Intro
Hello friends!
For those of you who've been waiting for me to post something, I'm sorry it's taken me so long. There's just so much to see, and seeing things is a great excuse for not writing about them! Nevertheless, I do think it's important (whether for future Aaron or some other reader) to document my travels and the thought process behind them, so here goes...
For a while now, I've been toying with the idea of random wandering as a means of breaking habits and expanding one's experiences. It's basic human nature to fall into patterns, yet those patterns are not always beneficial. Often times there are better things out there, better ways of living our lives, which we simply haven't discovered because we have blinders on.
I've certainly found this to be true in my own life. I've spent most of the last 8 years following a pretty consistent routine - eating at the same restaurants, practicing the same hobbies, barely venturing outside my little bubble in the Bay Area. Yet on the occasions I forced myself to try new things, I often surprised myself by how much I enjoyed them! And since it's impossible to tell ahead of time what will be valuable or enjoyable, I believe it's important to keep trying new things, and pay close attention to what does or doesn't work.
Or as the engineer in me would say, my optimization algorithm needs to include some randomness to avoid local maxima. Yes, my previous life was pretty good - I had an enviable job in a good location, with good friends whom I was sad to leave behind. But I couldn't stop wondering what else was out there, or whether some other life path would really suit me better.
So in January 2018, just after turning 30, I decided to take random wandering to the extreme. I quit my job, gave away most of my possessions, collected my savings, and set off to see the world. I don't have much of a theme, a plan or a destination. I may stay for days in an area or months, possibly even buy a place and settle down if it feels right. I plan to explore cities and wilderness and everything in between. Live on a budget for the most part, but not be afraid to splurge when I feel like it. Follow leads from fellow travelers, be spontaneous, and enjoy whatever life brings without preconceptions or expectations.
Will it work? Not sure. Will I find something more fulfilling than my old life? Who knows. But at the very least, it ought to be something different, and whatever else comes, I'll have that many more experiences to draw from.
To anyone reading this: may your own journey be fulfilling, wherever it may take you.
Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination.
- Brandon Sanderson
For those of you who've been waiting for me to post something, I'm sorry it's taken me so long. There's just so much to see, and seeing things is a great excuse for not writing about them! Nevertheless, I do think it's important (whether for future Aaron or some other reader) to document my travels and the thought process behind them, so here goes...
For a while now, I've been toying with the idea of random wandering as a means of breaking habits and expanding one's experiences. It's basic human nature to fall into patterns, yet those patterns are not always beneficial. Often times there are better things out there, better ways of living our lives, which we simply haven't discovered because we have blinders on.
I've certainly found this to be true in my own life. I've spent most of the last 8 years following a pretty consistent routine - eating at the same restaurants, practicing the same hobbies, barely venturing outside my little bubble in the Bay Area. Yet on the occasions I forced myself to try new things, I often surprised myself by how much I enjoyed them! And since it's impossible to tell ahead of time what will be valuable or enjoyable, I believe it's important to keep trying new things, and pay close attention to what does or doesn't work.
Or as the engineer in me would say, my optimization algorithm needs to include some randomness to avoid local maxima. Yes, my previous life was pretty good - I had an enviable job in a good location, with good friends whom I was sad to leave behind. But I couldn't stop wondering what else was out there, or whether some other life path would really suit me better.
So in January 2018, just after turning 30, I decided to take random wandering to the extreme. I quit my job, gave away most of my possessions, collected my savings, and set off to see the world. I don't have much of a theme, a plan or a destination. I may stay for days in an area or months, possibly even buy a place and settle down if it feels right. I plan to explore cities and wilderness and everything in between. Live on a budget for the most part, but not be afraid to splurge when I feel like it. Follow leads from fellow travelers, be spontaneous, and enjoy whatever life brings without preconceptions or expectations.
Will it work? Not sure. Will I find something more fulfilling than my old life? Who knows. But at the very least, it ought to be something different, and whatever else comes, I'll have that many more experiences to draw from.
To anyone reading this: may your own journey be fulfilling, wherever it may take you.
Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination.
- Brandon Sanderson
San Francisco, Feb 2018
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