The End. (Or the beginning?)

We woke up, packed up, and shipped out by 11:30.  (ok,  so we weren't anxious to leave, and got a pretty late start!)  We decided to drive over Loveland Pass instead of through the tunnel on I70, trying to prolong our sweet goodbye to the Rockies.

As I type this, we are driving south on I25, nearing the New Mexico border, the mountains to our west suggesting that we could turn around and start another week or another month.  But it is time to get back home to Austin,  and end our adventure.  At least for now.  For those who have been reading regularly,  I hope you have enjoyed following our experience,  and I also hope you will consider lighting out on your own adventure someday.

Almost all of us live in only one place.  Thats what we call "Home".  But there's no rule that says living somewhere else for a short while has to be a "Vacation".   Honestly,  this has been a great experience I would recommend to anyone who can "work from anywhere".  As many of us become empty nesters, serial wanderings like this can be a great lifestyle, without the investment and limitations that come with 2nd home ownership.  When you have a lot of money tied up in a 2nd home, guess where you'll go?  Almost every time!  WIth working wanderings,  you don't have to wait until retirement to start really living your fantasy lifestyle.

Can you really live out the fantasy of living for a while in a destination location like a ski resort (or beach resort, or a new city, in a foreign country,  or on a sailboat or....?)  Within limits, clearly you can.   Here's some tips:

1. You need to gave a phone, high speed internet connection, and an airport within a few hours drive.  (So a sailboat is probably out unless you can be within a digital cell signal range, like in the US Virgin Islands.)
2. Ideally, go somewhere you can reach by car;  having your own wheels lowers the cost, and let's you haul up all kinds of stuff you don't want to spend a whole month without!  (of course, I wouldn't need a car if I had a sailboat!  Hmmmmm.....)
3. Getting up early helps you stay on top of your work-related responsibilities..  You can get a lot done while the family sleeps, and wrap up early enough to enjoy your fantasyland (eg, my cross-country skiing, or fishing, or whatever you're there for).
4.  Staying a couple time-zones west of your work team helps even more when combined with #1.  Helps reduce calls scheduled at the end of YOUR fantasyland day.   (if you work for a west coast firm,  head to Hawaii!)
5. Take 3 and 4 day weekends during your adventure.  I took 2 4-day weekends,  and so was able to have 8 days of fun and only took 4 days of vacation.  Combined with taking some afternoons off, you will have plenty of time to enjoy your trip without sacrificing your job. And not having to travel anywhere saves you a ton of time and maximizes the time to experience your new "home" away from home.  
6. Rent for a month.  You can get really good deals, and the rental market is very soft right now due to the economy.  Staying for a whole month helps reduce the impact of the inevitable illness, bad weather, injury, or emergency and unavoidable business trips that will come up.  
7. Invite friends and family to join you and your fantasy life!  They will love it and it makes the whole experience more enjoyable and memorable.
8. Finally,  BLOG about your experience!  Even if nobody reads it,  you will have a journal with photo's that you can print out, even make into a book, to keep your memories fresh and remind you to get out and go again!

Well,  thats it for the Month in the Summit.    Thanks for staying,  come again!

-- Karl

Jan. 31, 2010

Driving over Raton Pass, on the Colorado/New Mexico Border.