Monday, April 13, 2009

Thinking on it...

From here

As it turns out, I will not be starting my new job in October or November, but in January or March... or next fall (with a paid stipend). So, what do I do? This decision seems so full of opportunity and possibility and it scares me. It's also frustrating because it delays our plan to get married and begin our new settled married life together. Today wedding planning is being shoved to the backburner and I am working and creating a wish list of things I would like to do with this time off. If you had the opportunity to make a small, but manageable salary (without going to work) for six months or a year, how would you use that time?

2 comments:

RDH said...

That is a great question! I would start with my favorite quote: "Don't ask what the world needs, ask what you need to come alive, because the world needs people who have come alive."

I would do the following (with you), in no particular order, possibility, or relevance:

(1) Travel around the world with a backpack, a camera, an around the world ticket, and a sketch of an itinerary.

(2) Live in a foreign country for 2 - 3 months, learn the language and some native skill (i.e. dancing, cooking, riding, whatever comes to mind)

(3) Bike ride across Europe (or some portion thereof)

(4) Learn how to paint

(5) Live in a monastery/ashram/spiritual retreat of some sort

(6) Snowboard in improbable places

(7) Sail around some place with an abundance of islands

(8) Sit silently on top of a mountain that I had climbed/walked up, meditate and say a prayer of gratitude. Then climb down.

(9) Sit in a strange country eating food I can't identify while trying to communicate with the locals.

(10) Go hiking in the wilderness for at least two weeks

(11) Hike the Appalachian trail, or a part of it.

(12) Get to really know my wife.

elizabeth said...

Super stellar! What an opportunity! What's on your life list? (I did a post on mine a week or so ago.) You could knock off a few of yours... For me, I'd do a lot of reading and writing, a lot of traveling (domestically and abroad), a lot of hiking, and learn a language. Oh, and re-learn the cello. What a gift!