I consider this to be my last blog of this chapter; the defining moment. It has been 8 months, 12,000 miles, 22 states and 14 National Parks since i started this journey. In need of a drastic change i went far away to see anything different from what i knew as a normal life. I packed away my hoardings and filled my car with the "survival essentials". I thought of all the ingenius ways i could be efficient on the road. I had some what of a plan when i left, but essentially i "winged it" thinking that people do this all the time. Since departing I have been to wonderful places and have seen things only feelings can describe. Learned that it gets stressful and sometimes discouraging while you're on the road- One of many lessons along the way. Also seeing how many material things i could cut out of my life and still be perfectly happy was quite a shock. Overall, when you travel you learn alot about yourself. Something I didnt really think about. I learned that i missed my family a whole lot more than expected. And probably most of all i missed the feeling of being around people who already knew me; my FRIENDS. On our expedition back to NY i planned a route that would take me to as many friends' houses as i could fit in between national parks across the country. This provided an excitement unlike any other. Yes, mountains and rivers and bears are marvelous. But, seeing your friend at his/her front door after a long hiatus definitely brought bigger smiles. Anyone can get a parks pass and travel as far as their money will take them. But, I got so lucky to travel and reunite with people who mean so much to me. ((((So to JAIME AND MEL, HANNAH AND MEL AND KATE AND BIANCA, KATIE AND NOAH, DAN, KIRA AND ERIC, LIZ, JON AND THE OTHER DAN! TO LACEY AND NATASHA-- BOTH OF MY FIRST MATES.)))) I want to thank you for being a part of my quest, and im sending to cyber hugs to all of my friends NEAR AND FAR. My days just keep getting better. I feel full and LIFE IS GOOD. (and a huge thank you to everyone who followed us along the way)