Just get away from it all
 

This is a thought that has ran through my mind every now and then. Occasionally, I just want to get away from my current life, go out into the world, and do something. Have an adventure or something like that. I really want a change in my world and experience. My experience is too limited and my perspective is too narrow for my liking, and I want to rectify that.
I wouldn't know what I would want to do however, nor where I would want to go, especially on a hypothetically non-existent budget.
I have, however, considered what the ramifications would be for those around me, should I just up and leave for a while. College debts would probably be heaped upon my parents, or something to that effect, and lots of other bad stuff could happen.
Regardless, just going away for a while seems rather alluring.

So, have these sort of thoughts crossed your mind? What would you want to do, or where would you want to go? What would be the effects of your departure from your current life?

This happens to me every spring.

I get worldsick, I guess. I love the summertime and being able to just DRIVE wherever the hell I feel like. I wanna go to NYC? NOTHING IS STOPPING ME. (Except, of course, my obligations to work and school.)

Almost every spring, I decide I want to travel across the country all by myself to see everything. I dream of doing it on a motorcycle some day. I usually kinda sit at my desk daydreaming about it, and thats all that ever comes from it.

Suppose its a natural reaction to being kept inside all winter. You want to BREAK FREE and RUN. I love the feeling - but I hate that I am pinned down by reality. ;_;

You know what I do to get out of the hassle of my daily life? I drive.

There are a million and one twisty roads both in my city and out in the hills, and in a small car they are a blast to just let loose on. For me this is both a way to relieve stress, but also a way to just step back from all those little things that are irritating the crap out of me.

Oh and gas is cheap when you're getting really good gas mileage =P

You know, I find that this is a comfort to me as well.

When I am upset by something or I can't stand being in the house or whatever, I go out, listen to classical music, and drive around. I try to go as far as I can with the daylight allowed.

That and the woods are probably the most theraputic things I can think of doing when I want to get the hell out of routine.

And routine is another which causes me to want to GET THE HELL OUT.

I wish I got your MPG, Immortal. ;_; I get maybe 35 MPG.

I've always told my kids that I hope they'll do spontaneous, fun things like this while they're young and unburdened with family responsibilities. I wish I had. =/

You should do it, Fjordor. One day you won't be able to just pick up and go somewhere on a whim, and you'll wish you had.

If only my parents were more like you Alice.
My folks would have conniptions like nothing you could imagine.
After having finished said outing, I would probably be grounded in every manner that my folks could think of.

The biggest problem is that, ideally, I would want to be away for an indeterminate period of time. So, I can't just work such an outing around these plans, or vice versa.

Wait. How old are you??

If its with your own money and you're over 18, I see absolutely NO REASON why you should care about what your parents think about a trip of your own.

I mean, you're not breaking any rules of their house or anything, right?

To be perfectly honest Sass, I only get 36mpg highway/28mpg city. Then again, I still live at home so all I need to pay for is gas and insurance. I can fill up for a week on 20 bucks though, which is why gas is cheap to me.

I just love driving up Mt. Lemmon here. It's a blast going up since I get to get my high-revving Honda engine working, then on the way down I just coast through the turns with the tires squealing and all. Just an all-around fun time. I would probably listen to music, but I'm a fan of the engine sound when I am driving like that. It's that daily city commute that makes me want to hear the music =P

One of these days I'll rig up a camera in the car for when I go up the mountain, since it's is one of those things you just have to witness the beauty first hand to fully grasp it.

Grounded? Are you joking? You're 21 years old, my friend. It's time to cut the apron-strings.

I wouldn't recommend just disappearing. That would be extremely disrespectful to the people who are giving you food, clothing and shelter, but I see nothing wrong with sitting your parents down and telling them you've DECIDED that you're going to take advantage of your youth and do some interesting things while you still can. In other words, don't ask them, tell them...respectfully of course.

You only live once. It's such a trite expression, but really it's soooo true.

EDIT: Wait, after reading your post it sounds more like you're thinking about disappearing for good, which would be really stupid. You should finish college before doing anything like that, but a trip this summer isn't out of the question.

I'm 20. However, the biggest thing is that I live at home, and I don't own my own car. I just pay off the loan payments for the car when I am here.
Also, like I said before, my parents are going to be overloaded with payments for my college loans, because I won't be going to school to prevent the interest rates from rising, and various other subsidized (or is that unsubsidized?) loans will come into effect.

Also, in a way, this thread is to assist in getting ideas about what to do. Like I also said before, I have no idea what I would want to do, or where I would want to go.

How about just getting away for a weekend, man? Thats what I'll usually try and do. Believe me, it will help.

I can't believe you're 20 and you still run the risk of getting gorunded if you do something your parents don't like.

Maybe this is why you want to get away from it all. Didn't you ever have that REBELLIOUS age where you pretty much told your folks "I am an adult now?"

But seriously. Get a friend to take a road trip with you - even if you don't stay overnight someplace, I promise it can help. ;_;

Grounded at 20? Yikes. I haven't been grounded since I was like 9. But then I was always pretty responsible as a kid. Do you give your parents things to worry about or are they just pricks?

While I still do live at home, my parents have very little control over my daily life. If I want to go for a week long road trip, I can just do it if I have the money. I'm at the end of my 2 year IT course at the college in town, and I just decided to drop out now because I found my true passion for work. Are my parents gonna be mad? A little, but what can they do. It's my life and they know it.

