Nomad: A Haeckel Martinez Story

“ Like Pocahontas, ‘colors of the wind’, he just gets up and goes”.

- Ashley Diaz

Haeckel Martinez journeys to unknown places off impulse in search for something while impacting his friends from home. Haeckel has been to many places all over the world. He has seen many places and sights that people may have only dreamed about. The travels he has embarked on are usually met with admiration to those that are around him. Normally, someone “seeing the world” is not necessarily a big deal, but in Haeckel’s case, it doesn’t seem as conventional. Most of Haeckel’s expeditions are done with no money, no notification, to family and friends, and (most concerning of all) no planning. As fascinating as his trips are, his trips leave some of his closest friends with feelings of admiration and concern. Danny Diaz, Ashley Diaz, and Jasmine Powell offered commentary on Haeckel in regards to not only his nomadic tendencies but his entire being and try to dissect their own perspectives of the man himself.

Danny Diaz was one of the first people that Haeckel has grown closer to after he did his time in the Army. They met over PlayStation Online through mutual friends after discovering that they both attended and graduated from Orange Park High School only one year apart. Danny describes Haeckel and “positive and spiritual” type of person. Haeckel taught Danny through his various travels of universal positivity through books and conversations. “ I love that he gets to learn about different cultures and learn from different people.” “It helps him learn more about people, and even more about himself.” Haeckel briefly stayed with Danny for a short period of time upon his return to Jacksonville. Haeckel and Danny were surely close but as time pressed on, Haeckel found a little deeper perspective and conversations with Danny’s younger sister, Ashely Diaz, who also was staying in the apartment with them.

“ He decides ‘hey, I wanna visit and friend,’ and gets up and goes.”

- Ashley Diaz

Ashley grew closer to his but also grew in more concerning. Like most people, she found his tendencies to be odd at first but quickly adapted and became more influenced by his rather than to question his traveling tendencies. “ At one point he left and came back after a week. He was and came back and I was like, HEY!” She went on to express he concern after that because she says that not everyone is nice in the world and if something were to happen to him then it would be difficult to come to his rescue. Haeckel stayed with another one of Danny’s friends and it was this friend that Haeckel is closest to still till this very day but she actually embarked in one of his travels briefly to help find his way to Hawaii.

I do believe that Haeckel is searching for Knowledge to help everyone that he cares about get into Heaven.”

- Jasmine Powell

Haeckel stayed with Jasmine for a few months. During that time, she said he helped her come out of her shell. “He has helped me grow and realize a lot about myself that I never knew about.” Jasmine goes on about how she wants the best for Haeckel even if she knows she may not be what is best for him. It is out of gratitude that this was expressed because he introduced her to things that allowed her to grow as a young woman. She developed an attachment to him during that time and thought their friendship would possible alter his nomadic tendencies, but it proved quite the opposite. Haeckel talked about residing in Hawaii for a year for massage therapy school. As sad as that made Jasmine, she decided to make a once- in-a-lifetime experience out of this and travel across country from Florida to California by vehicle with his to see him off on his flight to Hawaii. The experience created memories she claims to hold dear even though it ended something that was just beginning to blossom in a fruitful future.

“ I think I’m done searching, I think now I am establishing.”

- Haeckel Martinez

Haeckel has been to many places that’s branches as far as Florida, Germany, Canada, Japan, and many other places and countries. I have known him since 2008 I also thought of him as odd. My guess was that he was searching for something like a love he never had or knew of. After speaking to all three interviewees one thing was certain, his family’s history was shrouded in mystery. Haeckel chose to live with friends in contrast to family. He expressed that he never knew his father and he had gone on various expeditions for enlightenment on a spiritual journey. His since of “family” is community based. Universal love where everyone loves everyone. He feels the answer is out there in the world and he wants to bring that back to Jacksonville.

I hope that he finds the answers he is looking for one day. The world can be a cruel place and not everyone shares his views. His heart maybe be pure but pure hearts are not as perceived as impulsive as his nomadic behavior, but to the friends that love him, they support his journey no matter how uncongenial to may be to others.