Quote of the Day: 

 Captain Renault: What in heaven’s name brought you to Casablanca? 

 Rick: My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters. 

 Captain Renault: The waters? What waters? We’re in the desert. 

 Rick: I was misinformed. 

I’ve always admired the crusty old characters of stage and song who for one reason or another had to pull up stakes and strike off alone on the open road (trail, seas, etc) to parts unknown.  I’ve always admired folks with the nerve and the courage to self exile.  You can see from my class reunion post how the people who took life paths far from Mississippi were the most interesting to me.  For myself, when it came time to break out, I could only make it a couple hundred miles; though to be certain, whatever or whoever led me to make that move was acting in my best interest.  But Expatbaen I am not. I wish I had gone when I was young to see the world by living in strange corners of it.  Instead, as a very fulfilling half-measure, I travel as much as I can to the most interesting places I can. Still, I love the idea of the expatriate, sitting at a bar in some South American coastal village, thinking of leaving his most recent senorita to chase down new rumors of a gold strike in the hills. Or something to that effect. The old cuss looks in my mind’s eye part TB, part a young Sam Elliott, in case you were wondering.

My fictional expat hero is one of those guys that knows everything a man without responsibilities ought to know. He can cook up a mean stew, fix his old truck and find the fish whenever he wants.  He can hold his liquor better than anyone.  He sees all the angles, though he never takes advantage of them. He’s a only a little bit homesick. He listens more than he talks. He knows the priest and the gangster, and they both leave him alone. He knows when its going to rain. 

Truth is, TB was only a couple of years away from taking off and living the wandering life at one time, though possessing none of the skills I’ve described as necessary for such a life.  Fortunately, it seems fate took a different turn.  TB’s got a good place in the world, stakes firmly planted, and loves it.  But sometimes, its still fun to do a little travellin in the mind.

Bonus Quote of the Day          

Captain Renault: I’ve often speculated why you don’t return to America. Did you abscond with the church funds? Run off with a senator’s wife? I like to think you killed a man. It’s the Romantic in me.
Rick: It was a combination of all three.