Connecting the Dots

For the past few years, Kelly and I have been assembling a roster of blog sites we find interesting.  We each have some unique to our personal interests (for me – triathlon, cycling, Chicago Bears football, travel, and camping & hiking – just to name a few).  

However, we also share some common blogs – mainly those published by individuals we find interesting due to their approach to life.  Generally, these are people pursuing a path atypical to the “average” 30 or 40 year old.   Its seems to us that when asked what they want to do or be when they “grow-up”, the answer is focused squarely on being happy.  Seemingly, these are people that define themselves by who they are, not what they do.

I like that.

For us, these bloggers are more than interesting, they are an inspiration, validation that there is nothing wrong with eschewing the assembly-line approach to life that many of us are commonly led to believe as being the the mature and responsible path.  For some, buying a house in the suburbs and settling into a nice community while amassing loads of stuff fits them and offers great fulfillment.

I’ve been there, I once held similar beliefs … but no longer.  For Kelly and me that approach feels more like the uncomfortable beginnings of a pending blister caused by ill-fitting shoes.

Over the past year or so, Kelly and I have begun communicating with many of the blog authors we appreciate.  I like to think of this activity as virtual community-making.  In fact, we’ve been fortunate enough to meet some of these bloggers, which has been great.  There are awesome people out there, individuals such as Brian & Leigh, Kevin & Laura, & Glenn (and soon we’ll be meeting  Tiffany & Deke).  All of these bloggers have been hugely helpful to Kelly and me.  The common denominator to our introduction to all has been the internet.

Last night, Kelly and I had the opportunity meet another blogging couple – Tim and Amanda Watson who full-time in their Airstream.  They were passing through Half Moon Bay this week and graciously invited us to their campsite.  Over the period of a couple hours, we enjoyed drinks and appetizers and of course, great conversation.

Once again, virtual became real.

Like others we’ve met, Tim and Amanda are more than bloggers – they are real people with real lives and have chosen a real lifestyle Kelly and I admire.  It was great to spend time with them.

Slowly, Kelly and I hope to continue converting virtual relationships into something that increasingly becomes tangible; more encounters wherein the virtual becomes the real.  Our hope is that over time, these brief meet-ups morph into real friendships, all courtesy of the Internet.

I really think that would be something nice.