Take a road trip

February 15, 2008 in Uncategorized

Vintage_airstream A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving. -Lao Tzu

Have I ever mentioned that I desperately want a vintage Airstream? My dream is to deck out a big metal vintage tube like a rock band’s tour bus (I’ll pretend to be Tracy Chapman or Joan Armatrading or Tom Waits or Johnny Cash), with "37days" and "Life is a Verb" painted on the side, a little hand-cranked green and white awning I could put out when we park, and just flat out take to the road with Mr Brilliant, Emma, Tess, and the dawg, Blue, for 37 days in October when my book comes out (the cats would hate it, trust me), bothering people in independent bookstores across the hills and dales.

Crazy idea? Can I park in your driveway? Do you have an Airstream you’re not using anymore? Do you think a teenager, dog, toddler, Mr Brilliant, and overwrought vegan writer craving Peanut Chews in a small metal tube at 70 miles per hour is a good idea? Perhaps I’d be better off with this tiny Airstream, instead.

It started years ago, this love of Airstreams, and was fueled in the past year or so by seeing a revamped Airstream being used as an office (I wish I could find that link–it was breathtaking, really. UPDATE–thanks to reader David for finding the very link! Be sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom of that post to see all the photos). My lord, what a dream. I can just see traipsing out to the trailer in the driveway in my robe and fuzzy slippers and bed head, much to the dismay of the fancy B&B’s that surround us. I envision myself at a small formica fold-down table, typing and typing and typing away for hours, sipping Earl Grey Lavender tea with soy creamer until I’m completely wired, gnawing on a few radishes, and then folding up my laptop and the table, before the long commute home to make dal and fake helping Emma with her Algebra 2 homework.

So imagine my delight when I saw this yesterday, even though it’s not vintage. And then when Rick pointed me to a place in NC that sells them. And THEN when I realized that I WILL BE WITHIN TWO MILES OF THAT PLACE NEXT WEDNESDAY when I travel to Greensboro to do some speeches at my alma mater.

I’ll be stopping at exit 208. Oh, yeah. Photos to follow.

I was serious about parking in your driveway.

[image from here]

About Patti Digh

Patti Digh is an author, speaker, and educator who builds learning communities and gets to the heart of difficult topics. Her work over the last three decades has focused on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and living and working mindfully. She has developed diversity strategies and educational programming for major nonprofit and corporate organizations and has been a featured speaker at many national and international conferences.

19 comments to " Take a road trip "

  • Reply
    Jill
    February 15, 2008 AT 1:49PM

    I want a vintage airstream, too!

  • Reply
    yolanda
    February 15, 2008 AT 1:59PM

    This is such a dream of mine too. thanks for Sharing it.

  • Reply
    yolanda
    February 15, 2008 AT 2:02PM

    I love them too and you can park in my driveway anytime.

  • Reply
    Ann Torrence
    February 15, 2008 AT 2:45PM

    You can absolutely park in front of the palace. Salt Lake has some great independent bookstores that somehow stay in business despite the big box proliferation. One of them, King’s English, is a short walk away from your parking space. October is a fabulous time to travel in the west.

  • Reply
    lori
    February 15, 2008 AT 4:46PM

    you can absolutely park in our driveway (although, it’s on a bit of a slope…). and PUH-LEASE put atlanta on your list of tour dates!

    i know someone with a pea-sized airstream (smallest i’ve ever seen) and it has hardwood floors – just like in a vintage home. it’s adorable!

  • Reply
    David B. Drake
    February 15, 2008 AT 6:34PM

    Hi Patti,

    As I move into my 50’s I find myself yearning again for the open road. I was reflecting on a story in my family of a relative in his 80’s who was supposed to return home from a family reunion under the close supervision of others. Instead, he ditched them to take an long road trip to spend time with the son of his dearest friend (now deceased) to whom he was also close. He returned home and promptly died . . . but no doubt with a great smile on his face for a life that had come full circle.

    I’m not sure if this is the link you were seeking, but I found it inspiring: http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2006/10/post.html

    Happy travels…
    David

  • Reply
    Lori
    February 16, 2008 AT 1:31AM

    Come to the Washington Coast. Park your Airstream where the Columbia sways in lunar rhythm with the Pacific, where the surf surges on the horizon, as the waters of a thousand streams spill into the cold salt sea.
    Park in our driveway under the waving firs and then eat cranberries and crab by a bonfire. One half mile west, Klipsan (Chinook for setting sun) Beach is shimmering, a half mile east, the clouds rise above the mountains, east of Willapa Bay, swimming in an aqua sky. Hear the birds call ten miles away.

    Bring your beauty to us, and we’ll send some of ours with you when you go.

  • Reply
    Shula
    February 16, 2008 AT 7:48AM

    Damn right you can park it in my driveway.

    But only if I can take a picture of me standing in front of it.

  • Reply
    Ellouise
    February 16, 2008 AT 8:56AM

    You are most definitely invited to park in our driveway – in MD ( 2 miles from Politics and Prose or in PA (near Gettysburg). reading about your love of the airstreeam – reminded me – when our daughter lived in Manhattan Beach, CA, there was a vintage airstream parked beside the corner house across the street with a long all-weather cord from the house to the trailer. Everynight lights were on. I thought at the time that it was someone’s den or home office. But that was my shy and retiring period and I never asked. Missed the story. For the eight years they lived in that house it was a neighborhodd fixture and I imagine it is still there. Ellouise

  • Reply
    Karrie
    February 16, 2008 AT 9:39AM

    you can park in my driveway any ol’ time.

    Don’t forget the bike trip…tick, tick, tick…!

  • Reply
    Esther
    February 16, 2008 AT 12:24PM

    You of course are invited to both my home cities, Moscow and Spokane – each community has a great book store too! I would love to show you around!

  • Reply
    grace, T
    February 16, 2008 AT 12:33PM

    If i had a driveway, it would be yours for the parking…I have a friend whose driveway would be welcoming for you and the family.

    dreams come true.

  • Reply
    Kikipotamus the Hobo
    February 16, 2008 AT 3:19PM

    Be sure to include WordsWorth Books & Co. Inc. in Little Rock on your tour. Tell them I sent you (book signing contact is Jean).

  • Reply
    Ellen Weber
    February 16, 2008 AT 4:29PM

    I see a novel here — by the end of the first trip:-) Great post.

  • Reply
    Steve Sherlock
    February 16, 2008 AT 5:19PM

    By all means, the driveway here has some space to park for awhile. I am sure we could find something to talk about and Boston is not far away.

  • Reply
    Kim
    February 17, 2008 AT 4:34PM

    You have parking spaces waiting for you in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and in Provincetown, MA. Let’s get cracking on that itinerary, my friend! We’ll even provide dog treats.

  • Reply
    Maleka
    February 17, 2008 AT 7:17PM

    Come to our independent bookstore! Big Blue Marble Bookstore in the Mt. Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia! I’m the events coordinator. We’re fun, and progressive, and eco-friendly, and we like you!

  • Reply
    Sally
    February 19, 2008 AT 9:13AM

    I don’t think my driveway’s big enough :(, but you can try to park there! Besides, there’s a wonderful independent bookstore about two miles away, Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, NJ. I’ll be waiting….

  • Reply
    Leah
    February 22, 2008 AT 5:37PM

    I’m a few days late in posting this, but in case you can’t buy your own airstream, you can vacation in one on the Isle of Wight: http://www.vintagevacations.co.uk/deatils.htm

    Enjoy!

    Leah

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