Begin at the End
Long term plans dictate short term decisions. I’m having to constantly remind myself of that as I hesitantly uproot large parts of my life. See, my long term goal is to live abroad for at least a few years, nomadically photographing my way across this beautiful earth. I want to experience a multitude of different cultures firsthand. I want to taste their food, listen to their music, hear their stories and observe how they navigate the world. I honestly cannot think of a more enriching and educational experience than that. And photographing the journey would be a literal dream come true for me. Just the thought of it makes me clench my fists and shake with excitement. That is the long term goal that is directing my short term decisions.
In the short term, however, before I fully launch into nomad mode, I’m choosing to bide my time, as there are family things that I want to remain present for, and an aging dog to consider. So for now I’m entering a phase of transition—a holding pattern, of sorts—one that I expect will make my eventual full launch even smoother and easier.
Unless things change, for the next 6-12 months I’ll be living near Mount Lassen, in Northern California, in a simple little cabin with a strong internet connection, surrounded by flowing creeks, lakes, meadows and wildlife. With tons of hiking and mountain biking trails to explore and a beautiful National Park just a short drive away. And while I will have plenty to keep me busy in the area, the cabin will also act as a homebase from which to launch road trips into other parts of Northern California and undoubtedly up into Oregon and Washington and likely many other states as well.
Even this short term plan will be a big life change, and I expect it will have plenty of challenges, but my hope is that it ends up being an incredibly profound chapter in my life, a simpler chapter in my life, one that pushes me to a deeper and more fundamental understanding of myself, of nature and of the world I live in. And one that prepares me for the even bigger chapter to follow.
"May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. May your rivers flow without end."
-Edward Abbey
