Refreshed and recharged
A little distance to make the heart grow fonder

Woods' new album, "Perennial," is perfect for a late-summer road trip.
This week’s Kill Yr Idols comes in a bit of a flurry; a semi-haphazard smattering of thoughts, which began in Durango and was finished while on a much-needed recharging on the West Coast. I thought it necessary to put a bit of distance and perspective between myself and my current home.
The road has traditionally been invaluable for many; collecting thoughts and words while shifting sh*tlines for a bit. This trip has provided precisely that, and here is a smidgen of half-formed fragments for you to digest:
• Leaving wherever it is you call home is paramount. Absolutely. One of my favorite amusements has been looking at the dynamics between the place we live and the people that come visit. This is the often-argued traveler vs. tourist debate. I like to fairly and unfairly critique the people that visit Durango, and, as such, try to be more mindful when I venture elsewhere. Bottom line? Be kind. Be respectful. Know your surroundings. Leave a place better than you found it. And if you’re a dick, try harder to not be when you’re away from home. That last one is tough for people. The more respectful you are to the people that reside full time wherever it is you are visiting, the more apt they are to respond as such.
• Exploring new music while in a car on the road is kick-ass. To occupy long stretches of drive time, there are lots of newly released records, and the following are some of my favorites to date: Woods – “Perennial;” Dengue Fever, “Ting Mong;” Baroness, “Stone;” The Handsome Family, “Hollow;” Oneohtrix Point Never, “Again;” Sparklehorse, “Bird Machine;” Public Memory, “Elegiac Beat;” Slowdive, “everything is alive;” Deeper, “Careful!;” and Sonic Youth, “Live in Brooklyn 2011.” This is just barely scratching the surface, but it’s a heckuva start. It’s also a great time to revisit older albums you’ve shelved for a minute. Highly recommend dusting them off in between the newer listens.
• Self-care in the car is key to the trip’s success. Plan ahead and make sure you eat plenty of vegetables and not just shit road-snacks. Or not too many, anyway. Get *out* of the car, and get your blood flowing. Stretch (stretch, stretch, stretch!), run in place, do some jumping jacks or run laps around the perimeter of a rest area. Whatever you can do, do. If you get tired while driving, pull over and take a nap for Pete’s sake. Check your oil. Give yourself some time to explore the unexpected, and dig into Atlas Obscura.
• We really do have it pretty alright in our tiny little bubble. For a town of just around 20,000 year-round residents, La Plata County does some things pretty OK. That said, it takes all the people in that community to support the little gems that make it unique. Support local art pop-ups, all-ages safe spaces, music venues, galleries, businesses and community stalwarts, so they can continue to thrive on par with expansion and growth. Getting out and seeing someplace new refreshes you (with all hope) on your current home. So, leave from time to time and recharge. It really will help you appreciate home that much more.
If you don’t have any trips planned, try to plan one, especially before weather makes it that much harder to venture out. Even if you don’t leave the state, just get out and see something else. We have so many places nearby to explore that you’ve little to no excuse. Per usual, I’m putting this to paper so I read it myself.
And before you go, I especially suggest expelling any unsettled angst before you head off. Don’t take it with you. As a matter of fact, feel free to send it my way at the email address below. Along with questions, comments and gripes. Especially the gripes.
Jon E. Lynch is the program director at KDUR. kdur_pd@fortlewis.edu
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