AnotherNerd

Haven't done a profile update in a while (Discord seems easier), but I finally moved on from Louisiana. I'm in Houston right now, hoping to head north (cooler temps) soon. Anyone local or informed, hit me up.

Found some cool people and some cool places to explore, so my next few weeks in NOLA don't seem so bad. Ready to move on from the hostel though, just waiting on my road dawg to finish up their time to start heading west. The weather seems to be about right for me.

Still hanging out in NOLA, but the weather is getting warmer and I think it's getting closer to time to move on. I gotta make some friends outside the hostel I guess. Not so easy for me it seems.

Well, I ended up working at the hostel I was staying at in NOLA, so I guess I'm sticking around a bit for now. Will probably hang around a month or two at least since I get room and board and working for it isn't too bad so far.

I thought I was back to walking right again, but wasn't sure so I booked a hostel for a few nights while I can afford it. Walked from Metairie back to a streetcar stop (8 miles) with my pack and realized midway that I'm still having foot issues. A few more days of recovery ahead, and maybe I need to figure out what's wrong (I have always had weird feet). At least I'm back in NOLA instead of getting stared at in Metairie.

It's been a few days in NOLA. 2nd day, I had 3 blisters I had to drain (bad boots/socks). Holed up until I could walk. No luck at thrift stores (size 13 damnit) so I went to Walmart for some cheap shoes. With my feet not ready for a 3am fight or flight, I burnt more cash on a room to rest up.

Not sure how much longer I want to stay in NOLA, (I think I prefer woods) but I feel like I should hang around since I'm learning and run into some cool folks. I might need a bivy since my gear and me look too new to be in the open. Once I can walk, I should be able to find a spot not so exposed (or full of bird shit). I may need a haircut since I'm coming off more 'I can't manage' than 'I don't care what you think' but no idea what I want.

I didn't expect it to be easy (glad I left with some cash) and folks seeing me hop around might see a target, so I don't feel too bad. Already a bit better, so I'll hoping I'm back on my feet tomorrow.

Sitting on the Amtrak Crescent in Atlanta, headed to NOLA. Nervous as hell, but on the way! It's colder than I would like and I've got no idea where I'm gonna stay but I'll figure something out. I got a few more hours on this ride anyway.

I finally got my pack ready to go. I had to leave lots of stuff out but it's good enough. I've been wearing it around a few hours to get a feel for it and it seems fine. Strapping the pad and tarp on the back is bulkier than I was hoping for, but I'm a big guy so I should be ok.

My roommate asked about the rent today and I dodged and changed the subject. I had planned to be gone by now so hadn't planned on paying for December. I guess I'm technically squatting in my own apartment right now. Now that the pack is ready, I'm cleaning up the place so I can try to find homes for my furniture (cheap and mostly given to me) and then get out of town. Still, I'm packed and ready, so I could just walk out and leave at any point.

I guess I'm at the point where I gotta figure out where I'm going to buy a ticket to next. The Amtrak I would take leaves at 10am, so hopefully by Sunday I'll be ready.

I'm later than I wanted to be, but in the home stretch now... posted the last thing that's going to eBay this morning and hoping for some quick offers. The big stuff will probably go quick on freecycle, so maybe I'll be on the way out of town by Wednesday? Anybody need an inflatable Thermarest pad?

I'm planning to get an Amtrak out of town this week and since I already bought a rail pass that I don't think I can return (card problems), I might as well use it. I'm thinking of visiting NY, then heading back down the east coast, eventually getting to NOLA. Not a fan of cold, so we'll see how that goes.

As the song goes, "I'm motivated by the lack of doubt" but still nervous AF at the moment. That seems like it's a normal thing so I'm good for now.

So, my old friend anxiety has returned. I guess it's to be expected (and a bit of a sanity check), given my plans and progress (although it could have just been listening to "Everybody's Safe Until..." on the bus to downtown this morning). It's not too bad this time since I know what it is and why it's there.

So progress... 1, Told my roommate I'm moving out (that was hard after 10 yrs). 2, Sold lots of shit on eBay; not too much left (maybe I'll make a thread about what I learned). 3, Gave lots of shit to Clothes Not Bombs, which I didn't know was a thing until recently. That kinda felt like the tipping point since that took out most of the old clothes and the bulk of my shit. It took 3 years to collect it all, 1 to decide I didn't need it, and only about an hour after emailing before someone came to cart it all away. It certainly feels like a 'no need to think about changing my mind anymore' point to me, so onward we go!

Anybody need a Baofeng ham radio? Going up on eBay but if someone here needs it, you'll get a good deal.

Well, I sure have been learning a bunch over the last few days. One of them is that I might look like a cop. Now I'm sketched out and will be getting the fuck out of Charlotte in the morning. (Didn't plan to come here, but while visiting family before heading out, an opportunity came up and then flaked out after I got here and waited around).

Not a great start to a first attempt, but I don't want to give up and have had plenty of good experiences too. I'm starting to feel like it'll be harder on me than I expected since I'm just not great at social interactions to begin with, but that's already improving.

I'm thinking heading to RVA (where I have a friend with a couch) will work out better. Until then, I'm not even sticking my head up for a smoke in this city.

Finally getting ready to head out soon. Just got my everything in my pack for the first time and it feels like an accomplishment, but I can already see I'll need some adjustments. (Rough plan is to go north, then west for now, and I'll probably be making a thread to see if anyone wants to join up, 'cause I know I still have a lot to learn.)