We left Philadelphia on Saturday morning in my car. Jenna had been out very late at a farewell party thrown by her co-workers. It was truly touching to see what an impact she's had on her workplace. Jenna is a thoughtful, careful, and kind person, and it's evident in how sad her colleagues were to see her go that these qualities show up in everything she does. I left earlier than her, but neither of us got enough sleep. In Kingston, we met up with our friend Elysia and had lunch at a really excellent, cheap Salvadorian restaurant. We made it to the N by dinner-time.
The weather wasn't so great while we were in the Adirondacks, but it was really nice to read and spend some time with my parents. We had a great time. Although I'm sure I've gone more than six months without seeing my parents, it feels different to say goodbye to them on the cusp of this possibly-dangerous venture.
Jenna and I both got an opportunity to drive the van on the rainy and deserted roads of the Adirondacks. It demands attention; you can't zone out while driving it. Because it's so tall, it's vulnerable to crosswinds, and the handling feels more "analog" than the Subaru station wagon I'd driven during college. I found it to be kind of fun to drive once I relaxed and got a feel for it.
The van does have some problems. A few of the electrical systems only work when it's plugged into an external power source. We know these systems worked in the past, so there's either a switch we can't find, or an element in the wiring (maybe the power inverter) is bad. The appliances that don't work include the ceiling ventilation fan and the auxiliary air conditioner. The good news is that our first move is north, and judging by the weather we've encountered in the Adirondacks and in Boston, we won't be needing the fan or the A/C. The heater works. We might see if we can do without, at least for a while, to spare ourselves an expensive trip to an RV specialty mechanic.
On Monday, our van packed and ready, we left for Jenna's hometown of Sharon, Massachusetts via Google Maps' "avoid highways" route. This was advantageous because it was fewer miles at lower speeds, which equates to better fuel efficiency. It was supposed to take 5 hours and 40 minutes; it took 6 hours and 45 minutes. The van is slow.
Today, Jenna and I watched Fresh Prince episodes while doing laundry. Jenna had plans to stay overnight with friends in Cambridge. I drove her to the train station, and then went to hang out with my good friend Dan, who's moving today to Northampton. We walked in the woods behind his house for a few hours. I hope Dan will be a lifelong friend. I value his conversation and company greatly. After he left, I went back and talked graduate school and psychology with Jenna's parents.
Already I finished Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said and am now well into The Dispossessed.
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