| More than a few times, I've caught myself sitting at | | | | Express checks, packed a small backpack and headed |
| work day dreaming about dropping everything and | | | | to the airport in Los Angles, known as "LAX". |
| just jumping on a plane. In October of 2003, I did | | | | The Dream Comes True |
| just that. | | | | I walked into the international wing of LAX and did |
| Life can grind you down when you get in a rut. In | | | | what every traveler has dreamed of doing. I stared |
| my case, I had a particularly bad case of the blues in | | | | at the flight board and just let the various |
| October 2003. My girlfriend and I had apparently | | | | destinations soak into my brain. After a few minutes, |
| come to an agreement that there was no need for | | | | Asia percolated to the top of my grey matter and I |
| me to exist on the face of the earth. My glamorous | | | | started searching for the airlines with flights there. |
| and exciting Internet business had become a bore. All | | | | After a few misses, I was able to get a ticket on a |
| and all, I was in a rut and needed a change. The | | | | Korean Airlines flight to Bangkok. I passed through |
| travel gods apparently agreed. | | | | security, picked up a guidebook for Asia and headed |
| On a Wednesday, I made the final decision to sell my | | | | to my gate. Three hours later, we lifted off the |
| business, get what I could for it and hit the road. The | | | | runway and I waived goodbye to rut for three |
| next day, I received a call from a man in Chicago | | | | months. |
| what wanted to buy my web sites. This was | | | | I've disdained heavy planning for my trips. I prefer a |
| particularly interesting since I hadn't actually told | | | | very loose schedule because I want time to live out |
| anyone the sites were for sale. By the end of the | | | | unexpected events. If you ever get the chance to |
| day, we had agreed on a price, signed a contract and | | | | chuck everything and go travel for a few months, |
| he was wiring the money. | | | | just do it. You never know when you'll get the |
| First thing Monday morning, my bank verified the | | | | chance again! |
| wired money had been received and credited to my | | | | Rick Chapo is with Nomad Travel Journals. Writing |
| bank account. I picked up a couple of American | | | | journals are the perfect travel accessories. |