Life with ArielCompleting a 3-month RV roadtrip between California and Alaska was and will always be a highlight of my life. This bold adventure was not only a visual marvel but also a spiritual uplift. From the dense, emerald forests of the Pacific Northwest to the rugged, awe-inspiring mountains of Yukon and Alaska, each mile brought a new vista with views of sparkling glaciers, tranquil lakes, and sprawling tundras. The vastness and untouched nature of the landscape instilled a deep sense of peace and wonder. Moreover, through my own experiences on this journey, I was able to truly understand the wisdom in what seem like 5 trite, overused life lessons.
1. Live the Present
Many of us fall into the trap of the “someday” syndrome – the belief that leisure, fun, and happiness are things to be enjoyed at a later, more “appropriate” time. We often defer our dreams and joys to a future date, believing that work must occupy the forefront of our lives and that we wait for retirement to enjoy life in leisure. I was in the same mindset, until I quitted my full-time job and completed my Alaska roadtrip this summer.
Why Wait?
A lot of people I met on the trip were retired. On one hand, they did have more money and time to travel around and book tours. On the other hand, their physical ability didn’t allow them to do as much walking, hiking, and other more intense outdoor activities which are often necessary if you want to hit the good spots in the wilderness. That being said, there were definitely older folks who were insanely fit and able to hike 10 miles per day. But those were rare. And I bet they managed their health diligently when they were young by not prioritizing work over everything, in other words, they probably lived the present back then.
In addition, future is uncertain. COVID is a great lesson. The pandemic took away traveling and socialization from us for almost 3 years. It changed everyone’s life plan. Who can be sure we will never have another pandemic in the future? Moreover, accidents, financial crisis, or unexpected life events happen all the time. They can easily take away our health or wealth overnight. I’m not going to wait for a perfect future to enjoy what I can have today. As Annie Dillard said, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”
2. Have a Plan B
As I grow older, I start to realize the value of having options. Life is inherently unpredictable. Despite my best efforts in planning and preparation, unforeseen events can derail my plans. This is where Plan B comes into play. It serves as a safety net, ensuring that when things don’t go as planned, there’s an alternative course of action to fall back on. This approach is not just about mitigating risk; it’s about being proactive in the face of uncertainty.
For a 3-month Alaska roadtrip in an RV to unknown territories, anything could happen. My RV could break down in the middle of nowhere. Or Ariel and/or I could get injured on a hike. Or we might have to change our route due to natural disasters or extreme weather conditions. I had to be flexible and have a Plan B. So I didn’t set up a jam-packed agenda, limiting driving to only 2-3 hours per day. I also had backup plans for returning early, staying in the middle to recover, rerouting, or even renting another car to continue my journey. They gave me some peace of mind so that I could fully enjoy this roadtrip and explore the wilderness.
What Went Wrong
As an example of what went wrong, I broke my cellphone in Montana on my way back to California when I was about to enter Glacier National Park. Even worse, I couldn’t transfer the old phone’s backup after I got my new phone. But losing all my precious pictures and videos of this roadtrip was not an option. So I paused for two days researching about solutions to recover the backup and even to repair my old phone. Luckily, I was able to get it resolved.
However, it also meant I had to replan my visit to Glacier National Park, change campsites, and drive more than planned for several days. Thanks to my not-so-tight schedule, I was able to move things around and arrive at my next important destination, Lava Hot Springs, on time. Having the flexibility and the ability to address this unexpected event reduced my anxiety worrying that the rest of my trip would be ruined.
3. Plan for the Big Picture, Not the Small Stuff
Although, as discussed above, we need a plan for our lives, it’s more important to focus on overarching goals rather than getting bogged down in the less critical details. I’m a detail oriented person but sometimes can get too hung up on the details and thus lose efficiency. Because not all tasks are of equal importance, we should make sure the majority of effort and resources are directed toward activities that have the most significant impact. This way, we can navigate our lives with greater clarity, flexibility, and effectiveness.
