Yes, haven't posted in awhile. A lot of things have happened to me in the last few months; a lot of life changes and realignment.
I spent yesterday rafting, and I was so envious of our guide: she spends the summer as a rafting guide (an absolutely insane, exhausting, and awesome looking job), saving money by camping and not partying like the other guides, then spends the winters traveling the world. She had spent the last winter running around Australia; this winter, a road trip up and down the west coast of the United States with a friends; she's been in New Zealand, Costa Rica, hostelling in Europe... wow.
I really don't think I can last more than another year with a 9-5 job in front of a computer.
I've mentioned this to a few friend and gotten a lot of protests. "But you won't be able to save for retirement!" "Camping will be fun, but for so long without a bed?" "What if you get in trouble?" But I feel like I have to do this, I need to do this. I posted a cryptic tweet the other day, and I meant what I said -- that if I was not doing today (or doing generally) what I would be most proud of if I was to die tomorrow (and I know people who have died from cancer, I've known people who have died suddenly in car crashes -- it happens, people) that I needed to take steps to change my life. A lot of what I'm doing right now is achieving that: hiking, biking, being active, being strong. I have drastically changed the direction of my social life, but I haven't changed the direction of my working life... and I'd like to get over my fears, be spontaneous and run around the world.
I'm still planning on accomplishing everything on this list. I just need to do things now rather than later. Plan for things now, and make sure I follow through. Especially since I'll likely be doing this alone (very easy to put things off when you don't have a partner in crime -- it's safer to travel with someone, but I highly doubt I'll find anyone else planning on doing what I am doing, at least within a year).
Support me? Live vicariously through me? Remind me in a year, when I get fat and lazy again, that I'm young and not getting any younger?
I want to lead a life of adventure, of traveling, of discovering and exploring. I want to be amazed and awed. I want to change the world in small ways, and in large ways if I can. I want to be the best person I can be, and live my life to its fullest. And hope I don't forget this.
The adventure is the journey. Make yours an E ticket if you can.
Sound like a good time. As long as you save up your money and pay-off any debt you might have.
I remember meeting this one guy that spent his summers riding his motorcycle around the United States and then working a job in construction or maybe even web development (I can't remember it's been years) the other six to nine months of the year.
He would work to build up his savings and travel with them until they were getting low. It's not a bad gig if you can pull it off. You could set up small free lance gigs for during your trip to add money to your kitty or just work when you want. Plus I think you have said you have a cabin in the Sierras that you could stay at when not traveling or working fun jobs like rafting guide.
There is a website that I have read that this couple travel from country to country doing free lance work while they are there. They get a small apartment for a few weeks or months and spend part of their time working and the other traveling around the area.
I will post link once I get home and find it.
"I just need to do things now rather than later. Plan for things now, and make sure I follow through."
This is something interesting I've been thinking about a lot lately; I've similarly anxious about trying to change things, but a part of me wonders if I'm trying *too* hard to the point of flailing instead of intelligently changing things. It's like, there's a delicate balance where you can maneuver your life towards where you want, but if you try too hard you might lose sight of the good things around you in your current situation.
I'm probably rambling though :P I feel like I should formulate a similar list though. It's a little surprising to see several things I'd like to do on yours.
Here is the link that I promised about "Living a Location Independent Life" or that you can work anywhere and still have fun if you plan things out, save, and think about your spending.
http://locationindependent.com/
I have bookmarked a few great articles I can send you if you want.
@Shane: What things match? One of the best ways to get things done is to do them with another person. :)
@John: Fabulous!
Lessie, the following are ones I'd definitely like to do:
>Live in another country for at least three months
Technically, I was in Germany for about this much time; really I'd like to live abroad for a year and have a chance to see the seasons somewhere else.
>Backpack across Europe
Not necessarily Europe, but I'd like to do a longer (month+) trip of traveling multiple countries with very little (other than money and the clothes on my back)
>Become proficient in a musical instrument
I've been dicking around with the guitar for a while; I'd really like to be able to play a handful of things well enough to not be embarrassed playing them around others.
>Learn to surf
Kicking myself for not doing this in high school or university
>Learn another language
Possibly my biggest regret in life so far
>Learn to dance
Not much to say here
>Do a cartwheel
I should try again. Ultimately my goal here would be to do a handstand pushup since I think that's just flat out cool
Items that probably wouldn't make my list of things I need to do, but things that I think would be fun (i.e., I probably won't regret not doing them, but if friends pushed I'd do it with them because it sounds enjoyable) Also items that are similar wishes but slightly different
>Skydive
>Hang-glide
>Open a restaurant
I really just want to get better at cooking
>Complete a Century (100 mile bike race)
>Sing in a band to an audience
Slight modification would be "play" rather than "sing"; I'm fine with either
>Build my dream house
I really just want to build a house; i.e., be involved with the construction
>Visit the North Pole
Sort of? I really want to see the northern lights
>Learn to sail
>Live in the south of France for awhile
Nothing special about France, I want to live anywhere. But if the opportunity presented itself this would be tres awesome.
>Take a hot air balloon ride
>Grow wine grapes and bottle wine
Really, I want to grow my own food, period. So any somewhat major meal that I could make as from scratch as possible.