Where I Don't Know the Rules and They Don't Know Me

Antoine De Saint Exupery helped me clarify an idea I was already circling around. One of my coworkers about his 'adventure' to New Zealand which consisted of renting an expensive sportscar and traveling from one commodified 'experience' to another. He drove this Audi from one end of the country to the other, stopping only to go bungee jumping, white water rafting and skydiving.

Having done these activities I'll be the first to admit that they're great experiences but it's hardly adventure. To me, adventure is the absence of control. To put yourself in a situation where you don't know what's coming next and you have to make do under possibly adverse conditions.

And isn't this exactly what most of us seek to avoid in 'vacationing'? To avoid unknowns and revel in the confident indulgence that a nice meal is around the corner. I find this totally boring and unappealing. My idea of 'vacation' is one where I've finally abandoned the shackles of acceptability and predictability of our culture. To a place where I don't know the rules and they don't know me.