Attacking the Present!
May 3, 2024: 788 Days Remaining
I always go back and read my previous post prior to writing the current one and yeah, I was a bit whinny. There are so many people out in the world that don’t have the light at the end of the tunnel that I have. There are so many people who just work until they die while dreaming of true freedom. The fact that I’ll be self sufficient with the family without working for anyone ever again by the age of 38 in a location that I deeply love is truly an incredible accomplishment that I should be thankful for instead of complaining that I’m not there yet at the age of 36. Yes, I still yearn for the wilderness of Michigan to the point where a few days ago I put on some bug spray as a cologne just so I could enjoy the nostalgia of the smell of DEET. Yes, it’s ridiculous. Yes, I’m going to keep doing it. No, I’m not going to keep dwelling on the lodge to the point that it negatively impacts my present day life.
It helps that since my last post I’ve published my book “Don’t Die: A Survival Manual” on Amazon and we’ve cleared up the assignment to Tyndall, Florida. We are definitely going now and in only 37 days on June 9th. I’m in full out-processing mode now trying to get big things done everyday. We have movers coming on the 27th and then we’re living out of suitcases for two weeks. Finally, we’ll fly into Detroit, rent a minivan, and drive up to the U.P. to enjoy some time off enroute. After our down time we’re off to the races! Driving down to Florida with the Excursion pulling the 3-axle trailer loaded with all our goodies we’ve missed for the last three years (four if you count the Qatar). Then we’re moving into a new house in Florida for less than two years before moving back up north permanently! It’s going to go fast and I’ll stop complaining once we get there (maybe). Plus we have to fix up my Dad’s old house down there and get it sold so that he can move up to the U.P. permanently as well. Also Al has agreed to offer his property to me before putting it on the open market when the time comes for him and Cathy to move closer to medical care. He’s in his 80’s now but he’s one of the most active and healthy people I’ve ever met so he’ll likely outlive me and we’ll never get to reunite the original properties as I’ve dreamed of doing. I hope to keep them around as long as possible so I’m wishing long life and health for both of them.
I anticipate that the next two years are going to fly by in a flurry and I can almost hear my future self nodding and saying “Yup.” as he reads this down the road. So instead of lamenting the wait… I’ve decided to attack the present! I have a house to pack, a family to move internationally, a summer to enjoy, a house to fix up and sell, and a new job to absolutely CRUSH! There’s no time for lamentation, especially lamentation of having such a bright thing to look forward to. I sound like a kid that is angry that his birthday is three days away. It makes no sense, but I only complain because I’m so close to living the life that I have dreamed of since I was nine years old. I am incredibly lucky that it will soon be a reality. Until then, CHARGE!
-A more present Travis.
