When you’re thru-hiking, there is no question about what to do each day. You wake up, pack up your tent, and hike. Rinse, repeat.
With my Appalachian Trail thru-hike complete, I suddenly have a tremendous amount of autonomy in how to fill my time. I am blessed to have 15 more months of my mini-retirement. Unlike thru-hiking (or working a job), I have to actually decide what to do each day.
One advantage of a mini-retirement is that you have the time to accomplish a concrete goal, like a thru-hike. However, an equally valuable benefit is the ability to play. My goal for this fall and winter is to not overly structure my time. To create space and see what emerges. No deadlines, no schedule. Who am I without the constraints of a specific agenda or structured tasks? Let’s find out!
This is my season of creative play. I want to follow my curiosities and see where it takes me, and I do have a lot of curiosities. Anyone that knows me knows that I like learning and I like hobbies. My head is swirling with ideas for the next few weeks.
- Kayak fishing
- Get better at piano
- Explore the Virginia Barrier Islands
- Start writing my memoir
- Get ripped at the gym
- Crank out blog posts
- Volunteer with local oyster restoration projects
- Read books
- Make elaborate cooking projects
- Spend time with wife
I know it is a luxury to have the time to do whatever I want. Most people don’t get such an opportunity, especially not in their 30s. I hope to make the most of it. In a world of demanding schedules and obligations, I am grateful for the space to pause, reflect, and foster personal growth and exploration.
I can hardly wait to see what comes next! I’m sure it will be interesting and creative!!
Thank you!
So many things you can accomplish. What genre do you like to read? I may be able to recommend something. Go spend a couple of days up Chincoteague and go hiking on Assateague to see the ponies. I will not fish from a kayak but I definitely need to get some fishing in. I only have about 5 months left in the state of Virginia and so many things I want to do before I leave. Make the most of your time away from work it is definitely a luxury in my opinion that most people do not get, they get a day here or a weekend there or if they are at a job long enough they can take a week off. Each day we wake up is a gift we are given so make the most of each one.
Thanks! I agree that Virginia is a state full of treasures. So much to do, so little time! As for books, I pretty much only read non-fiction- mostly self-development, history, and memoir.
I hope you transform your AT blog into one covering your whole mini retirement experience. I open your posts even ahead of emails from my boss… they’re so wonderfully written, soul searching, and fun
Thank you! I do plan to continue the blog!