Anchorage– It’s our final day on The Last Frontier. I sit in my hotel room around 9am, and the sun will be MIA for several more hours. There’s something nice about the illusion that you’ve gotten an extreme head start on the day. The band had a particularly fun day-off yesterday, mostly because we left the day completely open-ended. I’ve talked a lot about pre-planning in the last few posts, but the next step in easing my travel stress has been learning to let go of the plan altogether.

Traveling means all days look different (that’s why we love it), but that openness often leaves lots of time that I have to decide how to organize. That may sound ideal, but making that many decisions every day gets tough, especially if you have the tendency to re-think and scrutinize your own decisions. (More on that in a previous post) Every morning on tour I consider everything I need and want to do, and a plan will start to take shape that will hopefully contain both productivity and enjoyment. Sometimes there is a lot on the schedule and the plan is made for me, but sometimes days are more open and the sheer volume of options means I sit and stare at the list for way too long. It could be e-mailing, practicing, exercising, exploring, adulting… Could I do a little of each? Which is priority? Which happens first? And that’s before considering weather, tiredness level, bandmates’ schedules, etc. I’m getting a little anxious just typing this, and it’s my every morning! Some days I really do envy the mindlessness of routines.

When I do create a plan, now there’s a new struggle: the stronger this plan takes hold, the harder it is to accept when it changes. Which it almost always does! I get a physical  p a n g  of discomfort. Letting go of my original plan is hard, but we perfectionists will still try [unrealistically] to make everything happen, and our failure at this is a downward spiral. Some days are better than others. This morning I spent far too much time lying in bed weighing my workout plan options. I decided on an elliptical session and headed out the door, only to get a phone call from a different time zone (we were 12 hours apart, so it took priority). I eventually arrived at the gym to find my bandmate had the same gym plan as me, and there was only one elliptical machine. The Moxie Strings are a motivated band! There it was: that uncomfortable grip of a plan changing. “Re-calculating…” I opted for the recumbent bike and a shorter workout. The phone call was worth taking, and the bike was probably better for my knee injury anyway. This was one of the better days.

When that discomfort arises, I’m working on saying out loud “this is out of my control,” “the universe didn’t want that to happen today,” and/or “what if this new option is better?” Some days I can do it all, some days I can’t. When it all happens, great, but when it doesn’t, that’s great too, and often means something enjoyable arose instead. This is still a very much a work in progress for me. Sometimes I envy people who aren’t “planners” and can just go-with-the-flow. I think there’s a sweet spot somewhere in the middle.

Now I’m learning that these unexpected changes aren’t just to be accommodated, they’re to be celebrated and even prioritized. The best travel days have deliberate openness: a space to fill with unexpected opportunity and improvisation.

Most often these are fun, un-planned gifts from the universe, and recognizing them is contingent on a keen understanding of what I want in the moment, regardless of the plan. It wasn’t long ago that I found myself declining opportunities because they weren’t in my initial plan for the day, but in retrospect, they would have been way more enjoyable if I had been open to them. 

Planning is important, but only when coupled with a readiness to flex and adapt. Our stress levels and mental wellness depend on it.

I need some structure to be most efficient with my time, but if I structure too much I’d likely miss great opportunities, which are, after all, the beauty of travel.

Yesterday we woke up in Homer, and the “plan” that day was to let the Alaska wind blow us in any direction. We had some local diner breakfast, and started the scenic, mountainous trek back to Anchorage. Our adventures included a trip out to the Homer Spit, king crab legs at the Double Musky, an outdoor bonfire at Girdwood Brewing Co., oysters at Anchorage’s Bubbly Mermaid, and a stop at the Clam Gulch Inn to visit a new friend who stocked us with smoked sockeye salmon. All unbelievable local suggestions that we were so glad to have had the time to experience.

Today’s mantra comes from a close friend and kindred spirit. He introduced me to: “This, or better.” “This” being the original plan that took root, and “better” being all the beautiful options that the travel gods may throw our way instead. Most often they are better! Repeat to oneself as necessary 🙂

Drriift on, drriifters 💙🌏💨

Diana

Want to hear what we were listening to? Here’s my Alaska Spotify playlist: