Did I Know I Was Going to Portland? No, No I Did Not.

Did I know when I woke up this morning that I'd be going to Portland today?

No, no I did not. 

Did I know at 12noon I'd be going to Portland today?

No, no I did not. 

Did I know at 2pm?

No, no I did not. 

Did I know at 4pm?

No, no I did not.  

I made the decision at 4:30pm to arrive at the train station at 5:30pm.

I can hear you saying, "Oh my god. Emily, you are insane."

Don't worry, I'm not.

I was furiously packing to catch the last train of the day and *simultaneously* talking myself into it...

Here was my logic:

Yes, this is kinda nutzo, but I don't have any kids. I'm not married. I'm not even attached to anyone else. I don't have any physical meetings on my calendar for the next 2 days. I've got plenty of writing and other work to do down there. I've got an invitation to stay at a free, quiet place with Internet. And there are a couple of Portland friends I haven't seen in forever.

I have no excuses.

I have zero reasons to NOT go.

Spontaneity? No time like the present! 

This is precisely the reason why my life and work looks a little different. FREEDOM. Autonomy. Self-propelled adventure. 

We should all take chances while we can.

A ^^mural^^ in the Alberta neighborhood of Portland, OR: "You are confined only by the walls you build yourself."