I'm not freaking out enough...

sonhador · Apr 13, 2017

So I'm 6 weeks out from departure. I feel like I should be freaking out for my first camino. I haven't done a full pack on my gear yet, there still one or two things I'm trying to nail down on my gear as well. I still need to send my backpack belt off to be exchanged, as well as finish booking transportation for the back end of the trip. And yet...I'm not.

I'm not stressed about this at all. I have a tenative itinerary that is initially very conservative (10-15k for 4 days) and then my longest day is only 30 km. - most between 20 and 25. I have 5 extra days planned to go to Finesterre and Muxia. I know I can do this. I know I need to do this. And I know I will do this.

Am I crazy for not being freaked out?

Erin

MichaelB10398 · Apr 13, 2017

I think the more normal state is not to be in fear of anything; so, no it is not crazy for you to have a sense of calm. All of us feel fear and fear is a normal reaction, but we each can overcome fear and must overcome fear to lead a courageous life.

It is better to complete your list of things to do early rather than to wait unnecessarily. Enjoy each day and before you know it you will step onto the path and join so many other pilgrims that have walked before you and will follow after you.

november_moon · Apr 13, 2017

Eh, everybody is different. I had so much non-Camino stuff to deal with pre-Camino that I didn't have time to anticipate anything, so no room for Camino anxieties or anything, just worked on knocking things off the to-do list prior to leaving and then it was time to leave.

Kiwi-family · Apr 13, 2017

You're preparing for a walk in a civilized country - no need for panic.

KarenR · Apr 13, 2017

sonhador said:
So I'm 6 weeks out from departure. I feel like I should be freaking out for my first camino. I haven't done a full pack on my gear yet, there still one or two things I'm trying to nail down on my gear as well. I still need to send my backpack belt off to be exchanged, as well as finish booking transportation for the back end of the trip. And yet...I'm not.

I'm not stressed about this at all. I have a tenative itinerary that is initially very conservative (10-15k for 4 days) and then my longest day is only 30 km. - most between 20 and 30. I have 5 extra days planned to go to Finesterre and Muxia. I know I can do this. I know I need to do this. And I know I will do this.

Am I crazy for not being freaked out?

Erin

I'm a little over 6 weeks out before I leave and I am feeling such a call to do this that I am much more excited than anxious. I think maybe you know you are supposed to do this so you are not in the "freaking out" category either. Buen Camino!!

SYates · Apr 13, 2017

sonhador said:
... Am I crazy for not being freaked out?

Erin

No ;-) Buen Camino, SY

trecile · Apr 13, 2017

sonhador said:
So I'm 6 weeks out from departure. I feel like I should be freaking out for my first camino. I haven't done a full pack on my gear yet, there still one or two things I'm trying to nail down on my gear as well. I still need to send my backpack belt off to be exchanged, as well as finish booking transportation for the back end of the trip. And yet...I'm not.

I'm not stressed about this at all. I have a tenative itinerary that is initially very conservative (10-15k for 4 days) and then my longest day is only 30 km. - most between 20 and 30. I have 5 extra days planned to go to Finesterre and Muxia. I know I can do this. I know I need to do this. And I know I will do this.

Am I crazy for not being freaked out?

Erin

No, you aren't crazy for not freaking out. I'm glad that your plan is tentative, because you really won't know how much you want to walk each day until that day arrives.

Glenn Rowe · Apr 14, 2017

sonhador said:
So I'm 6 weeks out from departure. I feel like I should be freaking out for my first camino. I haven't done a full pack on my gear yet, there still one or two things I'm trying to nail down on my gear as well. I still need to send my backpack belt off to be exchanged, as well as finish booking transportation for the back end of the trip. And yet...I'm not.

I'm not stressed about this at all. I have a tenative itinerary that is initially very conservative (10-15k for 4 days) and then my longest day is only 30 km. - most between 20 and 30. I have 5 extra days planned to go to Finesterre and Muxia. I know I can do this. I know I need to do this. And I know I will do this.

Am I crazy for not being freaked out?

Erin

Sorry, Erin, but it sounds like (a) you're as thoroughly prepared as you can be, (b) you know it, as well as the limits of said preparations, and (c) are more-than-ready to deal with whatever may come.

My only question: Do you know how fortunate you are?

notion900 · Apr 14, 2017

No - you are enjoying your preparations. There is a Dutch word for that which someone posted on here a while back, but I have sadly forgotten it. Can anyone remind me?

KarenR · Apr 14, 2017

notion900 said:
No - you are enjoying your preparations. There is a Dutch word for that which someone posted on here a while back, but I have sadly forgotten it. Can anyone remind me?

The preparation is part of the Camino experience!

tillyjones · Apr 14, 2017

No. There is nothing to be freaked out about.

