September 4 - In a Starbuck's in SF

Here I sit in a Starbuck's in San Francisco, on a warm September day, wondering - will this trip to South America happen? Where will I go? What will I see? Will this be the trip that changes my life? Will I descend upon Macchu Picchu or paddle out on Lago Torres and decide that I want to work at Cinnabon in the mall for the rest of my life? Or will I return from my 30 days with the possessions that most American travelers bring back to the States with them - a collection of stories about locals, 500 photos or churches and cemetaries, an appreciation of the hospitality of randoms you met along the way, and of course, a cool beard or thick mustache?

Whatever it is, I'm psyched to move on this seemingly 10 year impulse to travel abroad for an extended period by myself.

For all this I have to say, Thanks Cordis for laying me off. Today is the first day of my unemployment and I'm sitting here in the Starbuck's on Union and Laguna, across from my buddy David Falato, who is typing away quotes and ordering chocolate samples for a client.

Meanwhile, I'm sitting here trying to decide if I'm going to visit Macchu Picchu or the Amazon Jungle in less than 30 days from now.

My working life seems so far away....I struggle at the moment to either look for a job, or look for places to stay in Patagonia while I'm there. For now, I choose the latter.

Now I must go back to the planning of the trip. My bud Andy Slakoff has a cousin that went on a trip for three months to S.A., going to many of the places I've earmarked to visit. I must chat with him.