counting down to a new life

I'm getting ready to change my life completely. On November 7th I'll leave LAX in the morning, have a quick stopover in San Francisco for a high-5 and a hug from my brother, and then fly to Tenerife in the Canary Islands of Spain.

Spain. I've never been there. Not even near by. I speak a bit of Spanish, but really I have to be humble when I'm conversing in Spanish. And yet I'm planning to be there for the next two years of my life. Am I crazy? I've been accused of as much.

I'll be experimenting with WWOOF, an organization of volunteers who work on organic farms in exchange for room and board. I believe that through this organization I'll find an ideal situation for myself: I'll be able to live in the countryside, learn a lot about farming and gardening, immerse myself in the Spanish language, and travel long-term in a country that would otherwise be unaffordable for me. Having not yet left home, this idea sounds perfect! But then, this is an experiment; I have yet to see what reality and experience have to say.

In the past when I've traveled I've sent out emails to a long list of folks back at home. This time I'm updating my method; though I'll certainly communicate by email (yes! please! email me! I'm sure I'll get lonely!), I'll not send mass emails about my travels. That's what this space is for. Check it as frequently as you'd like or else subscribe using the link on the left to receive regular posts in your email inbox. Either way, feel free to post your comments.