I have always wrested with what freedom really means over the past two decades. As a juvenile and a young adult, I pushed the limits trying to determine what exactly I could do. Based on my experience and what I have read, I find that I concur with Berlin’s definition. Berlin separates the concept of freedom into two spheres, positive and negative. Positive being what you can do within guidelines, while negative is more specific to what the government cannot stop you from doing. I used to think Americans experienced far more negative freedoms; however, as I have aged, I realized most of what we hold dear when referring to freedom, we are talking about positive freedoms. One important positive freedom that we do not experience enough due to a variety of reasons (lowering standard of living, work expectations) is to travel and spend time with our families.

In the last two months, I have traveled to three places (Ensenada, Las Vegas, and Yosemite) with my family. I am in my first year of marriage, and my wife and I wanted to set an expectation. We want to experience places outside of our neighborhood. We do not have much money, so in our travels this summer, we have made many choices, which has limited us in other realms. Nevertheless, it has been worth it.

This past week, we traveled to Yosemite. I don’t think I am an environmentalist or a left liberal, but I do see the importance of the role of government in protecting specific places. I would say we have gone overboard in some cases, leading to international dependence, yet, this is a case for another blog. My wife, kid, and I stayed with six other family members at the Yosemite Lakes Campground (http://stayatyosemite.com/availability.html). It is about five miles outside of the park and about 30 minutes from the main area of the park, but it is worth the drive.

We rented two Yurts. Yes a yurt. It is a campground hotel basically, including all the necessities (Satellite TV, barbecue, microwave, beds, refrigerator, heater, air etc). I am not calling this camping. This was more like a poor man’s attempt to find some luxury while he experiences Yosemite. While at Yosemite, my family and I did the typical things, which typical or not were relaxing, educational, and an opportunity to spend time together (Vernon Falls, swimming, barbecuing etc).

While in Yosemite, I was reassured once again that if us Inland Empire locals, really plan to change our world for the better (lowering standard of living, jobs leaving the country, more and more dependency on other nations, faltering educational system), our actions must start within our own family. We then can work it up to the ladder.

So take a vacation, even if it is a Saturday at Joshua Tree or a two day trip to Ensenada.