Finding Adventure In A Google-Mapped World

Technology has made our world a smaller place, a place less mysterious and perilous. Where once one had to travel to see a destination, now we simply look it up and look at pictures. This is both an advantage and a loss, and I'll try to explain in the paragraphs that follow.

Gone are the days of grand adventure, of heading off into the unknown. While it is true one can set off on a small, personal adventure, you're never too far away from information that can remove obstacles and inconveniences from your path, but remember those things are part of the path, and to remove them removes at least some of the adventure.

So, what to do?

I suggest doing what technology regularly does: miniaturize.

Get to know your local area. You may think you already know it, but a few minutes of online research will have you raising your eyebrows. For example, I recently learned an old bridge just a short distance from home holds the distinction of being the oldest bridge still in use in the county in which I live, and 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of its opening. (I wanted to hold a small bridgefest to celebrate but this damn pandemic...)

Go smaller. Take a walk in nature, either a trail or even a landscaped park. Note the sounds you hear, the animals you see. Consider the things you don't see, such as two males of the same species of insect battling for dominance and the right to mate. Birds calling back and forth to one another, conversing in a language we may never understand. Look closely at stones and fallen leaves to find worlds of color, texture, and tone.

If you want a real adventure, do the above with a kid by your side. My young son makes an adventure of even the most ordinary day!

Don't limit yourself to daylight hours. Venturing out at night is extraordinary. Yes, the mosquitoes will eat you alive in summer, but it's worth it. Once, in our own backyard, my son and I witnessed a large owl swoop down from a tree and take a rodent for a meal at dusk. Such moments make for memories that persist.

Now get out there and make memories!

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