Subaru Vagabond

My Rules: 9. Always Listen Actively

“Listening is being able to be changed by the other person.” – Alan Alda

“If for a moment you are inclined to regard these taluses as mere draggled, chaotic dumps, climb to the top of one of them, and run down without any haggling, puttering hesitation, boldly jumping from boulder to boulder with even speed. You will then find your feet playing a tune, and quickly discover the music and poetry of these magnificent rock piles — a fine lesson; and all Nature’s wildness tells the same story — the shocks and outbursts of earthquakes, volcanoes, geysers, roaring, thundering waves and floods, the silent uprush of sap in plants, storms of every sort — each and all are the orderly beauty-making love-beats of Nature’s heart.” – John Muir

This rule might seem obvious, but the challenge would be to take it deeper. Actively listen not only to others in conversation, but to the animals and plants in nature. To the rocks and streams. To the wind and rain, and the sun and the stars. To the spiritual centers of the universe and God. Listening actively is not shutting up, but rather partaking in deep, heartfelt conversation. Responding and seeking to understand and empathize.

An Evening Walk Around Pine Valley Creek

As I’m camping around the Noble Canyon and Pine Valley Creek area, I decided to head up a nearby dirt forest road and see what was up that way. It looked cool from the campsite, but I fell in love with the area upon exploring the area more!

Noble Canyon: Hike and Camp

On Saturday, I decided to head to the southern end of the Noble Canyon National Recreation Trail. I ended up hiking about 6 miles up on the trail, before turning back for a total of 12 miles round trip. It was a lovely hike! Afterwards, I found a nearby campsite and set up my home with some beautiful views as well.

My Rules: 8. Always be a Survivor, Never a Victim

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” – Viktor E Frankl

“Extraordinary people survive under the most terrible circumstances and they become more extraordinary because of it.” – Robertson Davies

This rule: this rule is my most treasured rule. It is simple, but expands into everything in life. It is such an invasive philosophy that there is really nowhere that it cannot be applied. It makes up a part of my very identity, even. Yet, despite such an invasive role in my life, it is one I still find particularly difficult at times as well.

Hiking Big Laguna and Noble Canyon

Panorama

Yesterday, I headed back up to the Mount Laguna area for some more boondocking. While here for the weekend, I decided to also do some hiking. The campsite I chose, specifically, is right next to a crossing of the Noble Canyon trail, near where it intersects the Big Laguna trail. I opted to spend this weekend hiking along those 2 trails.

My Rules: 7. Be Radically Self-Reliant

“Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another you have only an extemporaneous half possession. That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Don’t compromise yourself. You’re all you’ve got.” – Janis Joplin

I must confess that I stole this philosophy straight out of Burning Man’s 10 principles. I like their wording, and I like the meaning behind it. It also serves as something of an obvious philosophy for me to hold in this vagabond lifestyle of mine, although I really do think that it expands beyond those obvious points as well.

My Rules: 6. Never Stop Changing

“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” – Winston Churchill

“If you want to be a new man you have to stay in new places, and do new things, with people who never knew you before. If you go back to the same old ways, what else can you be but the same old person?” – Joe Ambercrombie

How does one expand on the point made by Winston Churchill? This quote alone sums up my Rule #6, “Never Stop Changing.” It’s difficult to even think of what I could possibly add. I’ve spent weeks, now, researching quotes and what people have to say. Turns out, a lot of people have a lot to say about change. Yet Winston Churchill still stands as the one to make one quote summing all of it up.

Pine Creek Road Boondocking and Other News

While camping up on Big Black Mountain, I ended up running out of water and so had to head on down to refill my water jug. While already down the mountain, I then decided to head over towards the Mount Laguna area of Cleveland National Forest and check out some alternative boondocking locations there. I found a lovely area down Pine Creek Road, with a few good options available.

I’ve also settled on a change of future plans: instead of staying around San Diego, hiking, I will be headed out to larger adventures, traveling cross country again.

Boondocking up Big Black Mountain Again!

This week, I headed back up Big Black Mountain in San Diego. I’ve stayed here a couple of times before, and it’s always an amazing treat. I absolutely love the spot, and I’m spending a couple of weeks up here this time. Between the adventure of a drive getting up and the amazing sunsets, the only bad so far has been getting stuck from the rain that came through–even that was kind of fun, in its own right.

My Rules: 5. Laugh At Yourself

“You grow up the day you have the first real laugh at yourself.” – Ethel Barrymore

“Laugh at yourself, but don’t ever aim your doubt at yourself. Be bold. When you embark for strange places, don’t leave any of yourself safely on shore. Have the nerve to go into unexplored territory.” – Alan Alda

What’s the point of things without a good sense of humor? Why make my list of rules, if I can’t laugh at how ridiculous that is? A life taken too seriously is a terribly boring affair. So, I made a rule to remind myself to step back and laugh at the stupid and/or silly things I do on a frequent basis. A reminder to laugh at myself, instead of doubting myself.