The end approaches.

I can’t think of any better way to bring 10 Cities/10 Years to a finish than with a cross-country road trip. To that end, I will spend the last week of August driving from New York City to Los Angeles, pretty much as extensive and representative a drive as one could attempt through this nation.

It will be my 3rd such cross-country road trip in 2 years, which includes my move from New Orleans to Boston for year 9, and a trek from Phoenix to Boston with my roommate to kick off 2014. The 3rd and final Keroucian™ endeavor will find my ex-roommate and I, once again, traversing the expanse of America via stick shift. Whereas last time we crossed through the South, this time we’re cutting straight through the Midwest.

Just knowing the trip is less than 2 weeks away is making me restless.

If I have 1 regret for this trip, it’s that I won’t have an opportunity to hit any new states this time around, but since we have a limited time frame and I’ve visited 40 of the 50, it’s not much of a concern.

Because, ultimately, all I care about is the drive. I had the epiphany the last time I was staring down the long stretch of the road that there is no life I crave more than the one experienced at 80 mph (except, perhaps, for the one experienced at 90, 100, 120…). I haven’t owned a car in more than a decade for the simple reason that city living at its truest has no need for it. The best cities provide you access to all its wonders without needing a driver’s license.

However, as much as I love city living – and there’s no equivocating, I do love it – it is still a pleasure to escape it on occasion. The automobile is, for my money, one of the greatest human inventions. I don’t believe there is anywhere on this planet* that I would be content to stay forever. The road is… well, you know the rest.

Our cross-country trek begins on the 23rd, stopping in various locations (including Lawrence) and we’ll be seeing some friends and family along the way. We have a basic route mapped out, but as any traveler will tell you, the best trips are those with the least plans. We’ll make it up as we go. Life, man.

(And then I’ll return to Brooklyn to celebrate the completion of an utterly silly decade.)

I. Can. Not. Wait.

*If the opportunity to be one of the first travelers to Mars presented itself, you can bet your ass I would leave everything and everyone behind to make the journey.