Previously posted on Facebook.

A rather wordy title for what I found to be a surprisingly interesting read.

Offerman described himself at different points in his book as a writer (with several books in print), a television actor (both in prime time and in movies), a producer and behind the scenes worker in theater, a boat builder (wood canoes), a craft furniture builder (check his website), a husband, and without really saying so, a traveler. A lot of things in, when compared to mine, a relatively short timeframe.

The book is officially divided into three parts:

A weeklong trip with two friends to Glacier National Park where they took several day hikes throughout the Park along with one day of river rafting.

An extended visit with another friend, a sheep farmer in the rural United Kingdom.

And, a road trip across half of the United States with his wife, actress Megan Mullaly in their travel trailer, Nutmeg, visiting friends and family across the country.

Some might also say there is a fourth, unofficial part of the book which focuses on Offerman’s political and environmental viewpoints or observations. While some may find these views a bit overbearing, they are scattered throughout the book and can be skipped over without losing the value of his writings.

Glacier National Park

The book opens in Montana where Nick and his friends are meeting with their guide to enjoy several days of hiking different trails, both in length and difficulty.  I found this part of the book very enjoyable.  While I often read fast, this section of the book made me want to take a break – read a few pages and the take the time to think about what I had read. Then sit back and ask myself why things happened in the way they did along with how things might have been different.

This section was an excellent way to open the book and to welcome the reader into a part of the world that some may never see in person. In addition to some serious thinking one can open their imagination and feel like they are there.

The United Kingdom

The second part of the book is was spread over a much longer period.  It describes how Nick was able to visit a local countryman, a fellow writer and a sheep farmer, while working in the United Kingdom. While not specifically mentioned, it also seemed to open Nick’s eyes to how someone not living and working in the entertainment field lived and spent their daily lives.

Early in this part, Nick participated, probably to his surprise, in the rebuilding of old, possibly ancient stone fences used to manage sheep on the farm. Definitely hard physical work which gives lots of time for thinking and reflecting on life but also a good deal of mental work since these stone walls are not held together by concrete. Instead they are constructed by selecting stones and fitting them together piece by piece, and creating a fence that will last a lifetime or longer.

While Nick was raised in a relatively rural area of Illinois I am fairly certain that he had never done anything like this, or purchasing livestock or participating in every day farm life.

Across the United States

Nick was back in the United States for Part III. He and his wife were planning a trip across the country during the pandemic. After seeing some small recreational vehicles, they began looking at recreational vehicles and ultimately purchasing an Airstream trailer (named Nutmeg – LOL) for their trip.  After the purchase, they experienced many of the same challenges seen by other beginning campers – learning how to connect the trailer to the tow vehicle, finding that parking a trailer was not the same as parking a car, and discovering that not all campgrounds worked in the same way.

But after a few false starts, their travels seemed to go well. Once they reached his childhood home after leaving Nutmeg in Oklahoma Nick found some strained relationships with family members. This ultimately led to something he called “Bubbles”; a recognition that if people live in different environments they may not share views or opinions. This can often lead to disagreements, hurt feelings, and sometimes even separation.

After a short family visit, the trip back to their California home began with additional information on their travels along with the fun, and challenges, of travelling in a recreational vehicle.

All in all, a very enjoyable book.  A book that makes one think. Not everyone will agree with everything in the book nor is that expected. I would highly recommend this book to all readers and strongly encourage to take time for thinking and imagining. And remember that even if there are chapters or parts that you disagree with, the book is still enjoyable.