to let someone else make the arrangements. 

But last year's expedition boosted my confidence and my adventurous spirit. I'm ready to take the reins in a way that I wasn't a year ago. Who knows what next year will bring? Maybe I'll wing it.

Just Juicing

On the fifth day of 2016 I've finally gotten around to both thinking and blogging about my resolutions for this year. Truthfully, I struggled with starting this post. The problem (as I see it) is that the subject is so cliched that everything I think of, no matter how earnestly genuine, sounds like a regurgitated replica of what I've written and resolved for the past three years. 

Honestly, some of it is same stuff, different year (same post, different blog). Of course, my ultimate life goals remain consistent: to be a better version of myself; to travel longer, farther, and more frequently; to overcome fear; to continue learning and maturing; to be healthier; and enjoy my life more. But then again, who doesn't want those things?! You see what I mean...been there, resolved that.

So, if my resolution is to conjure up a new, unique yearlong goal, I've aced the exam. I've resolved that 2016 will be the year of the juice. Yes, I realize that I'm several years late to the juicing party, but why start being hip and trendy now? (Not this year's resolution. Maybe next year.) 

Anyway, back on topic, my inspiration for juicing is twofold: I was Christmas-gifted a new blender that I'm itching to use. Secondly, I'm always plotting how to squeeze more vegetables into my diet (if I eat one. more. salad - my usual standby - for lunch, I swear I'll hork); this seems an easy way to do that while taking a necessary salad break and mixing up (ha ha) my stale lunch menu, embracing change ("turn and face the strange"), which is never my favorite thing, but often the most beneficial thing, in the process. A classic win-win.

And juicing could be beneficial for another practical reason. Apparently I enjoyed the holidays a little too much because I've noticed that my pants have had a snugger fit around my waist during the past few days. And while I'd like to think maybe it's just a bad time of the month and I could, perchance, be retaining water, it's more likely that my recent overindulgence is to blame.

To start this year off right, I need to cut the crap, chuck the chocolate, and start juicing my way back into my non-fat pants. Now I'm motivated to do just that.