I was a teenager in the supposedly coolest state in the union. I traveled to the mountains and the coasts. I worked for pocket money to hit the road. For three years I hitchhiked from Canada to Mexico, from the west coast to the darn near entire span of the east coast. It was a GREAT time in my life.
BTW, I believe there are those moments that allow some “ME” time. I have since then become a productive citizen.
How did you do this and go to school? Or?....Did you skip school?
Anyway....It sounds like a priceless experience worthy of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer.