I'm finally going to indulge Beyond on my ultimate goal and path in life, as well as look to you guys for support and suggestions on where to go. This is MY PLAN. This isn't a thread for you to start discussion on how you don't agree with my life decisions. Please be constructive as I know there are a lot of you on here that are fascinated by this. I don't need to hear how you think it's impossible, because nothing is.
Basically most of my life, the aspect of adventure has always been my drive. It's the reason I snowboard so much, because it takes me to weird places I'd otherwise never go. Finding a career thus has been everything but easy. I've taken engineering, dabbled in a electrical apprenticeship, you name it, I've pretty well done it. And most places I find I quickly get the hang of it, get bored, and eagerly want to get a new job to see what new adventures hold.
I was raised in a low income family, where extravagant exotic vacations were unheard of. I'm 23 and still have yet to even leave the country (yes not even the US). So I have taken it into my own hands.
My girlfriend told me to read the book Vagabonding, and it fit me perfectly. I've always measured my wealth on personal experiences and the enjoyment I find in life, not the amount of success and money I hold. It also made me realize that I should stop kidding myself and take the plunge. Work in a means to afford you to get to places and see new things. Not work to get you places when your 60 or for only a few weeks at a time.
Starting next year I will be starting my world tour. The trip will be a work in progress as I go but here is a rough plan thus far:
1) Work construction, tree planting, anything really in BC. Make as much money as humanly possible. My main goal in this is to get out of debt. Work the entire summer, make a bunch of money and clear myself free of all debts. This is why I brought up bankruptcy, but I decided to take it into my own hands.
I want to start my trip, but I can't leave until I'm debt free. But this way I get the best of both worlds since I love BC.
2) After next summer, if money allows, I will ride Whitewater (if I end up in Nelson) all season long. No job, no responsibilities, just ride. If money does not allow to not work, I will look into becoming a ski patroller or possibly a guide.
3) After the riding season I will work a bit, enough money to get me to Italy. I have friends that are moving there to work with family, so I will plan on meeting them there. Here I will work, learn Italian, and experience what Italy has to offer. This will be my base of operations for the European front of Spoons' World Tour.
4) Once it gets old in Italy, I will then venture off into Europe. Basically I want to see it all. Work odd jobs here and there, or if money allows, just travel.
5) Number 4 will bring me to March of 2014. March I will head to Alaska, where I plan to spend the Alaskan ski season riding there. I'll ride there till May (or whenever the season comes to an end).
6) I then plan to acquire a VW van. I want to hit this one up in style, and because those VW vans are dirt cheap to fix and pretty reliable. I plan on road tripping it from Alaska to Santiago, Chile. This one will be an adventure probably full of lots of set backs, but I plan on stopping at places in BC and along the west coast of US, doing whatever seems fun. If anyone has seen brothers on the run, that is my inspiration for this.
7) End up in Chile for the remainder of their ski season and ride that.
8) To be determined.
It's going to be a challenge, and tough at times, but this fits me perfect. For once I actually feel comfortable knowing that I have something set out. Of course money is a factor in this, there are plans for all this but far too complicated to go into great detail of it all. In the end, I'm just not a career orientated person, and I'm not changing any time soon. So this feels great.
Mainly I'm positing this because I feel a few of you will be interested, as well as suggestions. Fun places you guys liked and I can take them into consideration on my travels.
Discuss.