Cape Cod

This will be the longest stop on our trip across the USA. Max and I love it here. We were able to get the last bit of summer weather and now the air is crisp, the sun is out and the nights are cold and quiet. Cape Cod is an amazing place. I always looked at pictures in magazines at the beautiful scenery and knew I would make it out here some day. Sometimes when I look at a photograph from the Cape, I think, "that can't be real." I am here to tell you that the sky is not unlike a beautiful painting. The colors are richer and deeper than anywhere I have ever been.

Perhaps that is why this town if full of artists and photographers. Most of our days are spent touring around the outskirts looking at nature. I wanted to share some of the pictures that I took during our time so far. There are several boats out there that need to be seen as well. I will find them today.

CONTEST: How Well Do You Know Your States and Landscapes?

Max and I have been having a good time traveling this great country of ours, taking pictures, and sharing them with you. We thought it might be fun to put out a contest to see if you can name each state these 10 pictures were taken in(see pictures below)by the landscape shown on the photograph.


Might not be as easy as you think...


Details:
1.)Send and email to alisontravels@gmail.com with a list of states that you think match the photographs. (list them 1 - 10 with the title of "Contest" on subject line) Be sure to include your name.
2.) All correct answers will be saved and the winner will be drawn at random on Monday, September 28th
3.) Winner will be announced in an upcoming blog - or not, if they prefer to remain mysterious.

Prize:
The winner will get to choose from one 5x7 or 8x10 FRAMED professionally printed and signed photograph sent to their home. They will be able to choose from the list of 10 in the contest or they may special request a photo from the http://www.alisonslife.com/ site (pictures of either me and/or Max are excluded because that would be...um...weird).

Hints:
-Each picture was taken from a different state (there are NO duplicate states)that we have been to.
-All pictures have been featured in a blog on http://www.alisonslife.com/
-We have not been to Vermont or North Dakota

Photos 1 - 10 listed below:

#1

#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10

Good Luck and Thank You For Participating!

American Life Today Continues

As you may or may not know, I started a little project called American Life Today on January 1st. As I traveled the country last year, I met so many interesting people and wanted a way where individuals could share their story to the world. I asked Americans 5 questions and posted their answers along with a picture and profile.

One person for each day of the year.

As I got busy starting new projects, I wasn't able to post a new American each day as I had hoped I would be able to. Today I decided to continue to post new and "new to you" profiles until the remainder of the year. I hope you enjoy meeting a new American every day. I certainly love learning more about you!

Completed Book

It's been a while since I took the time to paint. I think I was frustrated with my last few paintings so I gave my little portable brush a break. This painting of the lifeguard tower on the beach marks my 12th painting. My 5x9 watercolor book is now complete. I started a spiral bound book back in late May when I was in Ptown and wanted to try something new. I am enjoying it.

Walking around the town and touring the galleries will give you a sense of the talent in this town. Some paintings here are truly amazing. Sometimes you can look at a piece and think it's so simple to do...until you try to do it.

I hope to continue and scribble some more pictures in the next few weeks while I am here. I am headed to Rhode Island today to take a walk through artist open studios and soak up some skills. Well, I'm not sure about that but I know there will be some talented artists there. I am looking forward to it. Here is a collage of all of the 12 paintings together. Perhaps I should paint like a normal person and sit at a table or stand with an easel. I painted these either on an airplane, in my trailer, in a bed, on the floor of a motel room, or on the floor of a friends house. It's not supposed to be comfortable, right?

"Gully" is still my favorite.

You Can Do It Too!

A lot of people ask me,"how can you do this?" How can a 30(something) year old quit her job and travel the country for 16 months or longer? I compiled a few things that you might find helpful if you wanted to do something similar with your life:

Save Money
I have always managed to live with whatever salary I made out of college. I worked hard and after 15 years of saving, I could finally afford to do it. Most of the money I saved was within the last seven years of working in advertising sales. I was fortunate enough to live under my means and save a majority of it to be able to not have a job for a while. I played corporate dress up to be able to live in the dirt.

