Choosing shoes
So I find myself in a conundrum... pretty big word, conundrum. Not even sure if I spelled it right. Hmmm...
Ok, so for the first odd 5 months of my travels I had been lugging around my trusty pair of Nike sneakers, a pair of sandals and my fancy black shoes... just in case I should need to go to a hot club and need to step up in style. The Nikes after four years of deadly service finally went the way of all old shoes after braving two volcano descents, lots of damp attacks and musting up my lower backpack, and, I am ashamed to say, the funeral was not special.
Said Nike shoes were unceremoniously accorded to foreverness in a dumpster in Costa Rica, as by this time my sister had brought me my kickass sandals from South Africa. Said kickass sandles, by the by, are already starting to fray at the edges and the velcro has received a first serving of glue, so watch this space, I seem to be going hard on shoes. The fancy black shoes have gone back to SA as I have realized I am not cool enough to possibly justify lugging them around, and anyway my mate Fico has some in Lima, which is probably the last place I will want ot go clubbing before I hit backpackerness again.
My point, however, is this: As I sit here today, I have a smaller backpack which currently is very low maintenance but contains NO EXTRA FOOTWEAR. This is a situation that cannot possibly continue longterm, at some point I will need something more robust or protective than sandals, but I have been putting off making this decision for over three weeks now. Why?
Let`s analyze...
1. I did not want to travel with shoes I would not need... partially true, I could have gone jogging on the lake in Nicaragua or in the gym at the hotel in Costa Rica if I had by then bought a decent pair of sneakers.
2. I do not know which pair of shoes I need most... true. Do I buy kickass hiking shoes in anticipation of scaling all kinds of Andean peaks in South America, or more versatile Nike sneakers that can also be used for running or walking around town. What is my greater need? Statistically, the more robust shoes have it.
Why am I still not making a buying decision then? I guess it speaks completely to my current state of mind, where I am in the middle of my travels (literally at the six month mark plus) and all kinds of stuff are manifesting in my psychology, profound choices that probably are reflected in my indecision on choosing between light versatile shoes to heavy tough ones that are really only suited for a certain kind of activity.
I feel a little bit like control has been stripped off me this week... my future employment at GV has been cast in doubt, completely unsettling my plans once more, physically I feel like crap and not only because I have once again put on a few kilos... too much rum and beer will do that! Also, even though I am with friends in Peru, I do miss the amazing and constant companionship that I had with Chris, my sis, and ultimately the incomparable Susie.
How to take control back... GOALS GELDENHUYS, GOALS!!!
OK, LET US MAP EM
1. GO JOG IN THE MORNING
2. FOUR CARDS TRANSLATED A DAY
3. THROW AWAY BIG BOOK BY END OF WEEK
4. STARTING WITH CARDS TONIGHT!!!!
5. BUY HIKING BOOTS BY END OF WEEK
Sounds good... I am in!
Ok, so for the first odd 5 months of my travels I had been lugging around my trusty pair of Nike sneakers, a pair of sandals and my fancy black shoes... just in case I should need to go to a hot club and need to step up in style. The Nikes after four years of deadly service finally went the way of all old shoes after braving two volcano descents, lots of damp attacks and musting up my lower backpack, and, I am ashamed to say, the funeral was not special.
Said Nike shoes were unceremoniously accorded to foreverness in a dumpster in Costa Rica, as by this time my sister had brought me my kickass sandals from South Africa. Said kickass sandles, by the by, are already starting to fray at the edges and the velcro has received a first serving of glue, so watch this space, I seem to be going hard on shoes. The fancy black shoes have gone back to SA as I have realized I am not cool enough to possibly justify lugging them around, and anyway my mate Fico has some in Lima, which is probably the last place I will want ot go clubbing before I hit backpackerness again.
My point, however, is this: As I sit here today, I have a smaller backpack which currently is very low maintenance but contains NO EXTRA FOOTWEAR. This is a situation that cannot possibly continue longterm, at some point I will need something more robust or protective than sandals, but I have been putting off making this decision for over three weeks now. Why?
Let`s analyze...
1. I did not want to travel with shoes I would not need... partially true, I could have gone jogging on the lake in Nicaragua or in the gym at the hotel in Costa Rica if I had by then bought a decent pair of sneakers.
2. I do not know which pair of shoes I need most... true. Do I buy kickass hiking shoes in anticipation of scaling all kinds of Andean peaks in South America, or more versatile Nike sneakers that can also be used for running or walking around town. What is my greater need? Statistically, the more robust shoes have it.
Why am I still not making a buying decision then? I guess it speaks completely to my current state of mind, where I am in the middle of my travels (literally at the six month mark plus) and all kinds of stuff are manifesting in my psychology, profound choices that probably are reflected in my indecision on choosing between light versatile shoes to heavy tough ones that are really only suited for a certain kind of activity.
I feel a little bit like control has been stripped off me this week... my future employment at GV has been cast in doubt, completely unsettling my plans once more, physically I feel like crap and not only because I have once again put on a few kilos... too much rum and beer will do that! Also, even though I am with friends in Peru, I do miss the amazing and constant companionship that I had with Chris, my sis, and ultimately the incomparable Susie.
How to take control back... GOALS GELDENHUYS, GOALS!!!
OK, LET US MAP EM
1. GO JOG IN THE MORNING
2. FOUR CARDS TRANSLATED A DAY
3. THROW AWAY BIG BOOK BY END OF WEEK
4. STARTING WITH CARDS TONIGHT!!!!
5. BUY HIKING BOOTS BY END OF WEEK
Sounds good... I am in!
posted by Pieter G at 4:17 PM
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