Here's to a Bloggy New Year!

The Nomadic Office

The thing about writing for a living, I'm discovering, is that by the day's or week's end, I'm out of energy for my own projects, including my own blog. I have an ongoing list of blog posts, short stories, and article ideas for someday, but I sit down to write, and I don't seem to have any bandwidth left.

Maybe it lies in time management skills, in letting go a little at the same time. I've grown accustomed to writing very professional, composed, as perfect as possible blog posts for my clients, that I feel the pressure to do the same on this blog...which often results in the tendency to not post anything because I don't think it's up to par. I think it's high time I leave this fear behind, and just go for it. Write it down, and share, because what's the use of having knowledge and ideas if we don't share them?

Nomad Camp in Cali, November 2009

That said, I'm writing for three different blogs these days, about topics ranging from mountain biking and advocacy, design and weddings, to freelance writing and the nomadic lifestyle. I'm trying to break into the wine industry because I love it so much, and always enjoy writing about sustainability. I feel lucky that I have the luxury of working from anywhere, and can pick and choose what I work on. I recently spent a year living and working on the road, roaming the West in search of singletrack and adventures, which has inspired a number of projects, including this blog. It's still in the works, but what the hell. Might as well share the two posts I've written about freelancing while on the go.

My hopes with Nomad Writes is to inspire others to reconsider the traditional job, the restrictions that come with it, that potentially tie us down. Working out of a Sprinter van for a year shattered the notion that you need an office to get anything done, that you need to be in one place. I can't say enough about how rewarding it is to explore more and work less (but work more efficiently); the freedom to come and go, to pack up and hit the road is something everyone should experience for at least a short time in their lives. It changes you, opens your mind and your heart, and fills you with hope and possibility for what could be, if we just think outside of the box once in awhile.

So, if you're interested in trying out the nomadic way, but still need to pay the bills, check out the blog. I'm planning to share all the tips and tricks I've figured out along the way.

Charge It.

I don't normally make New Year's resolutions, but typically set intentions instead, to identify the direction I hope to take certain aspects of my life in the coming year. Resolutions tend to be so extreme, unrealistic, and limiting--not to mention short-lived. I don't like that. 

For 2011, I'm thinking of making a list of 100 things I want to do before the year is over. That sounds like a lot, doesn't it? Well, some of them are going to be very simple, like cooking certain dishes I've always wanted to make. Like visiting new places in the Gorge or wherever that I've always wanted to, restaurants, waterfalls, and even the Red Carpet. Visit all of the wineries I've never been to, be more of a tourist in my own community. 


Things like that, nothing too heavy, but simple things that create good memories. Go back to Toro Bravo in Portland for an awesome meal. Plant an herb garden at the house we're staying at, because we need one and it would be fun.

Take a pottery lesson from my friend Donna, because that's just something I've always wanted to do. Do more yoga because I need it in my life. See more live music, because it makes me happy.

I've come to believe more whole-heartedly in the phrase "Nothing to it but to do it." We are by nature, pensive creatures, which clearly has it's advantages, but sometimes I think we spend a little too much time thinking, planning, worrying about things instead of just doing them.

As my friend Allison says, in reference to being a totally kick-ass mountain biker, "You just have to nut up and charge it."  I like the thought of approaching more things in life with that attitude. 

So, here goes. Welcome 2011. Charge it!