May 18, 2017 – Trout Lake, Washington

“That’s a great question…”

…I say to Will. But I don’t exactly know how to answer. He is inquiring about how I personally maintain lasting friendships while living this lifestyle. Easier said than done. Weeks ago, he had inquired about how I stay afloat financially, given his interest in pursuing this lifestyle for himself. I tell him what I can from my perspective and experience in these situations in hopes to help him in whatever way possible.

“Technology and social media definitely make things easier…”

But does scrolling through pictures of friends and “liking” them on occasion really substitute for keeping in touch? Engaging in conversation? Showing genuine interest in their life?

I admit to him that I’m not that great at maintaining a lot of friendships. Yes, there are a few people that I talk with on the phone from time to time or even via Skype. Others I will visit once a year, give or take. But mostly, I have to let them go. I share with him how I’ve embraced a more Buddhist mindset on the matter.

Nothing is permanent.

I want to take my own happiness out of my life’s equation.

We have to let things go. Let people go. Let love go.

Further, I divulge that leaving people behind in my travels is always the hardest part. How the relationships I develop are always the most memorable. That they are ultimately what make the experience what it is for me, good or bad. Stop me if you’ve heard me say this before.

But I see in Will a newly awakened sense of appreciation for human connection and friendship thanks in part to his recent experiences with work exchanges. A desire to cultivate lasting friendships that require more than a digital “nod” here and there. That can only be sustained through face-to-face interaction, experiencing life in the here-and-now, together, in a real and meaningful community.

For which there is no substitute.

“It is easy to see that the vast number of sentient beings hoping for happiness and seeking an end to suffering are more important than any one person. It is therefore eminently reasonable for you to commit yourself to the welfare of innumerable others, to use your body, speech, and mind for their good, and to abandon an attitude of just taking care of yourself.” – Dalai Lama XIV