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When I was younger, it was part of my reputation that I could pack up and go on a moment's notice, leaving the area for months or even years with no contact back to my friends. I'd get the itchy feet and I'd be off, heading down to California or Oregon, or back up to Washington State just because the grass was growing too long beneath my feet.
I'd show up months or years later at one of my friend's houses, knowing they'd be right there where I left them because their parents were rooted to the spot. And it always seemed to work out that way.
My last venture of the sort was FAR more extensive than those that had come before it. I was offered the opportunity to head east, and, on the heels of a nasty breakup and custody dispute, I just packed up and headed for the Atlantic Coast. While I was there I got to spend some time in Connecticut, Mass, and New York, both upstate and a noteworthy New Years Eve in New York City itself.
I came back and settled down, however. In just over a year after returning, I met my wife and began settling in for good. My wandering days were over, I've decided, at least until we can afford to travel in what passes for style. No more camping by the roadside or taking up space on someone's sofa.
The funny thing is that there was a friend of mine who was always easy to find when I returned from one of my jaunts who has since simply disappeared. I guess it should have been expected, eventually. He's a guy who's always preferred his own company to most other people--a guy who was as comfortable in the woods as in his own bedroom.
Another one of his friends was working as a forest ranger and he'd go down to housesit for him while he was doing the firewatch or whatever.
He lived at his father's house, taking care of the housework and tending to the yard. I stayed in touch to some extent after I'd met my wife, but he was one of those who rarely called me... then for about six months I couldn't get a hold of anyone at his house. One day someone finally answered, and said he no longer lived there.
I had the insight that something may have happened to his dad and everything had changed. Where he went I can't imagine. It's not like he had a job. He hadn't had a job since his early twenties, when he worked for a few years and invested most of his money. He may have inherited some from his father, if, as I believe, his father died.
It's SO strange for me to no longer know how to get a hold of someone who seemed to always be there even when I wasn't. My wife actually jokes and says she believes this guy was a figment of my imagination, since she never had the chance to meet him.
It's funny, but he was a major influence on my thinking--he took himself outside the bounds of ordinary society, not holding a job, not paying into social security, mostly outside of the system, but he ALWAYS voted. And he was most definitely a liberal--socially, if not financially. He was one of the most frugal people, spending-wise, that I've ever met.
He was also one of those rare people who could argue both sides of a subject--he could even explain how fundies think, even though he himself was completely opposite in his thinking.
I really wish I could find him, but I know it's not possible. He's a bit of a luddite, and is most certainly NOT on-line, even now. And considering how hard he always worked to stay out of the system, I know he's probably one of the most difficult people in the world to find.
Doesn't change the fact that I'd like to find him.
If nothing else than to prove to my wife that he's NOT just a figment of my imagination. :)
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