I've become so accustomed, in Puerto Rico most recently, to being constantly outdoors -- riding, eating, sleeping, beachgoing, etc. -- that it now feels bizarre for me to be indoors at all, let alone for any extended period of time.
My Caribbean Spanish accent:
"Que tu quiere'? Mira, coge!"
Things get smoother. I remember when doing anything on the internet, especially if it required payment processing, took a long while and often failed. Nowadays there are still hiccups, but it's more reliable.
I think I'm becoming more style-/design-minded. I've been accused of being too functional/utilitarian in the past. Maybe they had some sense?
I'm still struggling to figure out water in the tropics. Not sure which if any tap water is safe to drink. What spurred this thought is that I recently got quite dry after walking extensively in the sun, then drank a ton of water seemingly without feeling wetter, then went to the bathroom incessantly, and am now dry again! I don't get how to have a balance of water in this weather. It's like my body is both trying to get rid of and take in water at the same time.
On the subject of water in the tropics, I don't get public policy. In numerous countries, including both more- and less-developed countries, the water supply seems undrinkable. Residents often buy bottled water, either in small hand-held bottles or in those gigantic bottles that you can load onto a refrigerating unit. The cost in money and time for those things must far outweigh the cost of improving the public water utility, or so it seems to me. Maybe it's just not a preference/priority for these people.
Also, the sewage systems seem quite brittle, and people in these areas often throw toilet paper in the garbage, instead of in the toilet. Maybe it's more expensive/difficult to fix these systems than I'm presuming. However, I do know that bottled water costs a ton, and is heavy to lift (but some brands do taste pleasant!).
As I've mentioned previously, I'm becoming less interested in urban areas. This goes back at least a few years. I know that I used to be fascinated with cities, and to some extent I still am. However, the older I get, the more I notice the annoyances, and the less I appreciate the draws like bars and crowds. Conversely, the older I get, the more I appreciate the quiet, the spaciousness, the beauty of the rural areas and small towns.
I plan to continue riding/traveling for a while anyways. I'm addicted to the constant stream of new activities. Also, this way I get a balance of different size places, different cultures, etc. I love it!
I have a long list of places that I want to visit, approximately planned out in my head (and in my notes). I understand that I may not get to see all of these places, and that those I do see may happen in different sequences than I plan, and assuredly with different outcomes. Still, I feel confident that I can at least visit a number of these places, and in general have positive experiences. I already have made this type of travel happen, many times, and the more I do so, the more confidence I gain.
If you want to travel, or to pursue some other activity, go out there and do it! You don't have to start out being the best at it, in fact that would be quite a feat!
It's ok to make mistakes!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
The way I'm writing these day (I think that my writing process evolves over time), I pick up/collect bits and pieces of ideas, observations, etc., as I go along, and jot them down as I can. Then, I gather them up later, and reassemble them into working order. This stuff here (blog notes) is basically the jotting down stage. So forgive the random/haphazard/etc. style!
What's the point of this? Why write? Why write this?
I think that in large part I want to document, to describe the processes of adventure travel.
While going to unusual places in unusual ways, I often encounter uncommon things that people may care about.
Also, it assists me in remembering and appreciating my travels, which I consider an important part of the travels.
Also, I hope to make it further as a writer!
Maybe it also has other purposes, like therapy. Many activities are multi-purpose. Riding is transportation, exercise, recreation, etc.
Words have a way of transmitting information about ourselves and our environments that other media lack. Pictures, wordless videos, can give a solid feel for a place, perhaps far better than words, but lack depth, understanding. Why does the person feel that way? What processes are occurring in that scene? To some extent one can infer these notions, but only vaguely. Words can place these ideas precisely. Perhaps not as precisely as mathematics, which can be so detailed that it leaves out the big picture that one gets from words or images. I guess words are a middle ground from math/logic to pictures.
It's about qualia, qualities, quality.
Anyways, there's some more drivel from the fool!