My family and friends no longer asked me how I am. They ask where I am. 
There’s something therapeutic about a road trip. Unlike air travel, where the destination is the goal, road trips are about the entire journey, not just the destination. There's freedom of adventure along the way.
As I reflect on the years of buying new tires due to piling up the miles with golf clubs in the trunk, I realize how truly grateful I am for the ability and the desire to take on the open road alone. I suppose there will come a day when I won't be comfortable doing it, so I plan to travel while I can.
Road trips are soul-soothing. There is also danger in being left alone with my own thoughts for extended periods of time. LOL. There’s nothing like a stretch of highway to clear the mind, solve some problems, or catch up on some "reading" with a good audiobook as I enjoy the scenery. I also have a few conversations with my GPS when all it can tell me is to do a legal U-turn after I miss an exit or can't exit due to a construction closure. The built-in GPS's aren't programmed for construction closures. But, hey, some of those detours make for great discoveries and stories later. I've also come to count on the Waze app as a backup when I run into those situations.
Golfing across the country with new friends I've made along the way has been a delightful experience. I've met so many interesting and amazing people. And I’ve played courses with views so breathtaking that I don't even care whether I play well or not. Well, maybe that's not true, but if I am playing poorly, I am comforted knowing the 19th hole awaits my arrival.
It's really about the people, though. Road trips have allowed me to connect with family and friends and to make new friends scattered across the map. There’s nothing like sitting on a cousin’s porch or catching up with a new friend over dinner and an adult beverage to make you realize how fulfilling these relationships are. It's been interesting to experience how one common interest (like golf or real estate) can make instant friends with someone you have never met.
So here’s to the open road... full of adventure, old connections, new friends, detours, and surprises. I’m grateful for every mile and every memory. After all, life isn’t just about the destination; it’s about the road you take to get there and the people you meet along the way.
This is my third entry into the November 2024 Gratitude Challenge hosted by Debe Maxwell, CRS
Note: The Feature photo is the route from my 2021 cross-country road trip, when I had the pleasure of meeting many of you!
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