Freedom is the oxygen of the soul.
MOSHE DAYAN
An escape from the noise of everyday life into a state of Vespa scooter freedom is a gift of hope and joy. The same now as it was when I began riding a scooter so many years ago. In minutes the noise and stress that can accumulate in my head burn off like fog on a sunny morning. The air embraces my body and I’m flying. All I can think is it’s great to be alive.
It doesn’t take long until I’m far from home. The scooter has quietly transported me to a different reality. The long road, the spring light, the promise of life emerging again from winter reduces my world to something simple I can grasp. Like the throttle of the Vespa.
Riding provides a taste of freedom, and it quickens the soul.
It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere.
VOLTAIRE
The chains I revere. Are there any left?
The pandemic and retirement have stripped most of them away. I have no schedule. Little concern for the cosmetics of American life like shaves, haircuts, being well dressed or living in any sort of intentional, planned manner. I do what I want, when I want, within the constraints each day delivers.
Riding gives me that Vespa scooter freedom that soothes the soul. When I stand along the road somewhere looking at my scooter I’m still amazed by how visually attractive it remains, how well it continues to perform, and how much I still want to ride that machine.
It’s the best chain cutting decision I’ve ever made.
Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.
JOHN MILTON
I remain thankful that riding is part of my life. Parking the Vespa under a tree on a sunny day and stepping back to look at the landscape, I find I feel just a bit lighter, breathing slow and steady, and for a moment the world feels different.
It’s not always like this, but it happens more often than not. So much that I have come to expect it. And I ride to find it. Sure, the act of riding is satisfying and fun, but I have continued to invest my time and treasure because I find something more.
It’s all part of that Vespa scooter freedom.
Thank you for sharing another inspirational ride Steve. Having only been a Vespa rider for 3 years, it pleases me that a long-time owner like yourself still finds fulfillment and contentment everytime you venture out. I shall be delighted if I still find the same enjoyment when I have been riding as long as you.
Spring-time is truly a wonderful season to ride, seeing nature renewing itself is a great spectacle. Being time rich, I think we are blessed to be in a position where we can take to the road on a whim and savour the delights that every ride seems to deliver.
Andrew
It has been a unique experience for me. For most of my life, I didn’t stick to much of anything. I would move from interest to interest without ever really experiencing anything. Riding has been an ongoing joy.
The weather here in central Pennsylvania has been great for riding and as you say, with much to savor.
Oooooh…..yessss.
Chris Uk
The more I ride, the wider the door for such experience seems to open!
J’approuve complètement !!!
I completely approve !!!
Laurent de France
Merci!
Steve simply Amen, Thanks brother!!!
Thank you Don. I keep exploring and try to pay attention.
Yet another vintage distillation Steve. Enjoyed a gorgeous and very sunny 70 mile loop yesterday after a cool, damp and grey week of two wheel deprivation. How sweet it can be. Thank you.
Cool and damp just arrived here. I may spend some time writing and thinking about warmer, drier days.
Yes, okay Steve. But how is the K-75 running after its spa day getting oiled and massaged? A run on one of my bikes is always a mood brightened too.
I picked up the K75 a couple days ago and rode the 90 miles home in gloomy, windy, cold weather. And it was enjoyable. Plus the mechanic said the motorcycle is in pristine condition for being 29 years old. It’s never had a clutch spline service and I was afraid the the splines might be overly worn. But they were in perfect condition. So I should be good now for years of riding!
As always, beautifully written. I very much enjoyed the added quotations from Dayan, Voltaire, and Milton. Thank you Steve!
Steel
Thank you for the kind words of support. I appreciate them.
I thought the quotes were appropriate to the subject I was pondering. I often run across things I make note of and it was good to be able to lay my hands on them.
Here’s to being unchained!
Well… my retirement has turned into something I never expected.
My time these days is full of setting up and tweaking our Brompton bikes for adventure (stuff I wanted to add, stuff I didn’t realize we needed, putting together a picnic kit…), producing videos about the bits that may prove helpful to other Brompton addicts, implementing “hacks” including stuffing a high pressure pump in the seat post, and coming up with a minimal GoPro sling with a magnetic catch that I will be able to use both on the Vespa and the Brompton that I am dying to test… with the rest of my time spent practicing law and running my little part-time practice.
When I add it all up, there is a lot of complex stuff to tangle with every single day that ensures that my brain is fully engaged and there is not even a nook or a cranny left for boredom.
This is much better than working full time. I am not complaining, not in the least… but….
I could certainly dial back the practice and I wouldn’t really miss it. The main incentive was to bolster our retirement finances. I have done that in spades. At this point I am really plumping up our estate for our three kids, none of whom are even remotely in need of that.
But when you build something like this, it’s kind of like building a boat in your back yard. Eventually it launches, and then you sail, and sail, and sail…
I think I am looking at a three-year horizon, max. Then I’ll retire from my retirement.
Maybe.
Retirement is an interesting state, and unpredictable. For me at least. There were plans for what I thought I would do, and then what I actually do. Seems you’re running a similar path.
It’s good to have things that spark our interest, isn’t it? Keeping the brain fully engaged does keep the boredom at bay.
I can’t imagine working for someone anymore. Retirement has wrecked me.
Plumping up the estate, a first-world problem no doubt. Strange how much I’m drawn to investing and keeping track of such things now. Very weird.
Good luck as you work toward your retirement retirement!