Elastic Mind Adventures: levels of complexity

On this trip I have seen so many different modes of travel, all in essence achieving the same goal. On one hand we see the upper limit of complexity with trucks hauling around enormous trailers, fit with every luxury one might desire. We see them navigating these beasts with much effort and at times loosing their temper over the multitude of complexities which are required in the upkeep of such items. All this just so they can keep the luxuries of life close by, honesty nothing wrong with that, yet there is indeed a price for everything. That pice includes for most a lifetime of work to save for the RV and heavy duty truck to hull it, years of service at a company to accumulate enough vacation or waiting 30 - 40 years for retirement. I think that is one way of doing it and one day I would like to experience that.

Yet on the lower end of complexity, we met an 80 year man who was biking to SF, on a $79 bike he bought in Portland. Instead of $800 of fancy bike panniers he was hauling a suitcase in which he had attached large wheels. In SF he will give the bike away, pack the wheels in the suitcase and put the few items he has in the suitcase and fly away. He is in fact achieving the same result as those spending 1000x more in time and money. He is living his dreams without barriers, without excuses.

I can not pass judgement on either mode, as they are both awesome ways of traveling each with its own inherent benefits. Yet I can say the limits we apply to ourselves are often created by the social circles we mingle in or by our own reservations and fears. We also need to take care of our bodies as if we do we can make them work throughout our lives and if we decide at 70 to bike across Europe on a $79 bike we could. And that little voice in your head that you are probably hearing right now, is an excuse, it is only valid if you decide to listen.