My friend Marissa stayed at my place this week. She’s a lifelong friend, long-lost pen pal, and one kick-butt lady, teaching and serving in local government a few states’ away. A couple days later, I stayed with my friend Brooke, 125+ miles away (translated to Midwest language, that’s 2 hours’ distance). She’s the little sister I never had, my fellow potential psychologist, and on her way to becoming a doctor.
It’s been a week of adventure by exposing Marissa to a city she somewhat knows and letting Brooke do the same for me in a different town, all in less than a week.
I don’t write about my value of “exploring” much, so it’s about time I start. In the western world, the highways often connect the communities. It wasn’t difficult driving to Brooke’s home. In some sense, I found it symbolic: my first trip on non-bicycle wheels, for the purpose of friendship.
A temporary shift in setting brings so much joy: there are sights and sounds never seen, shared culture(s), and new perspectives. A weekend getaway means the comforts of home are in reach. But for now, in this new space, I enjoy just being. All what’s necessary is tucked in a bag, a physical manifestation of minimalism and exploration.
Here are a few things I’ve learned on these mini minimalist adventures:
1. Don’t be afraid to go solo.
Google Maps makes traveling easier than before. Not only can you download the digital map if you’re going somewhere with limited connection, I also recommend writing down directions. Not only will your brain store the directions better, the trip starts to feel real.
If you’re planning a trip a few weeks early, try to connect to friends in the area ahead of time to see what they love about their chosen community, which leads me to:
2. Instead of over-planning, decide your top goals for the mini adventure.
Whenever I’m traveling, or inviting friends to stay with me, my top two goals are:
Find the hidden gem.
Yelp leads to a rabbit hole of choices, which is wonderful if you’re not really sure what you’re interested in doing. But if you have some sort of idea of what you’d like to do, use that to inspire your search. Instead of Yelp, try reading blogs ahead of time(!) or searching “local (venue)” instead of generic “bar and grill”. When you know what you want, be specific.
Stay seasonal.
The Midwest is known for not having the friendliest of winters, so I’ve made it a mission to be outside as much as possible this summer. When exploring new places, I search for patio seating, trails made for hiking, and activities on the water. For example, Marissa and I explored one of my favorite parks that leads to a beach. Later, Brooke and I walked and talked through a bunch of suburbs and a bay. These were FREE excursions, which bring me to…
3. Resources are easy to find!
Say (write) what I will about search platforms and algorithms, they can be great resources if you’re going somewhere new.
Whenever I go, I can’t help but take as little as possible beyond extra layers, an open heart and mind, and snacks. For that last item, I recommend carrots and grapes, so your hands aren’t sticky when driving or exploring. And always bring extra socks.
Staying with a friend and having one over really showed me that I have people everywhere. It’s a great feeling knowing that I can be a resource for them, and them for me. Further, community is more than space. Hopefully these tips help you consider minimalist adventuring too! It’s not too hard to balance minimalism with adventure. Now go forth and explore. Let me know what you discover.
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