House-Sitting, Not Jet-Setting

Homeless until March 1, I've been staying at friends' houses for the month of February, including a house-sitting stint which gave me some much-needed quiet time to recuperate and reflect.

For a guy living a life of leisure, I’ve been pretty stressed out these last couple of weeks – preoccupied by healing my knee, re-renting my house, fixing my camera, and filing my income taxes – all while trying to figure out where to sleep and shower each night.  In addition, a couple of companies have approached me with interesting “real job” opportunities, which makes me second-guess my decision to pursue my passion vs. return to the rat race.

But, I’m keeping a long-term perspective on things.  I constantly remind myself that I’m not taking a vacation to be happy for a year, but rather I’m blazing a new trail to be happy for the rest of my life.  To paraphrase a colleague of mine, I’m not building a path to earn a million dollars, but a path to feel like a million dollars.

As I mentioned in my last post, that new path is sailing.  I don’t yet know where it will lead but I know it’s the path I want to explore. 

The year 2015 was a year of organization and transition, to prepare myself for a new lifestyle:  getting my banking and bill-paying online; converting my house into a rental property; building a financial plan; finishing critical sailing certifications; and setting up a website to share my experience.  By late 2015, as you’ve read, I tested the waters at this low-budget, highly-mobile lifestyle – grounded in the principle that by volunteering and/or sailing, I can significantly reduce my day-to-day living expenses, while also helping others accomplish their goals of providing for their family, running a small business, sailing from Point A to Point B, etc.  It wasn’t an easy year, and it certainly wasn't as glamorous as it sounds, but it proved the concept.

Now, in 2016, it’s all about sailing – getting on-the-water experience, building my social network within the sailing community, and earning further certifications as required.  I’m still very interested in general volunteering as well, but sailing will be the priority.

I'm thankful to my friends who have opened their homes to me this month. I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks in my own house, as I prepare mentally and physically for another year on the road.  Er, water.  

Anchor's aweigh!