For my 3-month RV roadtrip between California and Alaska, I did A LOT of planning because preparation is crucial for trips like that. But as it turned out, what really mattered and was necessary was my key destinations such as big cities and popular national parks because their campsites were harder to book and there were more things to do. Daily activities and hiking trails were details that could be modified on the way.
Too Much Preparation
My planning for the Alaska roadtrip was lengthy and overwhelming, from choosing the route, prepping my RV, booking campsites, to scheduling activities and tours. In addition, I was afraid of accidents, unexpected events, or any inconveniences. So I tried to be as thorough as possible. I planned out where I would visit and stay, which trails I would hike, and what activities to do for every single day of this entire 96-day roadtrip.
As it turned out, I followed the plan in general but not all the way. I was on schedule to my key destinations as planned, but my daily activities were different about half of the time. As I learnt to be more realistic on the road about my energy level, the road conditions, and how long each activity was going to take, I adjusted my plans accordingly. Every night, I would look at my schedule for the day ahead and rethink about how much I could accomplish or if there was something else I wanted to do.
Besides, I even made a few small detours on the way when I found out my planned destinations were not fun. For example, the wildfires in British Columbia were out of control in July when I was on the Stewart-Cassiar Highway. The air quality and visibility were poor. So I skipped a day on the highway and instead made a detour to Kluane National Park and Reserve in Yukon. It was unplanned but so much fun. I also skipped the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park due to rough road conditions and added a day in Valdez to kayak to the Columbia Glacier, which turned out to be a once-in-a-lifetime type of experience.
4. Act Now Because There’s No Right Time
Sometimes in life, I’m trapped in the circle of delay and procrastination due to fear of failure, perfectionism, or lack of motivation. It seems that I was looking for the right time to do things. But the inaction would add my guilt and increase my stress, further hampering my productivity and personal growth. Does the following sound familiar? I will hit the gym after this project at work. Or I will make this trip when things slow down. Or I will start house searching after the promotion.
What I started to realize is that there’s no good time to do anything. After my work project, I got assigned to a bigger one and thus never went to the gym. When I was finally able to book a trip, COVID hit. I got busier after my promotion and as a result delayed home searching. The best time to act is always now because our responsibilities will only increase in the future. It will just get harder and harder to find time to accomplish our goals.
Bringing Ariel on a roadtrip to Alaska has been on my bucket list shortly after I got her. I was so proud of myself acting on it as soon as the pandemic ended. 2023 might not be a good year to do this because I quitted my job when the economy was not that great and Canada had record-setting series of wildfires. But who knows when is the best time? I may have more family or financial responsibilities then, which will make this trip even more unlikely. I acted boldly on my dream this year and obtained one of the most exciting, fruitful, and unforgettable experiences in my life. There’s no regret.
5. Go Have Fun Rain or Shine
I was spoiled by California’s unparalleled sunny weather. But on my Alaska roadtrip, as much as I want to say I got great weather everyday, it was far from the truth. In fact, about half of the days were gloomy, rainy or affected by wildfires. It’s not that I was unlucky. It’s just how summer normally looks like in places that I visited. So I learnt to not let weather, unpredictable and beyond control, stop me from having fun and remember that beauty can be found in all kinds of weather if I’m open to experiencing them.
Beauty of Rainy Days
Especially in Alaska, it rains frequently in summer. As the locals say, “If you don’t do stuff on rainy days, you will get nothing done.” So I followed my schedule as planned and appreciated nature’s beauty regardless of the external environment. While it’s true that on rainy days I might not be able to take the best pictures, Alaska’s landscapes were still awe-inspiring in a unique way. The towering glacial peaks, shrouded in mist, created a sense of mystery and grandeur. The rain brought a freshness to the air, making the colors of the mountainside greenery more vibrant and lush. Moreover, the low-hanging clouds hugged the crests of the mountains, moving slowly and revealing glimpses of the peaks and the snow on top. It was serene yet dynamic.
Just as we cannot control the weather, many aspects of life are also beyond our control. So applying the same logic, we should make the most of every moment instead of waiting for perfect conditions to enjoy life. By adopting this mindset, we will learn to embrace life’s unpredictability and appreciate its beauty in the ordinary.
