Wrap it up Already!

I’ve been back for three weeks now, and there’s still a little glimmer of hope that my alarm clock will not be the first thing I hear in the morning. For a second, I wonder if I could relocate my life to someplace like Yosemite or if I could convince Nicole to do the same. But then I realize that without the days of responsibility and monotony in America’s Heartland, those weeks wouldn’t be so extraordinary. And more importantly, I rather enjoy waking up in a bed and to the smile of a beautiful woman, rather than the cold ground and the unshaven face of a man who hasn’t showered in a week…

Our final days in Yosemite were just as I hoped they’d be; casual and intimate with a hint of excitement. In sharp contrast to the days prior, we spent our time with a crash pad and chalk bag. It not only allowed us the chance to explore some worthy problems, but allowed the four of us (Myself, Kris, Eli, and Sarah) to enjoy each others’ company on the comfort of solid ground instead of a hanging belay.

I also had the opportunity to do two things that had been longing for all week. Number one was a hot shower. Number two was to spend some time exploring the Valley. Somehow I feel like I can connect better with a place when I can make spacial sense of it all. So, with clean tosies and silky smooth hair, I hopped a ride on the shuttle for a lap around town. My exploration finally led me to Yosemite Village where a bacon cheeseburger and beer had been waiting for me.


Eli’s pictures could say so much more than I could write about the quality of the bouldering. Blue Suede Shoes, Bruce Lee, and Midnight Lightning all ranked at the top of my favorites despite that I spent more time watching than sending.
Close to the end of the last day in the boulder fields of Camp 4, was a beer run to Yosemite Village. On the way Eli mentioned his personal dialogue regarding the “cost” of the sabbatical he is now in the midst of. In his invoice of the debits and credits of bumming it, he talked at first of the dollars and cents. Being of technical backgrounds, the both of us, it is a convenient way of rationalizing something so foreign.

However, I don’t think it’s inappropriate to get out the calculator when trying to evaluate something like this. Sure you have to factor in time spent away from work, without a paycheck, and increase in fuel costs. However, having got a little taste of it during my week, I think that this time of reflection, time with friends, and time immersed in life grossly outweighs anything to be gained from seeing a few Benjamins enter your bank account. I mean, you have the rest of your life to make money, right? You should not have to spend that time wondering or not really knowing yourself or the world around you. Now, everyone has their way of making this connection, but if it’s road tripping around the country, then there’s absolutely no reason to hold back.

So what can I say about our nine days? Perfect. How did I feel afterwards? Stiff as a board, crestfallen, and fulfilled. Do I still have reservations about the amount of time I spent there? Absolutely not. Would I ever do it again? All I can say is, “When do we leave?”