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August 18, 2003

The Plan

Its one thing to think and dream, quite another to put those dreams into action. The danger becomes more real, testing ones commitment to those dreams. It is also quite scary writing those things down in a public forum. By doing so, you make them more real and thus commit yourself further. I think I'm ready.
To answer a question I'd posed HERE (Defcon 11: The Struggle), I envision a life in which my career (using the term liberally), and my idealistic life are one in the same. Specifically, after much soul searching I've found that two things give me the most pleasure. Writing, and being outdoors. Being outdoors is too simplistic a definition. Being at home in the outdoors is more to the point. I wrote the following at Defcon and was not going to post it, but decided to after finding an explanation for myself.
"Is it selfish to even desire being in a place where you need NOT have responsibility. But only flexibility to exercise power over ones time and priorities."
Why would I dream this a possibility? I'm currently reading "A night on the ground, a day in the open." by Doug Robinson. One of the topics covered is that of the climbing vagabond. I realize that when I talk about having no responsibility, What I really desire is that lifestyle. One in which you have enough time to do things that are less goal oriented. Climb unnamed peaks! Read and write for a day in the wilderness. It sounds unrealistically romantic I know, but by the nature of my crusade I've doomed myself to thinking such things ARE possible.

To this end, I am back to the thought of becoming a guide. But now I've added the unrealistic, lofty goal of being a writer. This may seem sudden to some of you, but its really not to me. I'm not going to go in to the whole writer thing now, but I promise to at a later time.

Here's the plan, which can change and evolve as I go.
1. I'm working hard on the Sarahpeutics book proposal.
2. I've begun work on another book proposal with Obigabu which I'll explain sometime later. 3. I am going to try and contact Doug Robinson through Bruce and offer my time for free as an apprenticeship, hopefully next summer in the Palasades. (After Denali).
4. Climb Denali
5. In September, I am going to take a solo backpacking trip over the Sierra's from the East side, clear to the west. (I just gotta figure out a ride home :) With NO time constraints. I'll take as long as I need to do it right. I'm assuming it will take less than a week.

Thats the plan as it stands. It will obviously have an affect on my work at Kittredge. I am still working on computer stuff for them and continuing that throughout this year. How this will affect how much time I spend in the store, I still haven't figured out, though I have no doubt it will.

Thats the current plan in a nutshell. I've left out the minutia because I've already rambled.

UPDATE: Bruce saw Doug in the Rite-Aid parking lot. Doug mentioned he'd be in the Palisades for 2 weeks in September. Bruce told Doug I wanted to talk to him, but didn't mention why. So, I plan on finding Doug in the Palisades in September and bringing my case to him. This meeting may or may not determine my plans for the rest of the year.

Posted by wonko at August 18, 2003 02:23 PM

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Posted by: kasei at August 20, 2003 12:36 AM

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