Countdown To Freedom

Yesterday, I cleaned out my RV and placed it for sale. In doing this, I have had to take what few belongings I have left and move them into my Mom’s house. My next step will be reviewing what I have and trying to squish into two suitcases what I want to take with me to Africa for the next two years. Fortunately, I have already given most of my worldly possessions to my kids. Anything extra with non-sentimental value has been donated. What I am left with is truly the distillation of what means the most to me, plus some stuff I need to live. Life Beyond As I was chatting with my friend last night, I was saying that this truly feels like a rebirth to me. I have literally shed all trappings of my life thus far. With every possession shed, it becomes easier to shed another. I am almost 45 years old, and could easily live another 40 or 50 years. I am faced with just what I want that to look like. When I leave in April, I will be leaving for an adventure that will truly be life-

I have started counting down my days until I leave for the Peace Corps. In many ways, I have done all I can do, so it is a waiting game. I work. I write. I occasionally go on a date. I watch movies. I try to pay off bills.  I am the kind of person that hates downtime. I seem to live perpetually in the future, so it takes a colossal effort for me to slow down and savor the moment. I do love to take nature walks, but I detest the cold, so I have been home-bound a bit for the last month. Adult Dating Is Complicated I had a recent romance that was a revelation to me. He was a wonderful man, and I will forever be grateful to have met him. Sadly, our paths were not to continue for long, but the time that we had was intense and wonderful.  Since our brief interlude, I have had a few epiphanies. One, I am redoubled on my commitment to leaving for the Peace Corps. I have realized that I was wavering on my plan because I was infatuated with him. He did not ask me to stay, but he c