I am not married with kids
Let’s face it; it would be a little hard to leave your partner and kids to travel alone across the country. Life is a little less flexible when you have little ones running around. However, I think it’s the best vacation you can give to yourself and to your family to travel the USA and explore what’s in your own backyard with the vacation time you do have.

Trailer/Motor home vs. Tent
There are benefits to traveling with a trailer as well as just having a tent. Last year, I traveled the country with a 4x9 teardrop trailer. It came in handy when it rained and for safety and security reasons. However, I find that it’s much easier to travel with a tent and a portable stove. If you are looking for attention, the teardrop is the way to go. You won’t be able to drive to any campsite unnoticed. If it’s friends you are looking for, they will come to you. You will have an instant camp buddy when you travel with a teardrop.

You can go to more remote sites with a tent, it’s less expensive in gas and it’s easier to get around. If you travel with a trailer, you have the convenience of a bathroom, safety and shelter from the weather. It all depends on what suits you.

You must be ok with dirty
If you have a problem with dirt in your fingernails, things going wrong, being outside, trees, fresh air, a wet dog, animals walking in your campsite, bugs, simple meals, talking to strangers, getting lost, making your own bed every day, missing a shower(s), not watching TV, not wearing makeup, not having cell reception, being cold, being hot, being alone and the possibility of being struck by lightning or attacked by a bear…this might not be for you.

Let people know what you are doing
Once you decide what you are going to do, tell people about it. Most likely, they will tell you what not to miss, where to go and if you are lucky, perhaps they will know someone who knows someone who will help you out with a place to stay, ride to the airport, a dog sitter, or a hot meal.

Have an open mind and go with the flow
So what if you miss the largest picnic basket, there will always be a house made of corn to explore. Be sure to allow enough time each day to take side trips. You never know where it will take you when you pull off to get a free glass of ice water, as an example. I never made one reservation at a campsite. Not even Yellowstone. If you have a tent, you will most likely luck out with a spot somewhere.

Keep in Touch
You will miss your loved ones and they will miss you. Be sure to connect when you can. Documenting your trip is also helpful so they can see what you are up to. If you are not able to get online for a few days, be sure to tell your mother that you are ok. Trust me on this one.

Meet new friends online
I have met some people online that are now a big part of my life. All it takes is saying yes. You will find some amazing people out there willing to help you on your journey. Besides meeting a new friend, most often you will have a free place to stay, a hot shower and a good meal. However, trust your gut and say no to something that doesn’t feel right.

Set Goals
The last thing you want to do is to sit there in the middle of your adventure wondering what to do. This is your time to learn about YOU. Take advantage of the time to explore. Get lost. Set goals for the amount of time that you are able to take. Also, be flexible if you decide to change your direction. Keeping an open mind is essential. Do what YOU want to do. Try not to get wrapped up in what people want you to do. Remember, it’s YOUR time, use it however you want.

Bringing a pet
I have had a dog each time I’ve traveled. For me, I can’t imagine doing this without a dog. It does have limitations on what you can do. There are trails you are not able to go on with a pet. It’s essential that you take your pet everywhere you go, when you travel with one. Many times, the weather was too hot to keep my dog in the car, so be aware that your plans may change if you decide to bring a furry companion.

You don’t need that much
Everything I need fits in my car. You won’t need nearly as much as you think you will. I have a small bag with clothes for summer and a bag for winter clothes. Easy. The essentials I have for camp are my tent, tarp, sleeping bag, stove, coffee pot, flashlight and chair. My luxury items are coffee, bug spray, tea, lip balm, computer, phone, camera and iPod. That’s about it. I have not had a campfire at camp so far and I haven’t stayed in the same site more than one night. It all depends on how much you want to settle in and stay. For me, I am going somewhere new each day without a plan. I tend to be fine with that schedule.

Soak it up
It goes fast. Enjoy each moment. Be sure to take pictures. Document where you go and what you do. Who knows… it just might change your life.

Max being patient in the bike basket

Max is being a good boy on the bike ride, even though he seems really uncomfortable sitting backwards.

