Arcata, CA - a Crossroads

Post-Redwoods: I traveled to Aracata, CA, to see a former coworker from the marine science center. Flor, who I worked with last summer, was visiting with friends and I decided to stop in to see her. I pulled into a gas station to wait to get the directions to the house she was staying in, while chatting on the phone with Julia, my car battery konked out! Thank goodness for AAA, my jumper cables are buried under boxes, bags of clothing and all my worldly possessions. I felt pretty lucky to have been in a cell service area and near a place with someone I knew! I headed to see Flor and deal with the car in the morning. I helped her chop veggies for dinner and hung out with the 3 gals she was staying with. They were all very friendly, sweet and interesting as I heard their backgrounds. Arcata is home to Humbolt State University, but is probably more widely known as the marijuana capital of the country. I definitely sensed the college town aspect right away and visiting this house supported the pot aspect as there was a candy jar filled and various smoking paraphernalia. It's a way of life in Humbolt county and has been said as such, Humbolt County is to pot, much like Napa is to wine.

I felt comfortable that evening but as I laid on their couch, thinking about the safety of my car parked around the corner, something I think about everyday, with all my possessions, it approached midnight. I heard sirens approaching and within seconds a car speeding up the road toward the house. It sounded as if it ramped up the hill and seconds later the sirens followed --- this was a high speed car chase and directly in front of the house. I realized afterward that I'd been bracing myself and waiting for a crash, praying this car wouldn't smash into mine outside. For the next 20minutes I heard tires squealing all about. After that, every noise outside, I thought could be my car being ransacked. At least they couldn't steal it with the dead battery. Something about this place just made me unsettled. I've heard good things about Arcata, but unfortunately, I was experiencing a different side.

The next morning only one of the other girls had heard the whole thing and told me some other bizarre stories about Arcata, which are "normal" occurrences in this town. Some time in the span of laying awake that night though, I decided I'd reached my limit - for the time being.

I've seen some AMAZING sights and there are still more left on my list in the U.S....many more in fact. Traveling alone has its benefits, you just decide what you want to do, nobody else to worry about, etc. I've spent a lot of my trip thinking about the future and my options - for me it was always potentially going back to the east coast and then looking for jobs, or continuing on the road while job hunting, or returning to Washington.

I've had great days and okay days and mediocre/sad days. I've seen people I haven't seen in years and stepped outside of my comfort box. Camping and hiking alone are two of my fears; I think I've come to terms with the first and met it head on, the latter I've pushed myself to do a few times but still am working on. But why deny my true nature? I've always been a people person. Choosing to go on this road trip solo, was something I decided to do because I couldn't find a partner and I had the time and the money, yet I always felt pretty reluctant about it. I've decided to go back to Port Townsend...to rest, to regroup, to seek my support network, to find comfort and a safe environment, while trying to find "that job" or "a job." I spent the first few hours of my drive back north from Arcata feelings pretty confused and sad --- am I taking a step back? I've given up? I'm missing out? Defeated? No job prospects?

Well, all that matters is that I'm happy, right? I'll see the other stuff on other trips, and hopefully with travel partners. I've got some sights on my way back even...  So, onward, home.

And, I'll keep writing if you keep reading.