> Ever have a completely irrational desire slowly occupy more and more of your thoughts? It's a good thing I am temporarially deprived of a car and access to good public transportation, or I would have left work this morning for the open road.
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> In hindsight, I can see that I've had the desire to wander for well over a year now, but I've really only noticed it as it has become more pronounced over the past few months. It's not that I'm unhappy where I am; in fact I'd probably prefer to stay in DC for grad school. I do, however, want to leave it behind for some vague period of time, not to settle anywere else, just to drive and walk and journey.
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> I call the desire irrational since I'm not particularly unsatisfied with my life or surroundings; I simply feel the need (seemingly more and more each day) to grab a friend or two, ample music, and little else and drive until I'm tired, then stay in a cheap motel and repeat the next day. (Sorry for the run-on sentence)
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> Anyone else have this experience in their early twenties?

I'm there. I have discovered the joys of road-tripping in making the 12-hour commute down to my school in Georgia, and I would love nothing more than to just be able to get out and drive somewhere. If I'd scheduled my summer with a little more thought, I could have, and I'm going to do my best to arrange it next summer (or possibly over part of Christmas break.) There's something fantastic about being behind the wheel on a highway you've never driven before, with no real itinerary. Part of it is the knowledge that you could, in fact, go just about anywhere (provided it's on the same continent). I also love the isolation and independence-- nobody but me having any say in what I do for the next several hours or days. Or, if a good friend is with me (there are very few people I would allow to accompany me on a road trip), I love the companionship. And the wind in my hair, and singing as loudly as I please to my favorite music... yeah. I'm probably not helping. Anyway, I hope you manage to take a trip soon. Good luck.

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> Bal"I wanna be like that bear and that frog in that movie with all the Muppets. What's it called again?"anthalus

:- D

Lire"Proof of my devotion to the spirit of adventure: I drive a '79 Celica with no air conditioning. And really, I wouldn't have it any other way"lyn