Since my last post and the rafting trip this last weekend, I've spent a lot of time ruminating about what I want to do for my future (unfortunately for my work, when I often do a lot of daydreaming!).

A lot of loose plans have formulated in my brain -- I've committed myself to hiking the John Muir Trail next year around August, then likely taking a week off then hitting up Burning Man. My original idea was to take this time off from work, but now I'm not so sure.

Ideally, to become a river rafting guide, I would take guide school in the spring (likely around March). There exists one week to four week classes, and unfortunately, if I kept with my plan to work until hiking the JMT, I would have to wait another six months past the JMT trip to take rafting guide school. And then it hit me... what if I was able to take guide school in the southern hemisphere? Hike the JMT, hit up Burning Man, take a few weeks off, then off to New Zealand, take the guide school and try to establish work down there for the winter (or summer, as it would be!).

There are obviously a lot of hurdles -- a) Have to follow through with my plans, b) Have to save enough money first to make this possible, c) Have to be -accepted- into a guide school (probably no small feat since I'm a foreigner!), d) Have to convince my family and friends that I'm not actually insane.

In any case, these thoughts are keeping me buoyant and cheerful today. Nothing like having a semi-plan to keep myself motivated, right?