Not Looking For Love on This Journey

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Not Looking For Love on This Journey

February 13, 2011 by Pat Bean

Birds, like this great egret that flew into Sea World in Orlando for a closer look, are what this traveler seeks. -- Photo by Pat Bean

“When you are strong enough to love yourself one-hundred percent – good and bad – you will be amazed at the opportunities that life presents you.” Stacy Charter.

Travels With Maggie

Many of today’s travel books seem to be written by young women in search of love. One reason this old broad enjoys reading them is because they show me travel in a way I’ve never experienced.

I didn’t get on the road until I was in my 60s, and I spend my days in search of new life birds, like the elegant trogon that I saw for the first time my third day on the road in my RV, or the golden-cheeked warbler I finally saw last year after five years of searching for one.

Once upon a time, I could probably have been like the women who write about the wonderful or not-so-wonderful men they meet in their exotic travels. I certainly spent many a night after I was divorced dreaming that I would find my perfect soul mate, or crying into my pillow because I didn’t think I would ever find him.

Take time in your journey to smell the flowers and watch the butterflies. -- Photo by Pat Bean

Fortunately I spent my days in a job I enjoyed and my time off in getting on with my life. I finally woke up one morning realizing, man or no man, what a great life I had.

It seems even more perfect since my dog, Maggie, and I got on the road. She, my friends and family, give me all the love I need these days.

I don’t envy my younger, female comrades, and truly hope they find what they are looking for – or have the sense to get on with life if they don’t.

I’m just grateful the journey itself is enough for me.

Posted in Birds, Nature, Travel | Tagged Birds, great egret, journey, love, old broad, postaday2011, RV travel, travel books, travel writers, western tiger swallowtail butterfly | 10 Comments

10 Responses

on February 13, 2011 at 4:46 pm | Reply Nancilynn

In the words of Jerry Garcia of Grateful Dead: “At least I’m enjoying the ride!”
on February 13, 2011 at 5:10 pm | Reply Edith

I love you attitude and outlook so very much. Your approach to your life is such an inspiration. You gave up searching for what you couldn’t manifest by and for yourself, and chose instead to live the life of your choice, by and for yourself.
- on February 13, 2011 at 5:25 pm | Reply patbean
  
  Thanks Edith. I appreciate your words.
  
  Keep writing … Pat Bean https://patbean.wordpress.com
on February 13, 2011 at 6:16 pm | Reply Dani

I’m not alone, but I am relieved to have good companionship that goes beyond hot sex! If young people only knew how lovely it is to let go of the angst and relax into a mature and stable love… which is basically just a best friends forever set-up, right? I mean when it comes right down to it, it’s the friendship and companionship that’s the gift in an old marriage. You can get that other ways, too. Life doesn’t have to be as complicated as we make it.
on February 13, 2011 at 6:31 pm | Reply Cara Lopez Lee

Ah, Pat, you caught me… half my memoir is about that embarrassingly desperate search for love, with a series of alcoholics no less. But the other half is about finding just what you’re talking about, the realization that I am enough, no matter what I encounter. Love is no longer the thing I search for, but the place I come from. Solo travel helped to teach me that. The lesson continues to serve me more than 10 years later. I love the outlook on life that you express in this blog… it resonates and reflects my own in so many ways. Thanks for sharing yourself here.
on February 13, 2011 at 10:40 pm | Reply Robin

Gorgeous egret! And the butterfly almost makes me yearn for summer.

You have a wonderful approach to life. 🙂
on February 13, 2011 at 11:04 pm | Reply Lee

Pat, as always, you are so intuitive… and so “on the same page as I”… This post is exquisite and the photos are even more so!
on February 14, 2011 at 2:40 am | Reply photosbymartina

Love that egret’s look. Beautiful butterfly shot. Your words are inspiring to all, I think a lot of people are still searching for something….
on February 14, 2011 at 3:31 pm | Reply bodiep

I love this, Pat. Like you, I’m not anti the idea of men per se, but I’ve found that having the finding, care, and feeding of one not only elusive, but destructive if it’s pursued to the point where I no longer can see and appreciate the life I have around me. And like yours, it’s pretty darned good.

The hidden benefit to walking one’s life trails alone is that one has the opportunity to get to know–and appreciate–the company.

And happy unValentine’s day, by the way!

Bodie P
http://www.magicdogpress.wordpress.com
on February 15, 2011 at 1:04 am | Reply Janet

Hi Pat-enjoyed the post as usual. I ran across a blog that might be interesting to you-a fellow traveller and writer(I just read a piece of his in the newest edition of Tiny Lights and clicked over to his blog). This is his address if you feel like checking out his RV and blog- you’ve definitely got more going for you with Maggie- his dog is only a stuffed toy. Nevertheless, kind of interesting:

http://allevenson.wordpress.com