Michael: I've been thinking about my life lately, and everything feels pretty planned out. There's no more surprises.
Last night I sat down and watched The Last Kiss, a Zach Braff movie which was released last Fall. If you enjoyed Garden State, then you'll probably enjoy The Last Kiss, though it's much heavier on the drama.
The plot revolves around 4 long time friends who face the age of 30 with varying degrees of commitment to the women in their lives.
- Michael (played by Zach) – not married, girlfriend is pregnant, afraid of the future
- Chris – unhappily married, with baby
- Izzy – heartbroken over girlfriend who recently dumped him
- Kenny – quintessential bachelor
- Kim (played by Rachel Bilson of The OC) – college girl with a crush on Michael
Kim: Did you know that the institution of marriage was created when the average person lived to the age of 30
What caught my attention was the idea Izzy had to ride a motorcycle from his home town in Wisconsin to Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of Argentina. He seemed set on the idea, and wanted Kenny to join him. Kenny, having just hooked up with a wild (in bed) girl from a wedding they all attended, brushed Kenny's suggestion aside stating how happy he was with his life. It was only later, after the girl surprised Kenny with an introduction to her parents, did he realize his fling was turning into a relationship (which meant it was time to join Izzy for an adventure). They ended up buying an RV for the drive.
As much as I'd like to see myself as the Michael of the group, I neither have a girlfriend, nor pretty college girls trying to pick me up at weddings. Perhaps this makes my decision to travel into the big world all the easier. Someday I would like to see myself married….with children. That someday is not today though! And it is not next year either! I've been fully committed to this travel opportunity that lay ahead of me, and it is full steam ahead (unless I run into Rachel Bilson sometime soon).
Kim: Having a crisis are we?
Michael: Do I look like I'm having a crisis?
Kim: Everyone I know is having a crisis. I know you're not supposed to get them until midlife but I think something's happening to our metabolism
Michael: Our metabolism?
Kim: [nods] Yeah, I mean the world is moving so fast now, we are all chasing something so fast that we start freaking out long before our parents did. Feel my heart.
[puts his hand in her chest]
Kim: Feel how fast it is?
Michael: …that's a fast heart.
Kim: “˜Cause we don't ever stop to breathe anymore…
Kim: You gotta remember to breathe or you'll die.
Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 66 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.
Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:
- G Adventures for small group tours.
- Hostelworld for booking hostels.