Go for a roadtrip. Or at least a long drive out of town. I rediscovered the stress-relieving powers of a country drive just 3 days ago (after not having one for 3 years). Things had never seemed so clear when I got back.

Fill out a FAFSA if you're in the US so you don't have to feel guilty about the money your parents are paying for college for you. You would be surprised how much money our government has no idea it has and gives to students. Hell, even though I go to Community College at the moment, I have only spent about $200 of my own money for two years of classes. That should give you an idea of how much you can get if you're poor enough.

No debts are going rack up etc. if you are gone for a week or so. You'll just have some catching up to do on your studies.

What I did around that age was take off on a weekend. I'd take buses, and do tons and tons of hikeing. Being on foot is very good therapy. It was great to trek out for a day, and collapse completely tired in the middle of nowhere, pitch a tent, and sleep. Or grab the shittiest room you can find if that's your thing. You leave on a Saturday (Because Friday eveninings you are too tired to get any decent miles in. And you come back.. Whenever. Could be Sunday, could be Wednesday, doesn't really matter. By having little money, and not going further than you can manage to get back, you'll get back without hurting your schooling. It may not show you a whole lot about the world, but it'll likely help you to learn about yourself a little bit.

There's really nothing to worry about, I mean, your financial/school situation isn't going to change in but a week(ish). To think otherwise is just a way to stress yourself out and talk one's self out of just cutting loose.

Well, my rebellious stage didn't get satisfied, because all it was rebellion for the sake of rebellion, which is just foolish. As for me saying "I'm an adult now," that won't do anything, because words do not sway their thoughts (well, my dad really), and acting rebellious is not a sign of adulthood, but a lack of control and responsibility, which is a sign of childhood and immaturity.

And like I said, I get grounded from various things because I live at home, and use a car that I do not actually own.

However, a week-long road trip might not be a bad idea.

Man. You missed out on the pot smoking, the booze drinking, and all those other stupid things high schoolers do?

You're not expected to act like an adult when you're in high school! Thats where the fun lies!

It must have been a real drag to always be "adult-like" and mature in high school. I would have killed myself. (the only reason I graduated high school was because pot helped me take tests. ^_^ )

O, so you're restricted from using the car? Maybe I am misunderstanding?

Why not save us some cash and buy a little shitbox of a car? I mean, it gives you a HELL of a lot more freedom, you know?

And if you've been so mature and responsible as a kid, I really don't see why they would get upset about you taking a break from life for a little while.

For some odd reason, I have no regrets about missing out on the booze and pot. Other stupidities however came in sufficient doses in high school.

Hey, it is better this way though. My folks pay for the insurance and the car payments when I am at school, and when I am ack home for work, I get a nice 2005 Ion to tromp around town in.

Better than to have lived and regretted to have never lived at all. ^_^

And your using it is completely at their discretion.

Man, this is why I left home when I was young. I can't stand people letting me "use" their shit when THEY think it convenient. I'll buy my own and rely on no one, thank you very much.

This never BOTHERS you at all?

Oh it does bother me, but in the long term, it is perhaps the wisest thing.

Also, I believe your definition of "having lived" is rather different from mine.
Although, this is one of the main reasons why I want to "get away." Because I want to live before it is too late. I personally feel that "living" in this way involves exposure to the world, not substances which alter my perception of the tiny bubble that I am already living in.

I've been feeling over the past year that I would like to leave everyone I know behind and start over somewhere else. To completely erase any impression I may have made on anyone. But not even death will accomplish that.

I don't drink or do any drugs, haven't even began to learn how to drive, and I'll be nineteen in August. I don't go to parties because I'm afraid of interacting with people I don't know. I'm going to have to drop out of high school. I haven't had a job since the end of January and I can't bring myself to go apply for another one.

I would like to get away from everything.

Man. Why are you hating on pot. It doesn't alter your brain at all. It's not like I am advocating meth, here. ;_;

And yea, its best to get OUT there and doing shit on your own, you know? Travel a little, make some new friends, learn some new shit.

Just stay away from that cursed pot.

In my defense, I really think smoking pot and drinking booze helped me grow up. You learn faster.

Well, I think that it would be in your best personal interest to learn to deal with the world around you before you just try and run away to another one. Otherwise, the same problems that you have in your "current life" will only keep with you in any new ones that you try to start, albeit not as instantly.
That is just my opinion though.

Double Post:
Well, many studies have shown that marijuana is just as bad as tobacco, and it also can have permanent effects on your brain, specifically long term memory; although that last part doesn't seem to be a universal statement, as some people have no effects whatsoever, just like some may get addicted right away, and others won't at all.

Also mine.

You should try to immerse yourself into experiences and people, even if you feel a little uncomfortable. That usually passes as you get your bearing and work on getting to know people a little more.

Well, I smoke tobacco. Well. The chemical-version of the natural plant. I am DYING, slowly but surely. May as well enjoy the ride down the rocky slope, right?

Besides. Pot is more FUN than tobacco. You really gain nothing from tobacco, but pot is hilarious.

And like anything, the effects of pot are bad only when you're chronic, I would imagine.

Try it once or twice in your life time. Chock it up to experience. Man. I would totally smoke up with you, if I ever got the chance. It would be good times~

Well... should I ever get up in that area, and have a free day... maybe. :-p

I've been having them a lot more lately now because the stress of doing too much in too little time is starting to get to me. I want so badly to go on some sort of trip outside of the three states I live in. I'd love to go to Florida and go to Disney World. I'd probably visit different countries, like England and Japan just to say I did it. It would be nice, very nice.