Every year for as long as I can remember, I post a blog post about the last year here on Earth and what I’m looking forward to going forward. In 2010, I moved to New Hampshire on September 4th so I’ve been doing New Hampshireversary + Birthday blogs as a single post since then and the format has worked pretty well.
This is the first year where I was at a loss for words. I’ve been writing a Quarter-Century biography over the past few months off an on. The chapters are split not chronologically but in sections like there’s one about my Dad (both of them) and my move to San Francisco and various life events. It’s been fun to write and readers of this blog probably have noticed lately my blog posts containing more nostalgia than before and that’s because in writing these chapters, I start thinking that the past few years have been pretty boring. Exciting in the grand scheme of things, exciting if I compare my life to my peers from high school but compared to the first 25 years, the last 3 have been boring.
Traveling the world, meeting new people, finding and losing love and exploring my career and working up the ladder are great but the last 12 months have felt stagnant as if I’m a quiet stream covered in mold and not rapids of fast moving water, roaring and throwing up mist with every rock that comes in my way.
This is all my fault of course but besides the stagnation, I’m also not feeling driven to actually do much about it at least not yet. I’m very happy in New Hampshire, happy with how I spend my time and with who I spend it with but I’m also going through some mental and physical discoveries about myself that should have been unearthed years ago. This could be a feeling that all people go through as they settle down. I’m no longer looking for a better job, a new lover, a new hobby or bench pressing more than I did the last day. I make more money than I ever thought possible and have a savings account. I feel good and see no reason to make changes. Maybe that’s why I’m stagnating. First world problems, right? I love going to Belgium but after being there 8 times, it’s just another trip to Europe.
In the last year on Earth, I guess I did some cool things. It’s just unfortunate that I don’t feel like they’re worth covering here. I’m also approaching my 4th full year in New Hampshire. Wow. Soon, my job @ TomTom will be the longest I’ve ever held, another thing that older people appreciate more than younger people. Four years @ TomTom. Incredible and every day feels new and fresh and fun and I have no desire to look elsewhere. In fact, there are opportunities there to do something really great that I’ll talk about should they come to fruition.
I am becoming less social which is not at all surprising. Last year and the year before, I wrote about wanting to live more remote and have a smaller circle of friends. I’ve mostly realized that goal. For the longest time, I wanted to know everyone, see everything and live in New York. Now I’d be happy with a cabin in eastern Oregon with a dog and a goldfish. Alaska also sounds pretty good or the Northern Territories of Canada. As long as I have Internet, I’m good.
I celebrated my 28th birthday alone and by choice. I bought a cake, had some whiskey and watched old movies. I’ve celebrated most of my New Years alone as well. I prefer it. Milestones to me should be enjoyed in solitary so you can really reflect on things and not distracted by entertainment and other personalities.
Here’s to another year at my current job and another year in New England.
As always, thanks to everyone who drops in to read this blog. It’s a labor of love and one that I’m happy to keep maintained.
