Almost a week ago I left behind my old life and headed for the mountains to live a simpler, happier existence with my wife. We packed as few things as possible and made a one-way trip into the wilderness, passing through dust storms and then snow storms as if they were a kind of final test of our determination.
The rewards became apparent before I'd even finished unloading. A herd of deer came to greet me, and we studied eachother for a while. I was lucky enough to have a camera within reach, so you can view the video here.
A small house makes simple living a near-necessity. There is no room for clutter. Purging is always a liberating experience, though. Mountain life is agreeing with me and I already wake before sunrise in anticipation of the sights and sounds that lie ahead. I haven't worn a watch in two days.
The apartment is empty and the truck is fueled. This is my last day at the office, and my last in this state. My resignation was just one of the last actions that led me to this point. Many experiences over my life have contributed to my choice of career and surroundings. It's time to say goodbye to the hill country
and hello to the high country that I'll call home.
It's also time to say goodbye to my southern friends and colleagues, and hello to my fellow mountain folk!
As I type, all around me is in disarray. Moving preparations are underway. I haven't held my camera in over a week. Feelings of nostalgia are mixed with anticipation for life in the mountains. Still, there is time to give some thought to MLK day. Of course, Martin Luther King Jr taught tolerance and peace, but he also inspired people to stand up for their own beliefs.
When a person makes a conscious choice to chart a course that differs from his or her peers, there will always be a certain amount of resistance, or at least a lack of understanding. The civil rights movement is an extreme example, but every person experiences this challenge, and he or she will either assimilate, or continue to stand alone (if necessary) for what is believed to be right.
By leaving a relatively easy life for the challenges of a new career and environment, I am making my own choices, but I should go further and be more ready to do what I believe is right. This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
Though I am leaving on very good terms, I can't help but think of the following scene from the critically acclaimed (and influential) series, The Prisoner:
During a rare break from making final arrangements in preparation for the big move, I realized that one special photo was missing from the website. I’ll remember the day it was taken for a long time. I had spotted four or five deer in a wooded area nearby. I readied my camera and hurried over. Once in range, I slowly moved closer and began to take photos. The herd didn’t seem to mind my presence, and as they allowed me to get amongst them I found myself sat in a snow bank just observing them. To be accepted as a guest was quite an honor. At a distance of no more than six feet, I raised my camera again and captured the moment:
Experiences such as this are the reason I am a photographer.
Confucius once said the “only the wisest and stupidest of men never change”. I’m about to make a very significant change to my life. The time has come for me to leave the city behind and head to my adopted home in the mountains. I can no longer be separated from the wilderness, where I belong. I’ll leave the security of an office job for the adventure of a photographer high in the Rocky Mountains. I have no idea how this story will end, but I know that it will be an exciting journey. I will live deliberately and simply, and I will not give up on my dreams.
In the coming posts, I’ll tell you about my travels, my efforts to live simply, and of course my photography. I hope you’ll join me.
The following clip seems quite fitting. Both Jeremiah Johnson and Rocky Mountain High were released in 1972 (40 years ago), and both have left their indelible mark.
