I’m Home From the Road Trip… So Why Am I So Tired?
Alright, pull up a log and grab a marshmallow, because it’s time for a Campfire Chat.
The Great Road Trip Hangover
I’ve been home from my 6-week road trip for about three weeks now. And when I rolled back into the driveway, I had big plans. Big ones. I was going to hit the ground running; website updates, articles flying out left and right, four-hour bass sessions every night, back to exploring the local haunts like some kind of unstoppable retired action hero.
Well, I have done almost none of that.
Turns out, nobody warns you that six weeks of living out of plastic tubs quietly drains your battery down to about 12%. You don’t feel it while you’re out there, you’re too busy chasing waterfalls, giant balls of twine, and questionable diner pie. But the second you’re home? Your body sends you an invoice for all that fun, and it wants to be paid in naps.
Lesson Learned: I’m Not a Different-Hotel-Every-Night Kind of Guy
Here’s the actual useful nugget buried in my confession: I’ve figured out that bouncing between a different hotel every single night is just not my speed anymore. Loading the car, unloading the car, reloading the car, forgetting something IN the car, it’s a part-time job with no pay and terrible benefits.
So going forward, I’m going back to what’s worked for me before: pick one area, park myself in a single hotel, and explore that region for a full week. One bed. One bathroom I actually know the layout of. Zero daily Tetris matches with the vehicle. If you’re a fellow active senior planning your own trip, take this one for free: slow travel isn’t lazy travel, it’s smart travel.
The Articles Are Coming, I Promise
I know, I know. I said the articles were coming. They are! I just underestimated how long it takes to sort through what felt like 4,000 vacation photos, half of which are blurry pictures of my thumb. Good news: the photos are finally organized, and I’m officially ready to start writing. So consider this your official heads-up that new travel content is on the way.
Bass Update: Calluses, Not Blisters
I have crept back into bass practice, but slowly and on purpose. My fingers took a six-week vacation right along with the rest of me, and if I go straight back into marathon sessions, I’m not building calluses, I’m building blisters, and blisters are just nature’s way of telling you to put the bass down and go ice your fingertips. So, slow and steady it is.
Something Big Is Cooking
I’m also quietly working on another project behind the scenes, one I’ve been mulling over for a good while now, and I’m hoping to launch it in early next year. I’m not ready to spill the details just yet, think of this as the movie trailer that shows you a lot of dramatic shots but never actually tells you the plot. More on that soon. Stay tuned.
The Dentist Saga: A Small Victory
Before the trip, I promised myself I’d find a dentist. Well, I did everything in my power to avoid this promise, because the last few quotes I got were north of $10,000, and nothing kills a road trip recovery glow faster than a dental estimate.
Here’s the update: I did the research, and I found a local practice I actually like. I won’t lie to you, the price tag hasn’t magically shrunk. Still comfortably above that $10K mark. BUT, and this is a big but, this practice lets me pay as I go instead of demanding the whole amount upfront like most of the others wanted. That alone made the decision for me.
The initial exam is done, a full treatment plan is in place, and I start Phase 1 next week. Wish me luck, and if you’ve been putting off your own dental work because of sticker shock, go ask about payment plans. They exist, and they might just be the thing that gets you back in the chair. There are also some good dental discount plans. The dentist office suggested an Aetna plan. When I researched it I was able to get the family plan (for me and my wife) for about $180. Just that plan alone saved me almost $5000!!!
So, if you are getting dental work done or considering starting, check out what dental discount plans your dentist accepts. It could possibly save you a boatload of cash.
That’s all for this Campfire Chat. Slow travel, calloused fingers, a mystery project, and a dental adventure, not a bad update for a guy who’s supposedly “resting.” More soon. Now, it’s time for a cup of coffee.
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