It really is 'The Dream', right? Quit your job, give up most of your worldly possessions, put what you think you'll need into a backpack, throw caution to the wind and jump on a plane. Prepare to be inspired by other cultures, see things you never could have dreamed of, and enrich your life immeasurably. Who wouldn't jump at the chance to have a year like this? I mean, most people start their working lives at 22, fresh out of college, and then spend the next forty years anticipating their annual two weeks of vacation. What if we could lump all 80 (or at least 52) of those weeks up front? Two weeks of vacation just isn't much. If you're traveling far, go ahead and remove a day and a half on either end for travel time. Down to eleven days. Now factor in two days for jetlag. Down to nine. What if you want to go to more than one place? Three days in Madrid (not enough), three days in Barcelona (definitely not enough) and three days in The Basque Region. You might as well stay home, save some money and watch a TV special about Spain, because that's about how much of a feel you're going to get for what it's like to be in the country.
Based on the above paragraph, it seems like this is an easy decision for me. It's not. Something that is normally a good thing has made this decision especially hard for me. I love my job. I not only love my job, but I also love where I work. I have a great boss, serious potential for advancement and I'm paid reasonably well for my profession. It's the first time since I started my first job sixteen years ago that I've had all of these things combined. How could I leave that? Not only that, but I have a sister who is my best friend and I talk to every day, great friends here in San Francisco and two cats that don't get excited about me leaving for long periods of time. Needless to say, this decision has been a hard one for me.
On one hand I can take this trip that most people could only dream of being able to take with my girlfriend who I am ridiculously in love with, and on the other, I can stay here and reap the benefits of all of the hard work I have put into my life both professionally and personally over the past few years. Not an easy decision.
While I'm struggling with that, research and preparation for the trip goes forward, spreadsheets are being expanded, immunizations taken, passports updated (I opted for the deluxe 52-page model), and general affairs are being put in order.
What decisions will be made in the next few months only time will tell. But for now researching and daydreaming about all of the possibilities is enough to get me out of bed early in the morning and keep me awake thinking at night. And I'm very okay with that.
-EC
Based on the above paragraph, it seems like this is an easy decision for me. It's not. Something that is normally a good thing has made this decision especially hard for me. I love my job. I not only love my job, but I also love where I work. I have a great boss, serious potential for advancement and I'm paid reasonably well for my profession. It's the first time since I started my first job sixteen years ago that I've had all of these things combined. How could I leave that? Not only that, but I have a sister who is my best friend and I talk to every day, great friends here in San Francisco and two cats that don't get excited about me leaving for long periods of time. Needless to say, this decision has been a hard one for me.
On one hand I can take this trip that most people could only dream of being able to take with my girlfriend who I am ridiculously in love with, and on the other, I can stay here and reap the benefits of all of the hard work I have put into my life both professionally and personally over the past few years. Not an easy decision.
While I'm struggling with that, research and preparation for the trip goes forward, spreadsheets are being expanded, immunizations taken, passports updated (I opted for the deluxe 52-page model), and general affairs are being put in order.
What decisions will be made in the next few months only time will tell. But for now researching and daydreaming about all of the possibilities is enough to get me out of bed early in the morning and keep me awake thinking at night. And I'm very okay with that.
-EC
RSS Feed