Exploring Laura:

Hiking, Skirt Suits, and

Adventure

Laura Newell, Editor-in-Chief

Laura_Newell@csumb.edu

May 1, 2008

Last week I was sitting in my boyfriend’s room watching television

and writing yet another essay, when I heard a knock on the door.

Moments later, his roommate walked into the room and started telling

us about his “amazing” hiking trip. He explained his hike through the

woods, secluded camping areas, refreshing water pools and helpful

poison oak information.

I was so intrigued by his words of excitement I quickly found my

mind wandering to an internal yearning for more adventure. I began

to question whether I provided my life with enough exposure to the

outdoor world and away from the security of my safe and sanitary

house.

As I was contemplating this internal dilemma, he said the words that

made me lose my nerve. “Yeah, we should all go hiking together soon,

but don’t worry Laura…we can bring air mattresses, beer, and stay in

a nice clean camping ground.” The sounds of laughter flowed through

the bedroom. I could only answer with a smile and small chuckle.

I began to wonder, was this what I had made myself into, a prissy,

sanitary, indoor non-adventurer?

Trying to go back to my essay, I still could not get the thought out of

my mind that I did not have enough adventure in my life. Sure I liked

a nice picnic on the beach and a nice walk through the woods to see

nature in full bloom; but, was I not pushing myself enough to get the

full inhalation of nature and the full adventure that it brings by wanting

to stay in the clean indoors?

Do we all need to go outdoors to find more adventure in our lives?

Looking away from my computer, I thought about some of the

adventures that I do bring to my life. I took on a stressful, fast-paced

job in my last semester of college, I continually enjoy mind-stimulating

debates and nights out with my friends and boyfriend, and I am always

up and ready for a traveling trip by plane, train or automobile to far

away places. Additionally, I am preparing for a life as a writer in a

big city away from everything that comforts me after I graduate from

college.

Maybe I was not throwing myself outside into nature, but I was

throwing myself outside into the world.

I guess adventure is in the eye of the beholder, and while one’s idea

of a stimulating adventure is hiking through poison oak and swimming

in a secluded swimming hole, another’s idea is hiking through a big city

in a skirt suit and pumps.