It started as a joke, or at least… as a not too serious expression of real frustration. Someday, I’m going to quit my job and hike the Appalachian Trail.

It’s just that the more you think about something like that, the more sensible it has a tendency to feel. Well, maybe I’m not actually going to hike the AT… but I could spend a little more time outdoors. A couple of nights in a tent. It’s something different, and it works with my schedule.

Baby steps add up fast, when you’re not really aware you’re taking them.

I want to quit my job.

And… somehow… that’s kept me thinking about hiking a couple thousand miles. It’s something big and impressive to put on a resume. And I could build on that. Blogs, vlogs, and podcasts, oh my.

It went from being the most insane thing I could think of on a bad day to not being… all that crazy. Not really. Take my phone and a back-up battery, and write novels on trail. That’s quite an angle. And I think it would be possible.

As of right now, people are being discouraged from long-distance hiking because of Covid-19. Something about dying?

I was actually surprised how much that disappoints me.

I was still toying with the idea. Maybe in the spring. Maybe next year. Who can I brainwash into going with me?

It felt a little more real than I expected. Like I had an actual plan, or something.

Another year is probably not the worst thing in the world. I could have more time to save, more time to figure out what I want to do and how to do it.

So, what is your dream vacation? What are the ideas that are pulling you through the pandemic?