14 POSTS · READ IN ORDER
California to New York, 2024
An opening letter, twelve daily entries, and a finale follow a cross-country drive through landscapes, memories, and a changing life.
Start at the beginning →
- 01
Jun 20, 2024 · 3 MIN READ
Starting Point: A Journey of Reflection ↗
Announcing his June–July 2024 drive from Pleasanton to New York, Kefei frames the trip as a reflection on purpose after early retirement. His engineering career supplies images of foundations, preparation, and choosing opportunities that help carry a life forward.
- 02
Jun 28, 2024 · 3 MIN READ
Day 1: Setting a Reflective Tone in New Journey ↗
The first day of Kefei's drive from Pleasanton to New York ends in Reno, a place tied to family ski trips. Reconnecting with old friends adds another layer of memory, while dinner and a neighborhood walk open a conversation about retirement choices.
- 03
Jun 29, 2024 · 2 MIN READ
Day 2: Reliving the Journey in Time and Space ↗
Driving east from Reno to Salt Lake City, Kefei revisits a route associated with his move west after completing his doctorate in 1994. The landscape brings back the anticipation and uncertainty surrounding his first engineering job in the United States.
- 04
Jun 30, 2024 · 3 MIN READ
Day 3: Taking a Detour in Journey ↗
A deliberate detour from Salt Lake City toward Jackson and Yellowstone recalls Kefei's departure from structural engineering for a new career in Silicon Valley. He describes that earlier change as a difficult reset after years of specialized education and practice.
- 05
Jun 30, 2024 · 2 MIN READ
Day 4: Having a Disconnected Moments Along the Way ↗
Entering Yellowstone from the south, Kefei and his wife move from a missed Old Faithful eruption to the colors of Grand Prismatic Spring and an evening at the canyon. The account follows the small decisions and changing scenes of a day spent exploring.
- 06
Jul 1, 2024 · 3 MIN READ
Day 5: Embracing the Canyon's True Essence ↗
Returning to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone beneath an overcast sky, Kefei notices a quieter landscape than the dramatic scene he saw at sunset. Diffused light draws his attention toward rock colors, formations, and the stillness surrounding the viewpoints.
- 07
Jul 3, 2024 · 3 MIN READ
Day 6: Growing with Greatness - Journey through Strong Associations ↗
At Mount Rushmore, Kefei focuses on sculptor Gutzon Borglum's relationship to his subjects and uses it to consider the influence of people he has admired. The visit recalls an encouraging exchange from his years working as a tour guide in Shanghai.
- 08
Jul 4, 2024 · 3 MIN READ
Day 7: Reflecting on the Power of Education ↗
Visiting the University of Colorado Boulder, Kefei remembers an unsuccessful doctoral application and briefly imagines the life an acceptance might have opened. An unexpected conversation with an older electrical engineering graduate student redirects that backward glance toward present possibilities.
- 09
Jul 5, 2024 · 2 MIN READ
Day 8: Reflecting on My Career Transformation to Cloud and Beyond ↗
Independence Day celebrations in Omaha prompt Kefei to reflect on the choices behind his transition into cloud engineering. He connects his interest in Warren Buffett's investing approach with the time he committed to understanding technologies he believed would matter.
- 10
Jul 6, 2024 · 3 MIN READ
Day 9: Being Humble in a Friend's Garage ↗
Visiting his wife's longtime friend in Des Moines, Kefei hears a story of movement from scientific work into business and adventurous travel. The friend's current project is rebuilding a travel van with detailed improvements for future journeys.
- 11
Jul 6, 2024 · 2 MIN READ
Day 10: Having the Miller Time without Beer ↗
After a long drive to Indianapolis, Kefei and his wife explore downtown landmarks and enjoy a familiar Chinese meal. The city's sporting associations bring back memories of Reggie Miller and the professional chapter Kefei was living during those basketball years.
- 12
Jul 7, 2024 · 3 MIN READ
Day 11: Exploring Racing History and Academic Excellence ↗
Kefei begins the day with a tour of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before driving to Columbus and exploring Ohio State University. The itinerary places racing history beside campus life, athletic facilities, and the quieter pace of a summer visit.
- 13
Jul 8, 2024 · 3 MIN READ
Day 12: Journey to Philadelphia – Revisiting Memories at UPenn ↗
A stop at the University of Pennsylvania brings Kefei back to his daughter's college years and graduation. Walking the campus revives memories of visiting her, sharing university life, and celebrating a milestone that mattered to the whole family.
- 14
Jul 9, 2024 · 6 MIN READ
Celebrating the Finale in New York City ↗
Reaching New York, Kefei gathers the lessons of his cross-country drive into a closing reflection. The recap moves through friendship, career changes, natural landscapes, education, sports, and family, showing how each stop contributed to his thinking about retirement.
