roadtrip 2008

I just got back from the best roadtrip of my life (which is why I haven't written in a while). I mean, it really was one of the best vacations I've ever taken. A week of spending time with friends in places I love with no real agenda...

I had a lot going on leading up to it- I finished up my summer classes, moved into a new place, and had just started my job, all in the week prior to leaving. I wasn't overly stressed, but it was keeping me on my toes. It was definitely good timing for my first real vacation since graduating college.

Originally the roadtrip was supposed to be a backpacking trip in Canada. But a few people wavering on that option and Julia and I decided it wasn't worth trying to make it happen. So then we were going to backpack in Yosemite, but we had no better response. So we opted for just the 2 of us to take a roadtrip down the CA coast, starting and ending in San Francisco and going all the way south to San Diego.

I was really glad to start in San Francisco. I had been away long enough that it wasn't too soon to visit (in which case I wouldn't have returned to Atlanta) but I was still missing it enough that I don't know if I could have waited any longer to go back. I was only in town for one night on the front end of the trip and one night on the tail end, so I didn't feel like I could let everyone know I was in town, but I saw a few people. Being back was like I had thought it would be- it was a piercing reminder of all that I love there and brought a fresh wave of grief over leaving- but at the same time not like it, either- I was able to accept that I am now a visitor to and not a resident of the city and enjoy it for the short time I had there.

From San Francisco, Julia and I took 5 days to drive down the coast and back, stopping in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and San Diego. We stayed with friends wherever we went. We spent a lot of time at the beach. We ate great food. We had good company. We had no car issues. We made a few u-turns but didn't get lost (and Julia would say it was thanks to her new iPhone). Julia had a little bit of tummy trouble, but for the most part we stayed healthy. So I guess that makes for ideal roadtrip conditions.

The reason why the trip was so amazing for me is because Julia and I had so much fun together. Every other roadtrip I've taken with friends has been frustrating at some point because we didn't all agree on what we wanted to do or where we wanted to eat or who we would stay with etc. There's always been tension or even conflict, and typically someone doesn't want to compromise. Since I really dislike conflict and am a people pleaser, those situations are stressful enough that they can take away from the enjoyment of the trip. In fact, one spring break I would venture to say the roadtrip was an all out disaster.

But our trip, from start to finish, was never tense and we were never in conflict. Sure there were times when we had a miscommunication or had to compromise, but those weren't a stressor and we took them in stride. I was so relaxed and not concerned about anything else I have going on in life. It was so good to be "roommates" with Julia again for 7 days. It felt so normal. Like I hadn't ever moved.

I'm so overwhelmed by the friendships I've made in the last 2 years. The best friendships, the most meaningful friendships, of my life. These friends know my dirt. They've seen me at my worst. I've let it ALL hang out in front of them. They love me still. We give and take, not because we expect something in return but because we know that's how it works. We genuinely love hanging out with each other for days on end.

I'm not looking to replace these friends in my life, but I'm hoping, praying for some friends here in Atlanta who are made of the same fabric.

And I'm already counting on roadtrip 2009, Julia...