I'm staying in Scottsdale, Arizona, for a couple of weeks, taking care of my sister's dog, Henry, while she's away in Maui. It's a nice place to visit, the weather is pleasant, and there's plenty to do. So why am I feeling so restless and tired?
I think I've figured it out. I've lost my routine.
Back home in Sac City, Iowa, I know where everything is. I know the roads, the traffic is light, and I can go just about anywhere without giving it much thought. Here in Scottsdale, driving is an adventure.
There are cars everywhere. People are traveling 40 or 50 miles an hour on city streets, and the freeways are even worse. I'm not accustomed to that kind of traffic. My little Dodge Caliber bounces around a bit, and my Chevy Silverado has its own way of bouncing, but at least I'm familiar with them. My sister has a very nice car, which helps, but the traffic still intimidates me.
I did quite a bit of driving today, though, and I'm getting better at it. I suppose if I stayed here for a month, or perhaps six months, I'd get used to it. But right now, I find myself wanting to stay home or just walk over to Black Rock Coffee with Henry.
The other problem is exercise.
Back home, I have a regular routine. I lift weights, swim, ride a bicycle, and walk. The recreation center has practically everything I need: a swimming pool, weights, and stationary bicycles. If the weather is bad on bicycle day, I just ride indoors.
Here, I've gotten lazy. I haven't been exercising nearly enough, and I'm feeling tired. I don't think it's the altitude. I think it's simply that I've gotten away from the habits that keep me going.
I've also been trying to do a little gold prospecting north of Cave Creek. Today I drove around looking for Gold Hill, but finding my way through unfamiliar roads has been a challenge. I finally got some topographical maps from the Tonto National Forest people, and it appears there's a gravel road leading toward the area I want to explore.
The question is whether that road is suitable for an ordinary passenger car. I certainly don't want to damage my sister's vehicle. My four-wheel-drive Silverado would be a much better choice for that kind of country. Maybe I'll come back another time with the pickup.
Tomorrow is Veterans Day, and I have something to look forward to. Denny's has traditionally offered veterans a free Grand Slam breakfast. If I wake up at five in the morning, as I often do, I may go looking for a Denny's. I'll call first to make sure they're participating.
A free breakfast is always a good way to start the day!
But getting back to my restlessness, I think there's a lesson here.
We develop routines for a reason. They give our days structure. When we're at home, we hardly notice how much we depend on them. We know where to shop, where to exercise, where to get coffee, and how to get from one place to another.
Take all that away, even temporarily, and suddenly ordinary living requires a lot more effort.
I'm enjoying Arizona, and I'm glad I came. But I'm also discovering that being on vacation doesn't necessarily mean being relaxed.
Maybe tomorrow I'll get some exercise, enjoy my Veterans Day breakfast, and take another look at those maps.
And maybe I'll just take Henry for a walk.
Sometimes that's enough.
Working the System
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