I was at a party this past weekend and as usual, ended up talking about the trip with several people. One of the questions that I get asked a lot is what I am going to do when I get back. My usual response is: I don’t know. It sounds like a lame answer and not a very well thought out response, but the more I actually do think about it, the more I realize that it is the only answer that I can possibly provide. There is really no way of knowing what I am going to do when Steve and I get back from this adventure. So much is going to change over the couple of years that we are gone. Some change will be good and yet others will undoubtedly be harder to adjust to.
Denver is a rapidly growing city and I can’t even begin to imagine what it is going to be like in 2 years. There is also the very real possibility that somewhere over the course of 70,000 miles and 90 plus countries, that I may find a place that is entirely suited to me and may not want to come back or will at least try to pursue moving back there after we finish our post-trip engagements.
Friends are also going to change. It seems like Steve and I are going in the opposite direction of a lot of our peers. People are settling down, getting married, worrying about 401(k) plans and their careers and in general seeking stability. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a bad thing, but for me personally, it is not the time for it. Steve and I are pretty much diving headfirst into a deep pool of uncertainty and instability which can be scary, but at the same time deliver some pretty substantial rewards. Not only will people back home change, I can guarantee that Steve and I will come back significantly different people as a result of our experiences. We will be exposed to many strange and fascinating things over the course of our travels and with open eyes and an open mind, it is impossible not to be changed from such an experience. Unfortunately, I feel that it is going to be harder to relate to some of our friends upon our return.
In terms of making a living, again, it is impossible to say what I am going to do when/ if I come back. Post trip, Steve and I will have our hands full doing post production work and editing on the documentary, trying to write a book, and sharing our experiences with others. I imagine that will keep us busy for quite a while. Right now, I don’t see myself throwing a tie back on. The experiences and knowledge gained on a project such as this will open a whole new world of possibilities, and even before we started planning the trip, I felt myself gravitating away from the typical 9-5 gig. Although I am still engaged in my current job and contribute, I find it harder and harder mentally to contribute 100 percent. This is a telltale sign that it is time to move on. Life is too short not to actually live it. Again, I’m not trying to take anything away from the 9-5 crowd, but I feel that life can be more fulfilling for me doing other things.
So again, I don’ t know what I am going to do when I get back. One thing is certain, a lot of things are going to change and I really don’t know why lies down the road beyond the trip…
