Quote: (02-07-2018 09:06 PM)Off The Reservation Wrote:
How about an update WTF -
Sure, it's definitely past due for my yearly update. I'm very thankful for all the different people who chimed in over the years. It's been a long journey with lots of ups and downs starting from my first post when I was still just beginning to digest the red pill.
When trying to decide between adventure and money there were a lot of interesting perspectives, but I just couldn't get this post by Travesty out of my mind:
Quote: (07-09-2015 07:10 PM)Travesty Wrote:
Your stories sound fun for a guy in his early 20s.
Without building up some personal wealth I don't think they will sound as fun in your early 30s. And much less in your early 40s.
It really resonated with me and as I posted before I didn't want to wake up one day in my 30's or 40's with a bunch of cool stories but nothing to show for it.
For this reason I ended up choosing to pursue money through the career of web development and computer programming. What followed was a long grind where I spent over 2000 hours teaching myself front end web development, and eventually backend with Ruby/rails.
It was one of the hardest things I've done and opened a lot of doors but in the end it drove me back to drinking like a fish. I just wasn't happy grinding out code living in the city and putting the adventure on hold while trying to get meaningful work in the software development industry, plus dealing with endless social justice bullshit. I was so stressed out the past few years I could barely even think about pussy. Not what I pictured my late 20's looking like. I just couldn't picture myself doing it indefinitely for the rest of my life, even with the carrot of eventual remote work being dangled in front of me. By early 2017 I just couldn't bring myself to write another line of code.
I pulled the plug, swallowed my pride and moved back in with my parents. I found the lowest stress job I could that payed okay, driving around delivering food in the restaurant industry. Basically, I put my life on hold for the entire year of 2017 and worked as many hours as possible putting a lot of money in the bank. Saved a lot in the process.
Ultimately, to make a long story short, I've chosen adventure. Will it come back to bite me 10 or 20 years down the road? Perhaps, but I've come to believe that humans are very good at adapting to life's circumstances and while we are still living we will always be able to find a way to make it work. I'm no longer willing to sacrifice my youth in exchange for future goals that may or may not materialize. I've also embraced a very minimalistic philosophy.
The happiest times of my life have been when I am traveling, living in the moment, meeting girls and truly figuring things out on a day to day basis. I'm not worried about the future because no matter what happens I will always be able to find my footing, no matter how bad it gets.
I've now booked a one way ticket to Peru, leaving at the end of the month. It was a sigh of relief when I bought it. The adventure begins once more and no matter what happens I know it will be okay.
At least this time I have a plan, and with what I've learned over the last 2 years about discipline, grinding, making money online etc I have a much more solid basis to work with than all my attempts/travels in the past.
Hopefully this will be the last time I am involuntarily constrained to the west, and as long as I can make the bare minimum money online to maintain my minimalist travels I will be much happier than anything I could do in the US now. With any luck, I will even be able to develop something profitable enough where I will be able to save some money as well.
If all else fails, I will have at least another year or so of amazing stories and adventures that I can keep for the rest of my life. Then I will return to the US, work a seasonal job in a National Park for 6 months and then rinse repeat... Adventure is king in my book, and I've come to terms with the reality of this lifestyle. On my deathbed I will be happy and that is all that matters.
.....
Sidenote:
There is so much value in this thread it is insane, and I think for the sake of everyone it will be more beneficial if the debate continues mainly around the concept of pursuing adventure versus money. I have come to terms with my decisions and am not really looking for too much advice one way or another anymore at least for the next few years, but I will gladly answer any questions/continue to update the thread. Thanks again guys.
It's been a long couple years can't wait to see what life brings me next. Hope to meet a bunch of you along the road in South America.