Paused dreams

April 16, 2020 by Mike Cohen in Van life

It usually takes about 5 minutes for me to get out of bed. I shift my body over the air mattress and Lincoln posted up right on my chest. He doesn’t move until he rolls off. When he rolls off, is prime opportunity for him to get a good morning belly rub. After that, I get on my iPad or my MacBook Pro and do some writing. Constantly checking on the weather in Ojai, to make sure my camper isn’t washed away. My dream is paused.

My dream exactly was this: living in the camper, bouncing around from RV park to National Park from town to town, city to city. Once they lift these restrictions, I will be able to return to this plan.

Until then, I am figuring out how to upgrade my bike situation. I currently have a 2019 Trek Domane SL 6 Disc. This beauty will forever be a part of my quiver. Not selling it but going to strip the parts off and transfer them to a gravel set up. I don’t ride gravel, but I would love to have some options of on and off road use.

I’ve been saving and i’m very close to pulling the trigger. Once I get this baby in my hands… I am positive the creative and adventure juices flowing.

Until then, here’s some dope photos:

#vanlife #quarantinelife #cycling #mikecohen #cyclingacrosscountry

popped right out of bed

April 08, 2020 by Mike Cohen

You read that right. This is officially day 38 of my quarantine. Lincoln and I spent a month in the camper and 8 days at my parents’. I’ve been sleeping on an air mattress. Lincoln sleeps wherever it is warm. Either between my legs or on top of a mound of blankets. I’ve been teetering on boredom. When I was in the camper, I was constantly organizing, getting rid of stuff that isn’t/wasn’t necessary, and cooking bomb meals in the Traeger. Here, I am waking up at 12pm every day, Today I woke up at 10am, and popped right out of bed. I’ve been constantly saying to myself how badly I want to be productive during this time and today I finally followed through with it.

I spend a lot of time in my life, looking at old photos. I like to go back in my past and see where I was. It motivates me. It inspires me. To always look back but never settle.

So since time is completely on my side, I will be posting photos and describing best of what was going on in the photo and timestamp them. Some of the photos will be old, some will be new.

April 3, 2018 - doing laps at Kate Sessions Park. This was way before I was approved for cardiac rehab and before even jumping on the stationary bike.

April 7, 2020 - Lincoln stealing my pillow

Home, or is it?

December 09, 2019 by Mike Cohen in nevergiveup

This is the second time I came home from a bike ride across the United States. This time is much better actually. I have a home, a dog, a car, a resume. Last time, my brother and I had to rent a car since the car he gifted me, broke down in the middle of the desert. I’d say i’m in an actual great place.

I was laid off by my employer, I ended a long relationship and decided to be a single person. Beginning a search to find out who I am. I am 34 and almost 2 years with a different heart. I’ve spent the last couple of years, listening and following the prognosis to a T. This is the third time, I’ve built myself back to “normal”. This one is actually the most normal I’ve ever felt as an adult.

As a healthy adult, I need to be able to make the best decisions, in the best interest and perspective as ME. Not seeking or receiving input whatsoever from anyone other than who I chose to ask. I’ve worked really hard to return home, or normal.

I am not really normal. Not many people would be excited to be unemployed and recently going full time into creating the career and life, I have been fighting and working for my entire life, to call mine.