Cape Cod: The First 24 Hours

The day finally came. I planned to be here in September a few months ago and now we're here! We were greeted yesterday by the generous owners of a quaint cottage in Provincetown. All 3 of us walked our dogs on the beach and chatted a bit before they packed up and left.

And then there were two...just Max and I. In a home. For us, it's very exciting to be in one place for a period of time, doing whatever we want to do, whenever we want to do it. We don't even need to drive anywhere in the car!

We rested for an hour and then off we went to watch the sunset. It was an amazing display of art in deep orange, reds, pink, blue, violet. I tried to capture the colors in a photo, but it's really hard to get the feeling of the ocean and the sky in a photograph.

After sleeping like a rock, Max and I headed out to the beach to relax. Of course he was his usual psycho self, digging in the sand. It was fun to play around in the sand a bit. Later in the day, we decided to head to town. This was Max's first time riding in a basket and he did a great job! It helped that he was tied in with two straps on both sides. I cracked up the entire time riding with him in the front and people looking and laughing at us. We were in the right place. We will do all we can to add to the weirdness of the town while we're here.

Tomorrow is an exciting day since I will have my first visitor. Dan is coming to visit for Labor day weekend! I am looking forward to it.

Here are some pictures from the first 24 hours on the Cape:

150 Days

I love to share my experiences and tell you about my journey across the USA but for the most part, I keep my life private. I had a conversation with someone very special to me last night who said, “You never know what will come into your life that causes you to change direction. It could be as simple as someone saying something to you that would strike a chord for change.”

Today marks my 150th day without alcohol. Not even one glass of wine with friends or a beer by the campfire. It has been one of the hardest challenges in my life. There were plenty of opportunities to drink during these 150 days, especially the day my beloved dog, Maggie died.

“Have a drink, you’ll feel better,” would pass through my brain. It’s easy to get lost in a drink to celebrate, to commiserate, or to just be. I have to say that this has not been an easy road. I love my wine. I enjoy time with friends over a glass of wine. I love the taste, I love having the perfect glass with a meal, and I love discussing the complexity of each sip with friends. At times, I loved it too much. It was my reward for a hard day or the nerve calmer before a big social event. My lover. My friend. Always there when I needed an escape.

I decided to make this decision for myself because I was just tired of it. Tired of the hangovers. Tired of the non productive hours of 8am to noon, or beyond. Tired of being tired. I had to face the fact that nothing positive came out of it.

The most difficult times were in the first 50 days. I suppose that’s the case with any change in life. It was a hard adjustment in a social respect. It’s a reason to get together with friends. It’s easy to have a glass of wine with one friend one night, another with another friend the following night. I had to tell some friends more than once that I stopped drinking. When I told one person in particular I wasn’t drinking, the comment back was, “well, that doesn’t sound like fun.” Quite frankly, it didn’t sound like fun to me either.

After a while, the questions would follow; “How long are you not drinking for?” “Can’t you just have one?” “Is this forever?” “Why are you doing this?” “You are not a heavy drinker, I don’t understand.”

All of the unproductive hours I waited to feel better are now spent doing things I’ve always wanted to do. I started to paint, I am taking more pictures, I am journaling, and I am living the life I wanted to live. It doesn’t hurt that I lost 20 pounds in the last 150 days. You would be surprised how fast your body changes just by eliminating alcohol from your diet. I wake up each day remembering the day before and free from headaches and regrets.

So here I am…living day by day. I am not perfect. In fact, you may not relate to any of this. It might be considered a weakness in your eyes. I risk putting it out there but for me, this was the choice I wanted to make. I am experiencing a sweet life full of potential. Listening, observing, grieving, healing and feeling everything. Thank you to my friends and family that have stuck by me and offered support. It means the world to me.

I believe that everyone has a voice inside of them that tells us what we really need to do with our lives. It’s whether or not we choose to listen and are brave enough to follow through on it. I have been blessed with this opportunity and am thankful of everything life has to offer.

Each day is a gift.