Lifetime of adventures

There are many things I want to do in this lifetime, and sometimes it is a little overwhelming since there is SO MUCH I want to do in this lifetime. I have checked off things from the list, such as studying abroad, going to Paris, visiting Venice and Rome, SKYDIVING, and other things that are adventures. But I also like to note that a lot of the things I would like to do have to do with making the world a little bit better. I want to make a difference in all the lives of people I know. I want them to know kindness, love, joy, and happiness. I want to do something for this society that seems to be spiraling downwards towards destruction. I want to plant so many seeds of love, joy, and happiness that we create an environment where that’s what is focused on—not another shooting, or people dying, or another war. That isn’t helping anyone, especially not the environment. How do we expect to continue to live on this beautiful planet if we keep creating things that can destroy it? Do we really need all these nuclear power plants? Do we really need to all be driving cars everywhere? No, no we do not. I don’t plan on becoming someone famous. I just want the people that are in my life to get something positive from me.

Then, there’s the adventures—the adventures that I long and dream for, the ones that I can’t get out of my head. One of the biggest things I want to do is travel. I want to experience other cultures, other countries, other belief systems. Because I think if I do that, I will become a better-rounded individual and help spread seeds of love. Luckily, the beloved wants the same thing. It’s what we talked about when we first started dating each other—seeing the world and embracing what it brings to us. We plan on making a trip this year. We’re looking at a 3-week holiday traveling around Denmark and then hopping over to England to spend some days there. We watched the documentary “Happy” and it says that Denmark is the happiest country in the world. Why not visit such a place? If I want happiness, to spread happiness, to give happiness, I should probably visit the country where scientists say the people are the happiest. I also suggested that by doing this 3-week long holiday, we eliminate Christmas presents. That traveling with each other and experiencing this should be our present, which he happily agreed to. I would much rather travel and see the world than get Christmas presents. I would rather take a trip every year, whether to a different country or around the US than have to deal with Christmas presents.

So, we’re gonna have a planning date. Find some books, do some research, and figure out where and when we’re going. We’re thinking in the fall (September/October) because kids will be back in school, the weather will be turning, but still good enough to travel and it will be slow around the office. I want to pay off my credit card before we do anything, so that I can essentially reward myself for taking care of it with a trip! I am hoping by April it will be all paid off and that will give me plenty of time to start saving for this trip.

I am very lucky to have someone who has a lot of the same goals and aspirations as I do. Traveling is something I have to do, and luckily I am young and determined to do so. I also got a rad partner who wants to do it with me. Here’s to planning a trip abroad and all the adventures it holds!

Marrianges and babies, oh my!

I am now at the point in my life where either my friends are getting engaged or married, or they are splitting up. Most people know my stance on marriage, and how I don’t believe it is necessary to stay in a committed and monogamous relationship. Yes, it does have its advantages if you have kids or for health reasons, or whatever, but I don’t think it is necessary if you plan on not having kids. One of the first things the beloved and I asked each other when we started dating was about kids: we both replied with “no.” Instead, we would much rather spend the money on traveling the world, exploring new cultures, learning new things, and seeing all that there is to be seen. The world is just too beautiful to be cooped up in a house taking care of kids. I don’t want that, and luckily, I have found someone on the same boat as me. We haven’t even talked about getting animals because they are pretty similar to kids.

The only way I could see myself getting married is if it was done at the court house, just the two of us, and the judge. Then, maybe that same day or another day sending out a mass invite to have a potluck at our house. And even then, I am not sure I would do the marriage thing. Of course, I am happy for all my friends who end up doing the marriage thing—just because I don’t necessarily agree with it, doesn’t mean I am going to not be happy for people who do. It’s just started to make me think. Recent friends just got engaged in New Zealand, and their story is so romantic and sweet. Every girl is a sucker for a romantic and sweet story. And there are times that I think, “I want to experience that” but then realize that I feel love every day of my life. My partner tells me he loves me every morning and every night. He takes the time to really appreciate me, look me in the eyes, and tells me how much he loves and appreciates me. Which is the most important thing anyway and I am 100% incandescently happy.

The fact that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner has nothing to do with this post. We don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day… Although, I do have to say that last year I did get him a card that said, “Happy fucking Valentine’s Day. Now let’s go fuck like the good ol’ days,” which isn’t all that romantic, but hilarious. I also provided a journal and the first entry was Valentine’s Day and it said that this journal will be written in every day, or every couple days for the whole year. I will write our experiences, our travel, our love, our ups and our downs, but most of all, it will document our year together. I thought it was a cute and creative way to remember this past year. Luckily, I was pretty persistent with the journal and only started writing every other day or so because I was running out of room in the journal. I have three pages left, which is perfect. It wasn’t a huge gift, but it was something that I thought he would appreciate. Something we could both appreciate when we’re older and want to reflect on our youth.

It’s an interesting experience being this age right now. Part of me thought that I wouldn’t actually experience the crazy amount of friends that are getting hitched like my older friends or family did. For awhile, it seems like my cousins were going to weddings every weekend. And while that is not where I am now, it’s still interesting to be on facebook and watch people getting married. My very good friend Heather is getting married next year, and I can’t wait to be there for it. I am so excited for her and I can’t wait to be a bridesmaid. It’s going to be so much fun. I hope I can get out there this year to visit, but we’ll see. I am glad that I have someone to spend my life with and experience these things with. And it would be perfectly ok if I didn’t, but I am very thankful that the universe has delivered my soul mate to me. It’s about dang time.