Adventure? I’ve had loads of it. Security? Adventure taught me several things, but the single most important one is that feelings of security are untrustworthy.
Adventure
Now, as I think about that, I recall my nighttime security regime. Check windows and doors to ensure that everything is latched or locked. This came from growing up in New York City, where most apartment doors had an elite selection of bars, locks, and chains. Break-ins, home invasions, and petty theft were always possibilities, even in secure buildings and neighborhoods.
Security while on the road or in coffeehouses depended on many things, but people on alcohol, drugs, or high on just plain meanness topped the list. A partial list of things to do to avoid trouble? Here it is:
- You never wore your wallet in the back pocket, always a front one.
- You sat with your back to the wall, preferably watching the door
- If you trusted, you verified
- At the first sounds of loud arguments you checked to see where the exits where
- In some choice places, you watched the barkeep carefully
- Always remember the guitar comes first.
Put simply, adventure was great, but came with lots of peril. I’ve reached the point where the fun is enjoyable but I could do without the risks.
Kissing Frogs
After my reform from wayward travel and adventure, I was much more interested in emotional security. One could say that I was hungry for it. Seeking it was an adventure in itself. To twist an old saying, ” You kiss a lot of frogs before you find a princess”. I can attest to the truth of the statement. Frog breath. Yeccch!
I like things the way they are, I have relative security, and I have my princess. I consider myself fortunate and blessed that things turned out as they did.
My advice is that both security and adventure can be overrated. Seeking a balance between the two paths is the way to go; says he who couldn’t follow his own advice.
Ahhhh. As Augustine said, ” It was wicked, but I loved it.”
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