Anticipation

Sculptures outside the Bröhan Museum

NOT just a great Carly Simon song!

The pleasure isn't in doing the thing, the pleasure is in planning it.
~ John Green, Paper Towns

I disagree BUT...

I’m generally not a planner – not when I go on vacations. I like to keep myself open to whatever might show up in my face. Historically, before venturing out, I read minimal amounts about my destinations. That right there, is a failing. It really is possible to read and learn, to do advance exploration, without locking myself into a rigid plan. Also, would it kill me to have a B&B reserved? Ya know, a home base, a place to drop my rucksack when I land, before I Begin the Beguine (and shit)?

But, but, but....what if I don't like the place? What if someplace else that I happen to pass on my way from the bus stop looks much more charming and darling? Gee duh, I can just change my digs. At worst I may lose a deposit. NOT the end of the world!

The first time I went to Berlin, all I knew was the romance and magic of Christopher Isherwood’s stories, the horror and grit of the wall and that they had some must see museums. On that trip I wandered the streets. Yes, I went to the Pergamon, the Berlinische Galerie and the Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie (at that point, Berlin was reunited but much of the wall was still standing) but, mostly, I meandered aimlessly, stopping in cafes to nosh, read and people watch.

It wasn’t until MUCH later, after Della and Martin moved there (it’s Martin’s home town!), that I got to see so much more of the town. Berlin is VAST. I hope to visit again soon.

This loose, no-plans-please-we’re-free-spirits thing’s all well and good but I do think I’m missing out. I can read up, get ideas ahead of time, travel in my imagination without locking myself into a hard, unbreakable, MUST DO program.

We need the sweet pain of anticipation to tell us we are really alive.
~ Albert Camus

Hmmm. "Sweet pain" somehow that seems less than pleasant. And yet...

“Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.
~ A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh 

I don't want my anticipation, my imagination to outclass reality. Is that actually even possible though? While I have an inventive, interesting bean, I doubt that I can create a rapturous, Elysium universe so perfect and full that, in contrast, reality is nothing but a weak, dreary sister.

'scuse me, I believe I'm going to cut loose and enjoy some anticipation. Cheers!

Oh the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all.
~ Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!