in a way… it’s kinda sad to me sometimes that this is my first long vacation in years. i mean, i went traveling in europe for a month, but that was sooo many years ago. it’s sad that you only get to do something truly adventurous and crazy once in sooo long. i was rereading “generation x” by douglas coupland on the plane trip here… and i found a quote that really stuck out to me:
“The only reason we all go to work in the morning is because we’re terrified of what would happen if we stopped. we’re not built for free time as a species. we think we are, but we aren’t. Most of us have only two or three genuinely interesting moments in our lives, the rest is filler, and at the end of our lives, most of us will be lucky if any of those moments connect together to form a story that anyone would find remotely interesting.”
-v
I’m glad I enjoy my life. Yes, I haven’t taken a “vacation” in YEARS, but I have so many wonderful memories of my life so far that I can’t believe it’s just “filler.” It’s all about learning to enjoy the little things in life. The great things only happen a few times.
I think free time is a relatively new concept for humans. Up until the industrial revolution most of us worked 10 hour days… before then there wasn’t even PARKS. (In the US anyway…) Right now we all have more leisure time than ever before.
I don’t think that we’re particularly terrified of leisure, I just don’t think leisure time is exactly natural. I think too much leisure time for the whole of humanity is a bad thing. Not that we should all be office drones but we should deserve to live and earn it.
Consider animals — they are always working, too. Working at living, anyway. Since we’ve become advanced and can massproduce so much we haven’t had to work as hard and we’re still multiplying. It seems reckless.
I don’t think working is a negative thing — I think being scared is, however. If the opportunity is there, take it.
you are so inspiring me to travel when i graduate this may… i even told all my relatives yesterday how i wanted to…
great quote by the way 🙂
I think leisure time is different from country to country, state to state and city to city. Living in the Silicone Valley we are bred at a early age to not break from the daily grind. But you broke away so there is hope for a few of us. I also agree with Heather , i have many great memories and the simple ones i cherish the most.
-joey
yeah thats the thing though. i broke away now.. but when will i break away again? will i only have these kind of experiences once every 5 or 6 years? dont get me wrong.. i appreciate the little things as much as the next person… if not more. daily life back home, hanging out w/ friends, etc is dope.. but sometimes i still wonder if we’re being robbed.
-v
I think we are being robbed. Robbed of our childhood , our youth and sense of adventure. The american culture is to work hard in your younger years and prepare for your retirement your entire life. We need to place more emphasis on the present and the quality of life. Kinda like what i said at your going away dinner. Something , blah blah , right of passage , blah blah, manifest destiny and only you will know when you get there.
Thats great , four days and already you are starting to question your life’s path… we are going to have to give you a new name when you get back cause you will not be the same person!
-j
YES. WE ARE SO ROBBED! damn them yankee scum!!
i’ve actually been questioning my life’s path for many years now. and i knew that coming here would make me think about it even more. will i spend from now till i’m 70 working 50 weeks a year in fromt of a monitor? we’ll see….
-v