Guest #1: Mitch Mulanix

Name: Mitch Mulanix Lives in: San Diego Home: Sebastopol, California Age: 38 Occupation: Political Consultant The LONGITUDE team was introduced to Mitch through team member Rolf Potts, who met Mitch several years ago in Thailand. A political strategist on Arnold Schwarzeneggar’s campaign team, Mitch has spent the past three years working on a project that is much bigger than he is. The fruits of that labor will be reaped in a few days when California inaugurates its new governor. Mitch was motivated to participate in our Take Me With You! program for many reasons. He has a close colleague with Parkinson’s, and he witnesses its devastating effects daily. He also loves Baja (He owns a vacation spot here), loves Mexico, relishes the chance to travel and gain new experiences, and was intrigued by the opportunity to again be a part of something that is much bigger than he. Would you be up for 9 months of travel like this? Definitely! Life is all about the experiences you gather during your lifetime. It was fantastic being a part of something that was bigger than any individual. It is amazing to think of the people and places you will encounter on the way. I think of the opportunities people give up based on comfort, a few extra dollars, or a nicer car. This is something that offers a wealth of experience if you are willing to take part. What is your most memorable moment during your portion of the journey? The most memorable part of the journey was the first night camping in the rain. There I was, hundreds of miles into this amazing expedition, surrounded by people who had made great sacrifices to be a part of a worthwhile cause, sleeping above our vehicles in a very cool tent. It felt good. It really created a separation between my everyday world and the world of the expedition. What advice do you have for future travelers in the program? Go on a segment with an open mind. Get to know as many of the team members as possible; each is unique and interesting. Get rid of all your excuses, recognize the value of this experience, and just do it! What surprised you the most? The technology! You’ve really done a great job arranging all the capabilities and gadgets you need for a successful program. I was amazed that you are able to receive and send e-mail in the vehicles and update the website from the road. And then, at night, you have these surprisingly comfortable, luxurious roof-top tents. They go up easily and tear down in minutes. You can really travel around the world in relative comfort due to the technology What was the best thing you ate? Beef fajitas in Loreto. That sounds boring, but they were just really enjoyable. What was the most difficult part of the traveling experience? The most difficult part of the experience was scheduling time to go because of the practical constraints of everyday life. Honestly, this did not fit into my schedule very well. My girlfriend said, “You can travel down the Baja peninsula any time.” That’s true, but I wanted to do it with this team. Everybody wants to be a part of something bigger than they are. Finding time was difficult but well worth it. **Answers are paraphrased.