Tomorrow, my girlfriend Christine and I are packing up her Jetta and heading west on a cross-country drive. Boston to San Francisco, with possible stops along the way. Most of our possessions are going separately, in a Broadway Express 18-wheeler driven by some guy named Ronny. I've been back in Boston for only 15 months after my round-the-world trip, and I'm on the move again. Once again, my life is in boxes.

One of the best - and worst - things about moving is the packing. You are forced to look at and touch everything you own. You have to make decisions about what to keep, what to throw out, what's important, what's not. It also puts in perspective how much stuff we all have. Piles and piles of useless junk, and it doesn't take very long to accumulate. That's one of the reasons I like to move frequently: it requires you to take inventory of your life. While going through the material belongings, it's hard not to think about the nonmaterial as well. We can become too attached to our stuff. It's nice to think that if all this stuff went away, my life would not be negatively affected all that much. Give me a computer, a guitar, enough clothes to avoid doing laundry too often, and a phone to call my family, and I'll be happy. (Note to Ronny the truck driver: if you're reading this, don't get any ideas!)

While getting ready for the cross-country trip, it's hard also not to think about all those who have done it in the past. My brother made the trip a few years ago, starting a new life. Lewis and Clark were the first European-Americans to do it, and they went down in legend. Then it was Westward ho! The Oregon Trail. The Gold Rush! Sal Paradise, Jack Kerouack, and On the Road. Beavis and Butthead. And now me.

That's a lot to live up to. I hope our trip can measure up to the precedents, but really I'll be happy if we get there in one piece, and despite what I said above, it would be nice if our belongings got there, too.

Then it's a year or two in San Francisco. After that, who knows? Possibly somewhere longer-term. There's a balance to be found between moving around and having adventure and getting comfortable in one place. The last couple years have been tipped towards movement, but it would be nice to actually finish some bottles of condiments, instead of throwing them away half-full, or to watch a garden develop year to year, or to not have to say goodbye so much. The siren call of the road will always be there, though. Ideally, if my software consulting plan works out, I can have a source of income not tied to geography, providing the best of both worlds. Time will tell.

In any case, keep watching this space for updates and pictures from the Road!

• On to part one
• Part two
• Part three
• Part four
• Part five
• Part six
• Part seven
• Part eight
• Part nine