Robo · Apr 14, 2017

sonhador said:
Am I crazy for not being freaked out?

Not sure why anyone should be freaked out.

You're just going out for a walk in the Park after all. With a few dozen other people close by. Just that you are going to do it every day......for a few weeks

Nervous anticipation or a degree of excitement to 'get on the road'.........that would be normal .........

Purky · Apr 14, 2017

notion900 said:
No - you are enjoying your preparations. There is a Dutch word for that which someone posted on here a while back, but I have sadly forgotten it. Can anyone remind me?

Voorpret. Literally translates as 'pre-fun'. Happy jitters, cheerful anticipation.

David · Apr 14, 2017

Well, you are still some weeks away and the jitters, should they come, usually happen a little before you go. No reason to get them - my first I didn't, just packed a pack and went .... depends how much you have invested in it, how different it will be from normal life. The person that demands certainty gets freaked out because there can be no certainty and that frontal brain starts to panic - but you seem cool, relaxed - enjoy!

no need whatsoever to be concerned by the possibility of things going wrong at the top of any of the mountains you will cross, nor being worried by bears - there are only a few left .. nor wolves, as they tend to keep themselves to themselves, nor tornados on the Meseta, nor blisters becoming infected and giving you blood poisoning, or getting food poisoning, attacks by dogs, scorpions ....
(for those who do get anxious - none of these happen - )

Buen Camino!!

Mark Lee · Apr 14, 2017

Ain't nothing but a thing. It's all good.
After a few days of walking the Camino you will wonder why anybody would be needlessly nervous about it.
ultreia

sonhador · Apr 14, 2017

It's an odd thing to be slightly stressing about not stressing. It makes me wonder if I'm wearing my rose-colored glasses too much. Mostly I guess my concern is that I'm way overestimating what I can do, and underestimating the "toughness" of the camino. But I've traveled enough I know how to be Gumby. I'm honestly looking forward to this experience - just seeing how others are more concerned than I makes me question myself.

But 6 weeks from know I'll know, won't I?

Mike Savage · Apr 14, 2017

Keep wearing those rose-colored glasses. They have served me well too. Everybody is different. Enjoy the journey.

Buen Camino!

Paintboy2 · Apr 15, 2017

sonhador said:
So I'm 6 weeks out from departure. I feel like I should be freaking out for my first camino. I haven't done a full pack on my gear yet, there still one or two things I'm trying to nail down on my gear as well. I still need to send my backpack belt off to be exchanged, as well as finish booking transportation for the back end of the trip. And yet...I'm not.

I'm not stressed about this at all. I have a tenative itinerary that is initially very conservative (10-15k for 4 days) and then my longest day is only 30 km. - most between 20 and 25. I have 5 extra days planned to go to Finesterre and Muxia. I know I can do this. I know I need to do this. And I know I will do this.

Am I crazy for not being freaked out?

Erin

I planned pretty hard for our first Camino last year and about six weeks out I stopped and decided that I didn't want to plan any more. Once on Camino I found that it's true that the Camino provides what things we need or didn't think about. The best part was that my essential planning took care of all of the important stuff and the rest was serendipitous in a good way. Don't worry, have fun.
Buen Camino

brian560 · Apr 16, 2017

Purky said:
Voorpret. Literally translates as 'pre-fun'. Happy jitters, cheerful anticipation.

I'm off on a Camino shortly and feeling pretty voorpretish myself.

waveprof · Apr 17, 2017

Not crazy at all. Except for having all your days planned out in advance

Annie Little · Apr 17, 2017

sonhador said:
So I'm 6 weeks out from departure. I feel like I should be freaking out for my first camino. I haven't done a full pack on my gear yet, there still one or two things I'm trying to nail down on my gear as well. I still need to send my backpack belt off to be exchanged, as well as finish booking transportation for the back end of the trip. And yet...I'm not.

I'm not stressed about this at all. I have a tenative itinerary that is initially very conservative (10-15k for 4 days) and then my longest day is only 30 km. - most between 20 and 25. I have 5 extra days planned to go to Finesterre and Muxia. I know I can do this. I know I need to do this. And I know I will do this.

Am I crazy for not being freaked out?

Erin

Haha ... my vote for the funniest post .... affectionately .... most of us have freaked out unnecessarily ...
In the end ... it is what it is whether you freak out or not ... ....

I met a lady on the train station at Bayonne on way to st Jean ... my first time her second .... she said : when you get to the end you are ready to start

SOOOOO true ... you will see ... so true fir many things in life ... only by doing it do we learn how to do it

Ultreia

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KariannNor · Saturday at 3:39 PM

Well, as the title asks..

I'm not freaking out enough...

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