4 things within the last 4 years 1) Lost my job of over 20 years - and both homes I had owned 2) Moved back across the country (GA to OR) to pursue an entirely new career (at age 52) 3) Got a divorce Doing well now, though.
Five years ago I was lazy, self-entitled and mooching off my parents. My girlfriend of about a year broke up with me because of it. We got back together a week later, but that scared me straight. We just celebrated out six year anniversary yesterday. Since then: Started living and eating eco-consciously Lived in Morocco Got an MA (just about)
Sold our first house and moved to a better neighborhood. Had our first born 2 years ago... That in itself changes you forever. We no longer have a TV in the main places we live in in our house and I don't really miss it. We also have a home business that has taken off and brought in a third income. Its been a blessed last five years.
I have discovered that when you get older, you have just as frequent major changes as when you were younger. The difference is that they were positive then.
You guys make my life seem to inconsequential lol. When I was a junior in college I split with my girlfriend (who really was my best friend) of well over 2 years and the next day went into the study abroad office at my campus and asked where I could study abroad the next quarter. I had few options at that point but settled on Florence and busted my ass to make it happen (I did not have a passport or anything at the time). I didn't know anyone going into that program so it forced me to be more social and less of a judgmental asshole, not to mention I had never been that far from home for that long of a time and checking out all kinds of foreign culture and I met some people who are still among my best friends. I was a lot different when I got back but I think it was 100% for the better. Outside of that I graduated and eventually ended up with a pretty good job for someone my age. However its getting quite boring and I don't feel very fulfilled by it. My friend who is a great homebrewer moved to Everett, Washington and I was high as balls talking to him last night and he mentioned that another friend of ours was willing to drop most/all of his savings to put into starting a legit microbrewery. I'm TOTALLY fucking down for this. I've got money saved and I want to GTFO of my hometown. Unfortunately I'm the only employed person in my house so I'm kind of stuck here until my mom gets a job and can sell the house and move somewhere smaller that she can afford. And since about March I can probably count the number of days I haven't smoked weed on one hand. Its usually just a few hours before I go to bed so its not like I'm baked all day but I am kind of scared to try to stop. In college I got drunk every night in a similar fashion, even when I was home alone just kicking it. I justified it because I still did fine in school and socially and it was college but it seems to have just transferred to ganja since I graduated and got a job.
Ever tried smoking it on the other? [video=youtube;VC1_1TvZLTY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC1_1TvZLTY[/video]
You're going legal with a brewery? Better live within walking distance. When we're as old as he is, we'll be millionaires by 30.
Which things in New Zealand did you not expect? Which other things did you expect, but are the biggest adjustments?
I quit drinking...started drinking...then I quit drinking...then I started drinking. It was at that point that I gave myself to Him, our Lord and Savior James Beam. Since then I've been reading the scripture thread and it has really helped me. I've finally realized what's truly important in this life. Spreading my seed, maintaining an altered state of mind, and White Power. What a long strange trip it's been.
What brought this about? Do you have any regrets? I'm contemplating a similar kind of huge move myself (to Europe). It's what got me posting this.
If you haven't tried meth, I highly recommend it. I use it frequently while playing epic games of monopoly and singing Bee Gees songs in a low registrar. Also, and only after fresh taint piercings, try picking up the wonderful sport of bull riding of the tantric variety.
There are not a lot of adjustments other than the fact that you are on the other side of the world and communicating with people is difficult due to the time difference. The single biggest item has been no central heating. Many of the houses have little to no insulation (including the house we are renting) and there is no central heating. You wake up in the morning and it is 40 degrees outside and the same inside. Sometimes it is colder inside than out. It also means that in the summer, it gets very hot inside as there is no AC and with no insulation, it gets hot quickly. The food is much more European than American. Much less sugar. People are friendly and helpful and overall it has been a great experience. That being said, we are looking to come back from our overseas adventure. My wife's sister, to whom she is very close, was recently diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gerig's) and is fading and we want to be close to spend time with her. Gramps...
I'd always wanted to go to New Zealand and a job opportunity arose and so I took it. It has been a great adventure. The hardest thing has been the distance between us and family. The time difference between Europe and US is not quite so great as with NZ and that would reduce the biggest issue - communicating with people "back home". I think it is a great experience for anyone to go spend time in a different culture/country for a period of time just to get a better vision of what we do/don't have and better understand differences. Gramps...
I spent two years of grade school in Mexico and, even though it was a long time ago, it was enough for me to still appreciate what I have in my life now.
Got out of a dead end job, moved halfway across the country to a city on the US/Mexico border for a job in television and lost 80 lbs. Lots of other little things in there but those are the two major ones that come to mind. Sadly I put on about 25 lbs of it back, it's easy for me to lose weight, but hard to keep it off (like it is for most people).
work has gotten more lucrative, had a son, quit a few vices for weeks at a time, i dont try to put too much pressure on myself for silly things like that though nothing earth shattering yet, but im working on my tesla oscillator
