Out of fear of reaching a point of stagnancy, I’ve taken to planning my long awaited trip to the Undying Lands and leaving Middle Earth. God I hate myself.

I’ve taken to planning my long awaited trip to London and leaving Berlin. London, of course, is the only safe haven (that I would feel comfortable staying in for over a month) from the strictures of what is known as the Schengen Act, which allows for unchecked travel between member nations of the European Union. Without a residence or work visa, one is allowed to stay on mainland Europe for 3 months every 6 months, and in order to avoid a fine and/or banishment, I’ve decided to make London/Edinburgh my next resting place.

So I’m going to be leaving Berlin in a few weeks and traveling to Amsterdam via train. From there, I will take another train to the coast of Holland, where I will board an overnight ferry that will deliver me to the shores of the UK. Sounds pretty heavy, and pretty good.

I know what you’re thinking. “But Riley. You’ve only been in Germany for a month. You can stay through November and actually into December if you so please!”

In thinking that, you are correct, and I salute you. But! In order for me to fulfill other goals that I have set for myself on this trip, namely, meeting up with friends in different places and seeing more of the continent, I have decided to allot myself an entire month so as to be able to jump back and forth between the UK and the mainland.

This may include, but is not limited to: traveling to Spain, France, and other places to visit my friends. You know. That whole bit.