With so many roads in this world, both real and philosophic, it’s easy to get lost. Even the daily task of waking up, going to work, doing your thing and coming home to rest your head once again in preparation for another day can seem a tedious and difficult road to follow. In my opinion, that just might be the hardest one to face.

I’ve come to realize that the philosophic road to happiness is the most enigmatic in this world, one that takes both courage and stamina to keep our feet stepping as we search for some sort of peace of mind and enlightenment.

In our steady quest for purpose, gratification and experience, we each forge our own path through life, paving it with our own personal collection of rules, beliefs, dreams and expectations. All too often, people get so caught up with tending to the details that they forget to look up and see where they’re going.

One of the main reasons I decided to pack it up and hit the real road was to make sure that I was happy with the direction my life was headed. I wanted to step back and get a better view on things. I'm happy to say - I've come a long way. The way of the wanderer has proved incredibly insightful.

Strangely enough, living with minimal possessions (clothes for wearing, laptop for writing, camera for capturing, iPod for listening, speakers for dancing, books for reading, and a random collection of self-perscribed drugs for well being) has allowed an easy-going simplicity that seems to make my life easier. To be honest, I'm amazed that even my backpack-sized wardrobe seems like more than I need.

Life has never been this good. I'm more relaxed than I can remember, and even my most stressful moments don't seem that stressful when I think about the anguish I endured when things went wrong in my past life back in Los Angeles (primarily with work of course). While the road still gets rocky along the way, it is always full of possibility, and I’ve cherished every unexpected twist and turn.

Even way out here on Andros, an arid rock of an island in the Aegean Sea, where there is no nearby Internet connection and only the wind to keep me company, I am content and at ease (although I am coping with some major culture shock and missing Thailand terribly). The realization that I finally made it to the Greek islands, something I’ve dreamt about for ages, is ample redemption for the long and uncomfortable travel days spent on plane, bus and ferry, and inspiration enough to endure a lifetime of corporate Mondays.

In fact, the only thing that clouds my vision these days is the inescapable signs that hint of the pending end of the road. Sometime soon, my days of wandering will run out.

With enough funds to keep me going for a maximum of three more months, I can’t help but bend my mind towards the road that leads home, and every step seems to get heavier. My carefree jaunt across the globe is quickly becoming a heavy-footed stumble, plagued by the question “what next?”

It’s the last stretch of my Great Escape. I’m in Europe, the last stop before the trans-Atlantic flight home and the thought of that solemn final flight is slightly unnerving. But then again, you never know where this road will take me. I’m sure there are still many amazing adventures to be had, and perhaps some unforeseen twist of fate will lead me on to some exotic detour.

The thought that I can still go anywhere and do anything sets me free, and though I may be wandering, I have never been lost.

For now, my road to happiness lies in Greece as I wait to meet up with old friends and keep on living out the good ole days.

September 16, 2006