How true are our dreams. Another walk. Now...into my own brain.

Where is our mental "ukemi"? Ukemi is a break fall technique used in martial arts.

I always hated “ukemi” (a fall break technique) exercises in our karate classes, as I am tall and falling down sprawling all your height on the floor whilst cushioning the fall with your palms hitting the floor was hideous. But it was quick unlike mental “ukemi” which invites some thought. And my thought is opening here.

Every day no work, every day no planning except for where to go next, every few days new place. Is not it a dream?

I tried to live this life in June. Planning trips long ahead can be tiring, plus you may want to change something on the way. I have been thinking to gradually retire in a few years and decided to make a mental experiment how would it feel like. Plus, I resolved not to plan anything unless I am bored or entirely NOT satisfied with the place I am in. How did it go?

First of all, no plans. You go where you want to go. Then, next you go where you want to go next. Of course, sometimes hotels not available if you try to book the night before. But I WANTED to try!

So, I went to Hokkaido n Japan and based myself into a cozy city of Hakodate for a few days.

Kameda Peninsula - Hakodate.

Then I moved into a remote accommodation again in Hokkaido where I could experience hot springs in the sea (no, not boring Furofushi onsen in Tohoku, although nice). I extended my stay there.

Then I felt like travelling on the water. How? Just a ferry to Aomori.

Few days at Asamushi Onsen facing Mutsu Bay. Liked it there to sleep listening to the waves. Every night felt like a well-deserved dessert to conclude your day.

Now, some appetite for a railroad. A trip along Aomori Railway (1 hour), then a change to Hachinohe Railway - another hour or so.

Feeling good, most places are familiar since I visited them during my Michinoku Trail hike in 2022. I dropped my anchor at a small flowery and a bit unique (later in a separate post) town of Kuji.

I booked one night only, but after wandering this clean and calm town which seemed empty but full of people in its izakayas and other food establishments I decided to extend by another two days.

A pleasant town. Kuji. Iwate Prefecture.

Next day walking 10 km to Kosode Coast feeling good and adventurous.

But…

After two weeks I felt I want to be back home sticking to my routine: morning HIIT followed by a long swim with karate katas, a few fruits, then respond to work e-mails (I am cutting my hours but still working), late breakfast/lunch at noon, then gym or work again, or sunset SUPping, then work again…

Interesting observations. Since I have changed my mindset that I am a traveler forever, which still is and was my dream, my mind did not welcome it. If I was an occasional traveler, then my mind was OK with that. So, it does not look I am made for a permanent vagabond. On the other side, I think, you can develop this habit. Or, it might be better to do something to keep your brain busy while travelling - some kind of easy remote work for example. But not only travelling. I am inclined to try this mode as a result of my experiment.

Conclusion. We have to be more careful with what we want to do with our lifestyles. Forever travel was my motto. But I do get satisfaction in “problem solving” which is my main work task. Replacing a real job/activity with an accomplished dream might not work 100%. I like to quote Frederick Forsyth - “My only drugs are silence and solitude”. He did his final dream long flight as a pilot at the end of his days. But it works if you clearly know what do you want to do only.

I admire forever travelers like Stuart, but it takes a habit or a personality change (which then becomes a habit).

This post is just a Friday night thinking and partially an invitation to discuss if what you dream of can really be your life and how do you roll into your dreams without causing mental bruises. Mental “ukemi”if you wish…