Day 116: Vacation

(Mile 1931.5, Charlton Lake to 1951.5 = 20 miles)

Well, after a couple of days of 20 miles, we have decided that Oregon is our PCT version of a vacation.  We are eating more town food, taking more showers, getting more posh overnight sites, visiting with more friends, and, lately, hiking less than 25 to 28 miles.  Talk about luxurious!  We know it'll all pretty much end once we hit Washington, so we are enjoying it while we can.

I do not think most people fully understand that this is NOT a vacation.  Oh, it's not paid, and it isn't like a regular 8 to 5 job ... it might be more like, hmmm  ... like working for yourself!  The work is never done.  There is no one breathing down your back, but there need not be -- you are plenty capable of doing this yourself.  You work for 12 to 14 hours a day, about six days a week.  On your day of rest, you prep for the next week and cannot help but to put in at least a couple of hours.  Then you begin again.  You are your motivator and the only one you answer to.  You don't pay yourself anything; any profits (sunsets, Snickers, etc.), you put back into your work.  You can take a day off or two; this only puts you behind your own schedule.  You cannot hire anyone; you must do all of the work yourself.  You may sometimes ask yourself what the hell you are doing.  But you know this is just what you are supposed to be doing, and that it'll all come together in the end.  Which you sometimes think that you cannot wait for!

Of course, it isn't all work, either.  I think what it is, is a full life.  Full of work, full of play, full of friendships, full of hopes, fears, joys, sorrows, full of experiences and challenges, memories and stories.  Perhaps the way we are supposed to live.  And now I need a full night's sleep!