Boy, That Escalated Quickly

You might have noticed that I haven’t been posting as much here lately as usual. You also might have noticed someone making more and more frequent appearances in my pictures and videos.

We tried to resist the connection we felt since that first motorcycle ride back in Quartzsite, and then during our week together at Imperial Dam last month. Neither of us was ready at that time. Long-time readers already know about my relationship history over the past several years, which I refer to as A Series of Unfortunate Events. She had her own reasons, which are not my story to tell.

We continued talking frequently after we parted ways on our own journeys a month ago. It turns out that we agree on all of the things that are important to us. We treat each other the way we want to be treated, and do the things the other appreciates and enjoys, all without even trying or thinking about it. It’s just natural, and it feels right. So, Melissa and I will be traveling together indefinitely.

It’s quite a change for me. I’ve been almost militantly single for some time now. I built this van specifically for me, myself, and I (and Lister, of course), not for two, because that’s how I got in trouble when this journey began. Some interior changes will be needed, but she’s not moving in anytime soon, either. She has her own rig, a Toyota 4Runner that she’s made a small home in the back of. We can go our separate ways when we need to, then meet up again later — something we’ll actually be doing in a few weeks. It’s way too early to make any enormous life-changing decisions, and we know that. She also has no desire to give up her 4Runner, and for good reason. It’s a good little truck and an excellent way to get around when we don’t feel like either gearing up for the motorcycle, or making preparations for warp speed in the van. She’s also made a few upgrades for off-roading, which we’ll be putting to the test on a group drive tomorrow.

I haven’t posted much this past week because Melissa and I have been busy figuring all this out and enjoying each other’s company. That’s our business, and, frankly, nobody else’s. I also didn’t want to make some big announcement to the world only for it to completely fall apart in a month or two (again). We’re sure about this now, so here we are.

Another point we agree on is some of the places we want to visit this summer. It’s looking like another loop of the western US, some of which I’ve seen before but she hasn’t, and some of which neither of us have seen and want to explore for the first time. We’ve brainstormed a list of places we want to check out, and are starting to arrange at least the first few stops of our journey together. Aside from the strong winds all this past weekend, the weather here is absolutely perfect right now. We’re enjoying that, with the knowledge that before too long, it’ll start to get a bit too warm for comfort, which will be time to move on until next winter. This time, though, I won’t be moving on alone.