Imaginary Mike has made his way to Southern California. Quartzsite, the ultimate winter goal, remains too cold at night to be the best place for wintering right now. San Diego, like much of California, remains in some degree of lockdown. And so, Imaginary Mike is stuck wandering around the deep South of California, seeking passable nighttime temperatures along with sufficiently accepting local regulations. The Plague is inconvenient, at best.
This is not entirely negative. No circumstances are. Wandering around any local can be enlightening, entertaining, and interesting. Were venues a bit more open, this would not be bad. Rather nice, actually. However, closures and restrictions are at best inconvenient.
What of Real Mike? Urban life, or perhaps Sub-urban life. is not particularly bad. Yes, it is colder here than I prefer. I don't have the travel freedom I might like. Camping in freezing conditions, or worse, is not something this ageing adventurer might like. However, life at home is not bad. Still, I long for the life of a Well Healed Hobo. Moving at will. Moving as quickly, or more likely slowly, as I wish. Finding simple adventures and places of interest as I wander.
As a child I was fascinated by horizons and every bend in the road. What might be around that bend, or over that horizon? I longed to find out. That childhood fascination has not faded with time. Yes, my more sophisticated adult perspective allows me to anticipate what is really around the bends in the road and on the other side of the horizon, yet my youthful hope for magic and wonder has not been entirely quashed by the realities of life.
To continue to fulfill the requirements of duty while constantly putting off the longings of that youthful self who dwells within me is a bit of work. I consider it worthwhile. I have had the dubious privilege of observing the consequences of lives lead following passions and appetites at the cost of honor and responsibility. Honor, dignity and responsibility are preferable to such consequences.
Still, I dream. I have longings. Imaginary Mike allows me to explore these without loss of honor, without burdening those who depend upon me with the consequences of bad choices and selfish actions.
Adventures still await. There are still bends in the road, and horizons in abundance. I am content. One who once was in my care often declared that Life Stinks. I cannot agree. Whatever the challenges, life is a glorious gift. In Christ I have the hope of life eternal. I cannot even fathom what that really means, but I know that it grants me hope beyond the limits of my understanding and limited vision. Adventure beyond adventure.
I am content.
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