Walking The Line

"As I stroll along the road to freedom
 Like a gyspy in a gilded cage
 My horizons have not always been bright
 But that's the way that dreams are made..."

It seems entirely appropriate to use a reference to the late, great Johnny Cash, in regards to the title, the picture, and the opening words, when the subject matter of my latest blog is taken into consideration.
Like the 'I Walk The Line' song lyrics, which tries to differentiate between right and wrong, good and bad, I too continually strive to stay on the correct side of the line, as previously mentioned in other recent blogs.
The 'walking' analogy also perfect ties in with my own recent 'South Downs Way' exploits, as does the 'gypsy' line when you put my own journey over the past thirteen years into some sort of perspective.
However, it finally feels like I've found my home and my 'gypsy' days are hopefully a thing of the past...as my dear friend, Elona quite distinctly put it, "Nomad Steve is no more"!

In more recent times my journey has been fraught with problems, but fortunately ones which have been overcome. I take great comfort from the fact that three years ago I was effectively homeless, stranded in Scotland (Edinburgh Infirmary no less!), but here I am today, on the verge of moving into a new apartment of my own.

I often joke and refer to myself as Mr.Minimalistic...but it's true!
And when I move in a months time this will proved once again.
The apartment that I will be living in was viewed again recently, and it looked even better the second time around. I've really fallen on my feet too, as I don't require anything. Everything is provided within the apartment: furniture, crockery, cutlery, plates, cups and glasses, TV, toaster, kettle, iron, ironing board, microwave...even all the towels and bedding! And the rent is all inclusive, so no hidden bills ~ the TV license, council tax, electric, gas and water are all part of the deal...and what a deal it is!
So all I'll be bringing with me is a few personal possessions including just a few books, cd's and dvd's.

It's strange to some who expect me to possess a vast cd/vinyl collection after working in a music store for eight years, but amazingly I only keep a few favourites. Amongst others, I have some mellow late 50's/early 60's Miles Davis (Kind of Blue period), some soulful spiritual stuff like Marvin Gaye (What's Going On), and of course the customary progressive rock classics, of which Marillion's 'Happiness Is The Road' always proves very poignant when it's all about living in the 'now', as well as it's travel references.
Travelling is also relative to my choice of books, as this remains close to my heart and always will...the Lonely Planet's New Zealand 'bible' is never far away, so I can recall happy times shared with lovely people in wonderous places such as Christchurch, Queenstown, Wanaka, Te Anau, and Nelson, whilst I was out on the road and living in my camper van...'Happiness Is The Road' indeed!
It's been over three years since my last trip to NZ...but I still miss ya TWL♥

Other than that my other books include the aforementioned autobiography of Johnny Cash, as well other biographies of people who've triumphed over adversity, such as Lance Armstrong's, 'It's Not About The Bike...My Journey Back To Life'. The only fiction I possess is 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho.
As for my dvd's these are very few and far between: 'The Shawshank Redemption', a continual source of hope and inspiration, 'Billy Connolly's World Tour of New Zealand' for obvious reasons, and the complete collection of the TV comedy 'Porridge' ~ constantly viewed to remind me that laughter is priceless and that we can all gain 'little victories' in life!

I use all of the above when I'm need of some inspiration. I think of them as trail guides to use on my voyage of discovery, and the deeper I go into them, the more I find to ponder, and then they themselves become an endless absorbing journey, rich beyond my most ambitious imagining.

"Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer..."

In closing, just prior to drafting this blog I was listening to the Johnny Cash cd given to me as a gift a few years ago by my close friend, Trace ~ and this helped me to conjure up some of my thoughts which I've expressed here, especially listening to 'I've Been Everywhere' and the iconic 'Hurt'...I wonder if she still listens to the 'Artful Dodger' cd I bought her to replace her previously lost copy?

"If I could start again a million miles away,
 I would keep myself, I would find a way..."

Well, I am starting again, by myself...but I'm not a million miles away anymore.

Ramblin' Steve