Jul
28
But What Are You Going To Do?
July 28, 2007 |
When I tell friends and colleagues that I am moving to a village in the countryside, way out in the sticks in Thailand, that is the first question they ask. It would seem that westerners are obsessed with always doing something. And not only that, but if you do something, you should either earn a lot of money from it, or develop yourself in some sort of way.
Well, I have never in my life lived for work. I have on the other hand worked to live. The thing is, what is the point in working your bum off, if you cant take time off to enjoy the spoils?
I do realise that I am in a very lucky position to be able to think like this. Most people in the world, do in fact work their bum off just to put food on the table and with a little luck, keep their kids in school. But it’s not these people I am talking about. It’s the ones who slave away, just to get that flat screen TV, a posher car than the neighbour, and whatever gizmo everyone i s raving about at the moment.
Of course if people, are happy with that lifestyle, more power to them. But why are they always amazed when someone simply want to do their own thing?
When I tell them I’ll do nothing in particular, just enjoy my time with Nan, and get to know her family, go fishing, or read a book…and simply enjoy myself until I have to get another job again…they are totally out of it. It’s like they want to say:
“But you HAVE to work!”
My answer is, no, for while now I don’t have to do anything but enjoy myself and keep Nan happy. I will have to work later, but right now, There is a period where I don’t have to do anything. I have enough to make do without working for a while. It’s time to enjoy myself. I am free.
Sure there will be boring days. Being bored is not going to kill me. Besides, if really do get bored with everything, I can always go and tickle Nan. Her spot is about 10 cm under her arm pit. It will send her into a frenzy of kicking and screaming with flailing arms.
How could life get better than that?
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Comments
4 Comments so far
GO FOR IT, RUNE!!!
After all, you ARE a human BE-ing… so why do most people not understand it is okay to just BE!!!??? Sounds like you have found your little piece of paradise and a kind, caring partner… so don’t look back, just enjoy the moment… (a VERY Buddhist attitude) and the fishin’.
This from someone who has “dropped out”, traveled the world and done everything I’ve ever wanted to do for the last 10 years (and enjoyed every breath of it)! A word of caution though… when it comes time to refill the coffers, have a good “corporate” answer for the “blank space” on your resume… mine says “Day Trader”.
I have enjoyed your blog immensely… thank you for sharing your “adventure” with us all!
Wishing you and Nan a gentle journey and all the best from the middle of the USA… Omaha, Nebraska
(near the best trailer court… a side-bar for our friend Jil… or is it Bill??)
Thanks for that Turkmeister
I am actually having a blast…well, life is not so fun here in La-la land, but the daily phone call to the cheer up champion of the world, Nan, puts things just about right for a while…
Listening to her chirping away about whatever she did since last time we talked is quite a tonic.
Yeah, I walk my own road. And now I have someone to walk it with. I wonder were we’ll end up in the end
It’s what I find so relaxing in Thailand. In England you are made to feel guilty if, after a weeks graft at work, you do not set to and paint the house/cut the lawn/tidy the garage on your precious days off.
When I am on my own I can get through a whole enjoyable weekend and the only thing I have “achieved” is a freshly ironed shirt for work on Monday.
The fact I am sat here on a day off having a pleasant time with a beer reading your blogs proves my point.