Why now? Looking in the mirror and being honest with yourself can be a brutal/amazing experience. I am inspired to make a life choice right now. A life choice that is based on everything that I believe in. The last couple of weeks I found myself focused on $$$. I mean totally focused on the almighty dollar and retirement. Retirement accounts, Tax Free savings, regular saving and how much I was to put in each account and by what date. All the while I am sitting here in a town I hate (Lloydminster, Alberta), do a job that I kind of enjoy (Hydrovac Operator with Badger Daylighting) in a small basement apartment that gives me no please to be in. I literally and doing what I was doing when I was in my early 20s living in Niagara Falls and working at the Skylon Tower, right down to the long hair.
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"
-- George Santayana
Right now I work in an environment with a group of people who talk money money money. "Its the oil patch I need to make more money" is the first statement and "I am so broke" is the next. We work up to 160 hours in a two week period and anything over 8 hours per day is overtime. Paychecks are fat but so is the spending. As an example it is nothing for my swamper to have me stop at a variety stop at the end of the shift and spend $50 to $60 every day! Cigarettes, Monsters/Red Bulls, pre made sandwiches and snacks for the next days lunch and other treats. The need to buy buy buy, Its such a mind fuck to watch really. Most of these guys make great money, I mean really great money for guys with limited education, interpersonal skills that are hard to find and usually drinking problems compounded by the need to get high the second the shift is over. It's a brutal lifestyle really but that's a story for another time.
I LOVE LIFE ON THE ROAD. I love looking at maps and have a world map posted on my wall where ever I go. I know the world is huge however having been on the road I know how accessible it can be. Money aside there is nothing to stop me (or you) from getting out there and experiencing the amazing people and places that are to be found everywhere. What may be viewed irresponsible by some or it may inspire others but that is not why it should be done.
"Own only what you can always carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag"
I love that quote from Solzhenitsyn. I have tried a couple times to hit the road unencumbered but something deep inside my psyche keeps bringing me back to the place I am now. It literally makes me crazy!!! Maybe its a comfort zone thing but that has never been an issue for me. Retirement, there is enough there to live comfortably when needed. How is it that our society/bank marketing can subconsciously controls our thoughts. Bastards really. NO I DO NOT NEED 1 MILLION DOLLARS FOR A COMFORTABLE RETIREMENT.
I love that quote from Solzhenitsyn. I have tried a couple times to hit the road unencumbered but something deep inside my psyche keeps bringing me back to the place I am now. It literally makes me crazy!!! Maybe its a comfort zone thing but that has never been an issue for me. Retirement, there is enough there to live comfortably when needed. How is it that our society/bank marketing can subconsciously controls our thoughts. Bastards really. NO I DO NOT NEED 1 MILLION DOLLARS FOR A COMFORTABLE RETIREMENT.
Final thought for the day. I do not want to be the richest man in the graveyard.