Such a poignant, well-written piece, Ben. Now 71 (which still boggles my mind!) part of me envies you for your youth, but another part of me is glad I'm now in the twilight of my life, given the state of things in America and the world today. Like you, I traveled quite a bit in my 20s, including spending a summer in Oregon and a trip to Germany and The Netherlands. I say travel all you can while you're young, before life's responsibilities become limiting factors.
I can imagine no better way to spend these years! It really does feel like cheating the very flow of time. As far as being young in a crazy world goes… it’s pretty scary and disheartening sometimes, I won’t lie. An analogy I often return to: our species is sprinting as fast as we can up a cliff, and we have no clue where it peaks. Eventually, we’ll run right off the edge at this rate. But for the time being, when we stop to look out at the world from vistas we’ve reached—that the entire history of humanity could have never even conceived of—it’s pretty remarkable. It’s a strange privilege to exist in the most consequential times yet.
You will hear this from everyone, but 30, while I agree might be a landmark to take stock, is actually nothing. I’m 74.
You are living enviable adventures.
I’m not being dismissive of your reflection, I remember clearly getting a station wagon for my 35th birthday. I had kids I wanted desperately. Family problems that involved travel. It was a needed practical purchase, but I fully realized I was a mother&wife of a certain age.
I remember having a conversation in my 40s about wishing I could see Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, I was told: go ahead, do it.
I wish I had.
In my opinion, for what it’s worth, you have made interesting choices. You have several more good years.
Such a poignant, well-written piece, Ben. Now 71 (which still boggles my mind!) part of me envies you for your youth, but another part of me is glad I'm now in the twilight of my life, given the state of things in America and the world today. Like you, I traveled quite a bit in my 20s, including spending a summer in Oregon and a trip to Germany and The Netherlands. I say travel all you can while you're young, before life's responsibilities become limiting factors.
Also, thanks for reading and for the kind words, Jeff!
I can imagine no better way to spend these years! It really does feel like cheating the very flow of time. As far as being young in a crazy world goes… it’s pretty scary and disheartening sometimes, I won’t lie. An analogy I often return to: our species is sprinting as fast as we can up a cliff, and we have no clue where it peaks. Eventually, we’ll run right off the edge at this rate. But for the time being, when we stop to look out at the world from vistas we’ve reached—that the entire history of humanity could have never even conceived of—it’s pretty remarkable. It’s a strange privilege to exist in the most consequential times yet.
You will hear this from everyone, but 30, while I agree might be a landmark to take stock, is actually nothing. I’m 74.
You are living enviable adventures.
I’m not being dismissive of your reflection, I remember clearly getting a station wagon for my 35th birthday. I had kids I wanted desperately. Family problems that involved travel. It was a needed practical purchase, but I fully realized I was a mother&wife of a certain age.
I remember having a conversation in my 40s about wishing I could see Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, I was told: go ahead, do it.
I wish I had.
In my opinion, for what it’s worth, you have made interesting choices. You have several more good years.
Keep the pics&narrative coming.