Early in 2002, Disneyland cut its entertainment budget and laid me off, and my first wife got herself confined to a psych ward, in the process destroying our ap

Early in 2002, Disneyland cut its entertainment budget and laid me off, and my first wife got herself confined to a psych ward, in the process destroying our apartment and getting my lease terminated, so I noped out and decided to move clear across the country. I took the train. Los Angeles to Newark. Three days. I can't really imagine doing it today, because I'm like everyone else here, a whiny little prissy bitch. But back then, I shared a two-bedroom place with three other guys, slept in my car all the time, was used to an hourly job with no consistent schedule. Without any expectation of luxury or customer service, it was a pretty nice experience. My back was healthier then, too, so sleeping in coach wasn't a big deal. The great thing about taking Amtrak is the rail line didn't create towns the way highways do. You're truly remote for much of the ride. You're not seeing the "Americana" America you see on road trips. You're seeing the natural country. Following the Susquehanna River through Pennsylvania was my favorite part of the trip. It was also amusing when the FBI questioned me in Albuquerque, as they apparently flagged anyone taking a long one-way trip after 9/11. 21 year-old aimless drifter with no plans dressed like Hunter Thompson. I don't even remember what I told them. Don't ever wanna go home, I guess, but you can check my bags and see I don't have a bomb.