Having lived on my own for 16 months now, I've had time to think about where life tends to go. While I don't regret the choices I've made, I think it's time to think about the next step.
I've realized that the American upper-middle-class professional lifestyle is a Faustian bargain. You trade time for money. Lots of time, for lots of money. However, not quite enough to become financially independent. And there's not quite enough time left to do the things that I want to do -- keep in touch with friends and family as well as travel the world.
It boils down to this -- {friends & family, travel the world, save up for financial independence} -- pick two. That is the deal you're left with on the hot career track. They never tell you this at career fairs. Hah.
Honestly, am I going to put up with that shit all the way until I'm 40? I could probably become financially independent by then, but I might not be able to enjoy my freedom as I could while I'm young. If I wanted to be free to travel the world before I turn 30, I'd have to make sacrifices in the way of my career, I think.
Many people I think accept the busy working life as their fate, and don't do anything about it. For the past few months, I refused to take this path. I refused to put up the white flag. I want all three from that list. But the result was increasing despair and cynicism. So what to do now?
Last weekend I came across something that might be the way out. It was completely unexpected too. I'm trying to maintain both an open mind and a critical eye as I check it out.
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