Travel Chronicles: Month One

Well, I just finished the first week of travel with my new gig. I am in love!

When I started in the car business in my mid-twenties, a long, long time ago, I thought the consultants and manufacturer area managers had wonderful jobs. They got to travel to cities all over the nation meeting new people, training, teaching, guiding. I fantasized about becoming one of their league. Sure, my idea of them was much more grandiose than reality. Sure, they were not the caped heroes I envisioned in my younger days. But I craved their life on the road, on the go, on the whim.

Finally, I have my chance to become a Road Warrior. And after a week of travel with only two overnight stays, I am tired. The warrior might have to wait just a bit while my middle aged body catches on to the new life plan. I have gotten complacent in the past two years, soft from the easy relaxed life that I thought I wanted but really found quite boring. I like life in the fast lane, always on the go. It’s one of the aspects from Peace Corps I miss the most; Frank and I were constantly going some-where to do some-thing. Now, we are on the road again. Yes, I was channeling my inner Willie Nelson with that last statement.

You would think I would be an expert packer with all the traveling I’ve done, but I suck, actually. If you look up bad packing skills on Google, my photo pops up as the top search result. In my first overnight stay, I had a bag of coffee making supplies, because I refuse to drink bad coffee or pay Starbucks prices, a rolling briefcase, a backpack, because all of my office supplies wouldn’t fit in the rolling briefcase, a suitcase for my clothes, and a camera bag. You might think I was planning to be gone for several days. I stayed overnight two nights. Making coffee in the hotel room was a pain in the posterior, so I bought Starbucks both mornings. I need to figure that out, because NO to Starbucks! 

Also, I need to get the money saving days of my previous employment out of my head and choose nice places to stay. My first night, the roach of hotels past spent the night with me. I was not a fan of his visit. He hung out in the bathroom all night and didn’t even bother to run when I flipped the light on for my middle-of-the-night pee. The next morning, he was gone, so I looked forward to a hot shower in peace without a roach audience. But, alas, the hot shower was not to be; there was no hot water. Brrr. 

In the coming week, I am also gone for two nights, so I plan to practice packing this weekend. I refuse to carry that many bags. Who needs that much luggage? And I booked my hotels a little more judiciously, ahem, roaches not included, I hope.

Frank went with me last week. He’s lucky to work remote as he chooses. This week, however, I am on my own. I have to carry my own luggage and do my own driving, hence the need to figure out this whole packing thing and narrow it down to one bag. I won’t have my Frank to drop me at the front doors of my stores and then pick me up, again at the front door, when my meetings conclude. I won’t have him to schlep my bags from the car to the hotel lobby while I check us in. If you’re thinking I’m spoiled, you’re right, and I am proud of it. Bring on the spoiling. Did I mention he also massages my shoulders every night? He does. I love him.

Looking forward to Charleston, Florence, and Columbia next week. And Tennessee the next week, with one brief stop in Alabama. 

Bring it on, Willie. On the road again…..