Create Our World

All My Gear is in this Photo. (Click to see the Flickr Notes: Add One!)

Monday morning, I am kissing my Nana goodbye, grabbing my last cup of Starbuck’s coffee, and hitting the road going west.  Here is my current gear list:

Clothing:

1.  3 Pairs of Pants (Jeans, Linen, and Dress Pants) & 1 Pair of Hiking Shorts (donated by Josh K.)

2.  3 Cotton T-Shirts

3. 3 Pairs of Hiking Socks (2 donated by Sarah W.)

4.  2 Pairs of Cotton Underwear

5.  2 Headbands: Blue & White

6.  1 Red Cotton Beanie

7.  1 Striped Cotton Long Sleeved Shirt

8.  Top & Bottom Polypropalene Long Underwear

Outerwear:

1. Plastic Poncho (5 cents from Madeline’s Thrift Store in Farmville)

2.  Sports Sunglasses with Orange Lens (25 cents from Asheville Yard Sale)

3.  New Balance Running Shoes

4.  Leather Belt

5.  Body Glove Brown Flip Flops

Electronics:

1.  Apple MacBook with Case

2.  FlipVideo Camera

3.  iPhone

4.  Nikon D70 Camera

5.  Beard Trimmer

Books:

1.  ”Blogging for Dummies”

2.  “Building a Website for Dummies”

Sleeping Gear:

1.  15 feet x 15 feet Blue Tarp

2.  Big Agnes Red Air Mattress

3.  Deuter 55 degree Sleeping Bag

4.  Gray Fleece Blanket

5.  Rope, Bungee Cords, and Stakes

Miscellaneous:

1.  Red Hiking Pack

2.  Camelbak (Donated by April M.)

3.  Kleen Kanteen (it is metal so no BPA will give me cancer)

4.  Old Spice Deoderant Stick

5.  Fingernail Clippers

6.  Jif Peanut Butter

7.  Spoon

***I am not sure if this is too much or not enough.  I think I could lose a shirt or a pair of pants, yet want to get some new shoes and a real rain coat.

I will figure it out as I go.

Create Our World,

Ben.

“It is preoccupation with possession, more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly.”  -Bertrand Russell

Here is my Craig’s List Post.

Sometime after July 14th, I need a ride heading towards Michigan.
I am visiting my Nana and Papa in Northern Jersey (Somerset) but I could get to the city if needed or nearby to meet up for the ride.
I am beginning a hitchhikin’ / ride catchin’ trip around the country, so unfortunately, I cannot offer any gas money for the ride, however, I am a photographer and a great conversationalist.
Check my blog for more info.
http://createourworld.wordpress.com

Let’s Journey!!!
All the best,
ben.

I read Siddhartha in my last year of college.  I was going through a classic book reading phase; On the Road, Siddhartha, Travels with Charley, Bonfire of the Vanities, and a bunch of others.

At the time, I recognized although I was about to graduate from Michigan State University, I had a lot to learn.

I was recently inspired to start reading again and looking through my aunt’s books, Siddhartha by Herman Hesse stood out.

Two ideas grabbed me from the book which will be instrumental in my coming journey and maybe yours:

1.  You must learn on your own!!!

“Wisdom is not communicable… Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom.  One can find it, live it, be fortified by it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.” (Page 115)

We all learn by living.  Sadness, happiness, love, suffering; they are a greatest teachers.

2.  To accept and love your world, as it is

“…it is only important to love the world, not to despise it, not for us to hate each other, but to be able to regard the world and ourselves and all beings with love, admiration, and respect.” (Page 119)

It is easy for me to think that ONE DAY, when I have traveled the world and am wise, I will be happier.  Or ONE DAY, when I have met my soul mate.  Or ONE DAY, when I am rich, that will be the day.

Today is that day.  And it will always be that day.

Create Our World,

ben.

“And Govinda saw that this mask-like smile, this smile of unity over the flowing forms, this smile of simultaneousness over the thousands of births and deaths-this smile of Siddhartha-was exactly the same as the calm, delicate, impenetrable, perhaps gracious, perhaps mocking, wise, thousand-fold smile of Gotama, the Buddha, as he perceived it with awe a hundred times” (page 122) of Siddhartha.