Hitch Itch
I’m restless again. One of the things I feared was that even though I left my old town, I knew I was bringing myself with me. And I feared that I’d be bringing bits that had been making me miserable before.
I’m glad to report that none of my bits were making me miserable. Those bits are all back in my old town.
But I’m surprised that my restlessness came with me. I’ve got what full-timers (those who travel in RVs permanently) call “hitch itch,” as in, time to hitch the trailer to the truck and get on the road again. This feeling surprised me, because I’m so happy here. I love being near my best friend and niece. I love everything about where I am right now.
My dad died when I was ten, but there are so many conversations that I, the adult, wish I could go back in time and have with my dad. He was a restless sort, a traveler. I wonder if this is a permanent condition, if I’ll constantly be chasing new places for no apparent reason at all.
I wish my foot would get better, so at least I could vent some of my restless feelings in some sport.
“Itch” is a good word for it, because it really does gnaw at you like an unscratched mosquito bite. Restlessness is irritating. I’d lived with it for several years, and I’d hoped to leave it behind. It is not a comfortable feeling.
But here it is again.
And I’m not sure what to do with it. I’m perplexed.
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Natasha Fondren is a writer traveling the U.S. in a camper with her four cats. She is currently enjoying the lizards and desert heat in Arizona.
I can’t say I feel any itch to move my living place around. Quite the contrary. But I do wish I could run again. I miss moving myself around more so I can sympathize with your foot problems. I don’t know what you consider sport. Sounds like hikes probably wouldn’t be possible though.
I hear you, Eric. I miss Tae Kwon Do so much it hurts, even after three years. I’m not sure about hiking. My foot doesn’t like all this walking and carrying buckets, but hiking up and down hills and such seems to use different foot muscles. Sometimes it improves my foot. I need to get out there and do that.
Funny. I thought my reason for constantly needing to pack up and move out might be related to my dad too. He’s sick so he can’t do it like he use to, but five years ago, I remember no one could find him and a week later he’d call and be in Mexico, or Vegas, or Flagstaff.
When I was in my teens, my brother had said once, “I’d always call my sister first if there was a problem, but I’d have to know what state she was in at the time.”
I’m a very restless person too. My best at anything has been six years. I tend to leave after a year or two, to a new destination.
Hah! That’s funny about your brother.
Before I started teaching piano, I pretty much had a two-year attention limit. Novels are great, because each one is so different, that you don’t feel like you’re working the “same” job, you know?
Natasha, you have the perfect home for a person with hitch itch. A camper! Soon Glenn will be with you, and you two can hitch up and go.
Edie, you know, that’s probably the source of my restlessness. Glenn will be home soon! I can’t wait. I miss him so much!
I was thinking the same thing as Edie! If you get restless in places, you’re in the perfect situation. Could you even just take a week “vacation” somewhere and go back to this campsite near your friend. Pennsylvania is lovely in the fall, and we have a really private driveway. I’m just sayin’.
LOL, Robin! I will definitely have to plan for that some time! So true. I think the key is I have to get my restlessness to outweigh my dread of packing things up, LOL… I can’t wait until Glenn gets home and he can help me with that bit!
Restlessness – totally understand that. I get it occassionally and just want to chuck the job and the house and see some place new. There’s so many places I haven’t been to yet. It’s a bit of thinking I’m missing something by staying put. And it’s a bit of not finding what really satisfies me yet.
I change jobs/careers a lot, but have been in this career much longer than I expected. My job may end soon and I’m not sure I’m in a hurry to move on in the same field.
Sarah, writing is the only job I’ve found that doesn’t make me restless. I don’t know why. I think, right now, I’m eager for Glenn to be back and us to be together and on the road. I’m a little frustrated that I might have to stay put while he’s gone, at least until we upgrade the camper.
I know folks who have this kind of itch. I’m not one of them. I love to be home, to be with my own thoughts and my books, to think and read. I do like walking and seeing new things, but it’s not so much an itch as a joy. Always traveling is not for me.
Charles, I’ll be interested to see if it’s for me. I’m sure of my itch, but have not yet proven I like traveling permanently. Although, with my home always with me, I can be both a homebody and a traveler! When I go away for a few hours, I’m anxious to get back to my camper and cats.
I’m with Charles–just call me a homebody!
LOL, Elizabeth!
You have a gypsy heart, Natasha, perfect for feeding the never-ending creativity pool. I say to hitch up and go. Feed the need. Maybe the more you do it the less the next itch to hitch.
I think you’re right, Kath!
Maybe the way to cure the itch is to just stay. Or give yourself a time frame. (i.e. You’ll stay there till the end of October, then you’ll try somewhere new).
LOL, we’re leaving on October 5th. I think, for me, the deal is that I’m restless for Glenn to get home.