The End of My First Career

Today, I received the last evaluation that really mattered in the course of my first career. I'm in an up or out organization, and while there's a process to follow, the fix is in and the conclusion is all but inevitable. As I predicted, today has been another great day.

I say that because while I didn't capture any photos today (a medical appointment and a middle school talent show soaked up a little more time than I'd planned), I got some solid walking done, I added to my N2N-TCP savings coffers, and the piece of paper I signed around 1230 is the first step on the path toward completing line item number thirteen on my twenty six llist. The evaluation was worded politely, but it was pretty definitive. Time to depart the pattern. I'm not fired, but the number of days left in my day job are numbered.

It's a little hard to take this kind of news with a spring in your step, but I've been asking the universe for guidance. One should note that when you take that kind of step, the universe will invariably answer. You might not expect what you get, and even if you expect it, the manifestation can come as a bit of a shock. I buoyed by the belief that the universe is conspiring to make me successful.

We'll see what tomorrow holds, but whatever it may be, it's my path and I'm going to revel in it. Who knows what might happen.  Rory Conlan might even show up.  I'm told he's still in the land of the upright.*

* Note: Upright is used in the geometric rather than biblical sense in this sentence.

Distractions

To be honest, I didn't really make too much progress on the Twenty Six List today. I continued on with the savings plan I instituted yesterday, and I did a little research on making a non-profit or for profit organization. I did learn that there are more things to consider in that decision than I'd assumed, and there is more research to be done.

I did get in some reasonable walking.  Keeping up the training while tackling some of these other projects is not to be sniffed at, but it's not progress.  It's marking time.

Marking Time in The Yards Park

Cutting expenses got a little bit of practice when I left my wallet at home this morning. That's probably not deliberate enough, but I'll take credit as it's about the only new element added today.  I'm getting tired because I'm not getting enough sleep, so I'm off to attempt a remedy to that deficit this evening.

Looking forward to increasing productive and disciplined progress tomorrow in what promises to be another great day.

Getting Started on the Twenty Six List - Saving $3K

After a brief review of the list I made yesterday for completion ten months hence, I decided that there's not a moment to lose in implementing the suggestions.  Might as well knock an "easy" one off the list so I began to wonder how to approach saving the $3K required.

Neptune Thinking - Washington, DC

Since the approach to minimalism seems to be progressing pretty well so far, I've settled on a similar approach to saving the dinero. Day 1 (that's today), I'll start by setting aside $1.  Day two...$2.  Day 3...$3, and so on. That's going to average about $450/month set aside, so at the end of ten months, I should have exceeded the target.  

Capitol Building - Washington, DC

I'll let you know how this "capital" idea (double and treble entendre intended) plays out. One out of twenty six planned for execution.  Not a bad day's work. Tomorrow will be another opportunity to excel.  Until then, Cheers!

Bridging the Distance from My Day Job to My Calling

Yesterday, I suggested that I believed that my calling (or at least what I've been called to do next) is to become a walker.  There remains quite a list of things I need to get done to bridge the gap between my current day job and the next chapter of my life.

Bridge Near Yards Park - Washington, DC

Since there's no time like the present...actually the present is all that exists and all that will ever exist, it's probably time to start bridging that divide.  A short and far from comprehensive list of things that need to be done in the next ten months follows:

1.   Retire all debt.

2.   Cut expenses by 50%

3.   Save $3000.

4.   Find a new place to live...part of cutting expenses.

5.   Identify $10K worth of funding...either a patron or a series of donors.

6.   Incorporate a non-profit.

7.   Design and produce a logo for the pilgrimage.

8.   Verify all water crossings along the intended route allow pedestrian traffic.

9.   Plan the intended route.

10.  If all water crossings along the intended route do not allow pedestrian traffic, identify the relevant jurisdiction and obtain permission to cross them.  Otherwise find another way.

11.  Register a domain name.

12.  Develop Kickstarter and/or GoFundMe campaign.

13.  Retire from my day job.

14.  Move into new living accommodations.

15.  Discuss pilgrimage plans with family.

16.  Decide on media to document the pilgrimage.

17.  Hire a lawyer.

18.  Hire an accountant.

19.  Establish a corporate bank account.

20.  Hire corporate officers.

21.  Establish corporate by-laws.

22.  Pick stealth camping gear.

23.  Design a water cart for the western crossing.

24.  Pick intended waypoints for the first 200 miles of walking.

25.  Decide on a firm departure time.

26.  Coordinate departure with the city of Newport, RI

There's probably quite a few more, but this list, each line item a project in and of itself a little miniature project with multiple steps, is enough to indicate that there is not a moment to lose if I'm going to strike out in March 2017.

It's going to be a great day tomorrow, and now I know I'll be even busier than I was originally planning. 

I am a Walker

“I can choose either to be a victim of the world or an adventurer in search of treasure. It's all a question of how I view my life.” - Paulo Coelho

I am a walker. I've been committed to the practice for over a year, and when I started this journey, I somehow knew that the first step was the right one to take. The way I have earned my livelihood to date has finally begun to fracture. My initial reaction was disappointment with myself and the system.

Ospreys Over the Anacostia

Even while I was feeling the sinking in the pit of my stomach, I know that a new chapter was manifesting itself before my eyes. There is still much to be done, but I know the direction. The roadblock from several weeks ago has put me onto a new trail.  This trail appears to be narrower and less developed. It's a dirt path instead of an asphalt highway. It leads into to a deepening wood, and I'm not quite sure what I'll find when I leave the sunlight of the familiar. That uncertainty doesn't matter. I've been given my detour, and the only thing left is to follow the new path laid out in front of me.

I'm looking forward to taking the next step. Tomorrow will be a glorious day.

“The danger of an adventure is worth a thousand days of ease and comfort." - Paulo Coelho

Spring Come to the United States Naval Academy

Springtime at the United States Naval Academy offers quite a bit in the way of ceremony, great weather, pageantry, and cute girls in sundresses.

USNA Spring Afternoon

The great weather has arrived. The ceremony and pageantry are set to start in about a week.

Canoe U. Great Blue #2

I suspect this guy is on the lookout for the sundresses.

Today was a lovely day, and tomorrow promises to be even better.

Fire in the Sky

Not too many months ago, I found that I was pretty proud of myself for getting out there and seeing the sunrises and sunsets. As time marched on the more I just observed and documented these things happening around me, the more I've found myself thinking that I'm might still be too passive in my relationship to the wonders around me. Observing and documenting might not be enough. It's better than spending time in front of the television, but I wonder...is it still too much spectating and not enough acting.

For now, I'll leave the contemplation of that dilemma to be pondered. I did observe and document the fire in the sky of the sun settling down into the horizon behind College Creek earlier tonight.

College Creek Sunset #1

At this time of year, the sun sets much farther to the north than I really would like to be able to capture photos from my usual haunts. I managed to capture these looking into a little bay on College Creek from the bridge on Rowe Blvd in Annapolis.

College Creek Sunset #2

The wind was kicking up out of the northwest, and this is the only shot where the water was calm enough to capture a small bit of the reflection I was hoping to catch.

College Creek Sunset #3

This final shot is my favorite.  It captures the yellows, oranges, pinks, reds, blues, greens, and blacks that made this evening's final showing of the nuclear life giving fire of our solar system something I've come to anticipate and chase (slowly, on foot) with some regularity over the last year.

I'm not sure what will come tomorrow, but it feels like something is brewing.  I'm looking forward to meeting it.