Craters of the Moon

Today we spent most of our time just hanging around - although we did get to see a thermal park - Craters of the Moon. Some pictures are below (they speak for themselves I think):




(Right before this last picture it started raining pretty hard which is why it looks so blurry)

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I got a chance to talk to my family on the phone, and although they were happy that I was doing well - I could hear the concern in their voices about my money situation.

Dad: "So how's your money situation?"

Me: "Well, not so hot, but I'm only going to be here another month or two more, then the plan is to stop in Malaysia for a bit, and possibly come back to the US afterwards. The money for the flight tickets will come from selling the Beast."

Dad: "Must be tough now that you're not adding to your bank account anymore?"

Me: "Yeah, it is."

Dad: "I thought you were going to get a job?"

Me: "Well that was the plan initially, until we arrived and figured out that the engineering jobs here don't pay very well, aren't very interesting, and because New Zealand is sort of a touristy place (and very far removed from the rest of the world), starting up a business isn't very practical."

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I really do appreciate my families concern (it means the world to me in fact), and I couldn't have gotten this far without their support. But does not having a job for a little while have to be such a big thing? I don't think it does.

However, with that being said, I am getting a bit sick of worrying about money. Preliminary estimates say that this trip is going to set me back about $10 grand. US Dollars. That used to be in my bank. Earning interest.

But although I may be hemorrhaging money, I just can't see myself going back into engineering for another company (or even a single person). When I think about it an image flashes into my head - Sitting in a cubicle with my computer, playing the corporate board game of lies and deception, becoming numb to the outside world, and losing my ability to think for myself or creatively (all of this describes my last job). This is what I'm trying to avoid. New Zealand, and the upcoming bike trip around the world, and whatever business I startup afterwards, are important for many reasons. Not only do they prove to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to, but they also help me understand that I have options in this world, and that I don't have to do what everyone else does just for the security that a steady job provides. And its a spiritual journey as well - putting my fate completely in God's hands. If I fail perhaps I can learn something from it. I'm hoping you'll all stay along for the ride. Until next time...