All My Gettings

When I was in college (something that was over three years ago, a fact which makes me feel old), I had this ongoing joke with my friends whenever life would get me down. I was going to flee to Kansas. Just get in my car, drive off without telling anyone where I was going and making a brand new life without any history. And why Kansas? Not only do I find the whole swath of the Midwest sort of intriguing, but nobody in their right mind would go looking for me in Kansas, or North Dakota, or Nebraska. Of course, since I've now told this plan to basically everyone in my life multiple times, I'm guessing Wichita is precisely the first place people would look for me if I went missing.

Thing is, though, in college I would never do this. I had responsibilities and demands. And, I didn't own my own car or have sufficient funds to pull off such a stunt. And I had paid money for school. But now, life is just crumbling between my fingers, I do own my own car (well, the financing folks own it technically) and, thanks to living at home and working full-time, I've got plenty of cash burning a hole in my account. Oh, and I'm not that big of a fan of my job, which lessens the trouble I'd have to just up and leaving. Now, I wouldn't just disappear into the night. I'd probably quit my job and give two weeks notice and all that jazz. But I wouldn't tell my family or friends anything. Then, one day, I'd get up like I was going to work and just keep driving east (or rather drive east, as my job is technically south of my domicile).

I'm pretty sure I won't do this; I just don't have the balls for such a move. But, it's probably pretty telling that I've daydreamt about running away once every, oh, hour for the past week. All I'm saying, I guess, is if I do fall off the face of the planet, I'm probably just in a square state, working some brainless job. Don't try to find me.