What are we doing???

What are we doing with our lives? How is it that I/we spend most days indoors staring at a computer monitor all day and dealing with bullshit issues? I'm so tired of it all.

In a previous job, I traveled more, moved around the country and region interacting with people and the environment. Now, I'm stuck in a box with little time to escape and feel the sun, wind or air temperature on my face. I miss all that. Yes, there are trade-offs to be sure. Travel delays, security lines, the hassles of post 9/11 America. I'd take all that for the infrequent moments when I'm outdoors, in the real world, or just motoring down the highway.

Maybe that's why motorcycling appeals to me as much as it does. It's not the great (or sometimes not-so great) destinations that we arrive at, it's the feel of the breeze through a partially-opened visor, the sun on my forearms in the summer months, the smell of honeysuckle, rubber and gasoline. It's the lack of walls, PCs, telephones, emails, spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations. It's the quiet of your own thoughts without the interruption of extraneous distractions.

I'll admit to sometimes medicating myself with music, turning on the tunes for background noise or to kill time on a boring ride. I listen to talk radio most mornings on the way to and from the office, to numb the pain. But increasingly, I find myself switching it off, in disgust, at the sameness of today's rant, or the latest info on Brittany's meltdown. Who cares? Why are we so sheeplike that we willingly accept the pablum on TV and radio. Why am I afraid to listen to my own thoughts?

The truth is, I'm not. They creep in, when I allow, and when I am not overstressed or overburdened with work or other obligations. As I reflect, I think "What am I doing? Why am I living my life this way?" There has to be more. There has to be a greater satisfaction out of one's daily existence and, taken in total, one's life. That little voice I hear (along with the constant ringing) is the roar of dissatisfaction.

According to the Dalai Lama, the Secret to Happiness is to learn to be happy with what you have. How true. We all have so much and yet feel the pressure of our conspicuous-consumption society. Bigger, faster, sexier, Wow! We gotta have it. Mea culpa. But I'm trying. Not to go all Al Gore on ya, but I'm trying to consume less.

I'm a very lucky guy. I have a wonderful family, great friends and good health. We live in an incredible part of the country, with clean air, abundant water, mountains, beaches, little traffic and access to the rest of the world just minutes away. And we squander all that by breathing recycled air in a dank office environment, hunched over an LCD display sending worthless emails for crap we don't really believe in. Gotta pay the bills. Well, my psychic bill is overdue.

This year, I promise to do something more positive with a portion of my time, so I can look back on that accomplishment and know that I did something meaningful. I'm going to join the Surfrider Foundation (http://surfrider.org/) and do some volunteer work to help clean up our beaches and work to improve the water quality. It won't be easy as the nearest chapters are in Portland or Boston, but I'm going to try. Spring will be here soon and our favorite 12-mile strip of coastline will be awash in winter trash, debris and other crap. If you want to help, follow the link, join and donate money to a worthy cause. Or, if you know me, bend my ear and join me for the experience.

Yes, I want to lie on a warm, sunny beach with the smell of the ocean and coconut-scented sunscreeen wafting over me. But before I retire, I need to accomplish something. I need to do something positive so that I can look back on this time and admit to myself that I did more than shuffle papers and make empty promises. I need to rethink the job thing.

I know a lot of you already volunteer for cancer walks, Toys for Tots, Patriot Guard. So many people doing good. And still, there are so many needy people, so many less fortunate, so many causes. Pick one in 2008 and make it your own. Turn off the noise and listen to what your soul tells you is right, and act on it. How are you going to do more this year?

Oh crap, I'm turning into a hippie in my old age! Peace out everyone,

Joe Rocket

Winter's almost gone...

Well, it feels that way, given that we haven't had a blizzard in quite some time. January has been a lot less snowy than the previous, record-breaking month. Sometimes it wears on you to face the cold snow and ice. I've used several hundred pounds of salt/ice melt on the driveway and it's still patchy with ice.

Last night we huddled at our local tavern for liquid cheer and to bask in the warm friendships that have developed in our little biker club. We are an odd assortment of middle-aged folk with the love of motorcycling as our primary raison d'etre. We can look past our differences and focus on the things that bring us together as a group. It's a mutual respect thing or recognizing that thing in each other that you have in common.

Our plans for Sturgis move forward. Now we are four and others have inquired about joining us for this adventure. It's open to all but small groups ride more efficently than large groups. Multiply two kidneys by the number of riders and you'll know what I mean. More riders means more stops for gas, pee breaks, food, aches, pains, etc.

I need to start shopping for a new seat soon as I have more or less resolved that I will be riding the VTX to Sturgis. So, I'll need to upgrade the stock unit, add a light bar and figure out what I can do about the crappy Honda side bags. It would be nice to have water-tight and lockable hard bags, like on the VFR. Does anyone make such an animal for the VTX 1300??? I'll need to peruse J&P Cycle and other catalogs.

The motorcycling "wish" book arrived in the mail a week, or so, ago. Of course, I am referring to the Rider Wearhouse catalog from Aerostitch, Duluth, MN. In it you will find hundreds of items you "must have" to start the season right. Excellent timing. I've already dog-eared a few pages and am saving the book for serious trip planning.

In a future post, I'll provide a gear checklist. Kenny B. sent me his and I have seen many others in the past few years. My challenge will be to travel light versus the desire to bring all the comforts of home along. Only so much room and only so many bungee cords!

Gotta go to work now. But it's Friday so it's mental dress down day. Let me clean up all the junk that accumulated in my absence yesterday, make it home, plop in front of a nice fire and kick back for a couple of days.

I hope you are all well and thinking warm thoughts. Spring is just around the corner...

Joe Rocket