06/23/2024
“The whole undertaking was criticized in some circles as being too "audacious." And perhaps it was. But if it hadn't been audacious, it wouldn't have been to Shackleton's liking. He was, above all, an explorer in the classic mold—utterly self-reliant, romantic, and just a little swashbuckling.”
― Alfred Lansing, Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
Fifteen years ago, I began the ‘post-education’ portion of my life. I easily and often define 2009 as the best year of my life, for a great many reasons. I lived a simple life of freedom. Weekend shifts as a radio DJ shifted into weekend shifts of wedding work. I performed in musicals, sold movie theater popcorn, and built set pieces. I embarked on my first road trip and my first visit to Colorado. As the fall neared I steeled myself against one of the largest adventures of all.
One afternoon, my mouth numb from the dentist’s Novocain, I received a phone call…
“Ian? Yes, we’d like to offer you the primary position of Janitor here in Antarctica…”
Though it took my fat, stupefied lips some time to form the sounds of obvious acceptance, I confirmed my willingness and excitement to journey to the Ice.
And as they say, history is doomed to repeat itself.
I have accepted a position as Carpenter Apprentice at McMurdo Station. I deploy mid-August.
Though my deployment is contingent upon physically qualifying (PQ’ing) I am fully preparing for the upcoming departure. Paperwork is nearly complete and with any luck I look forward to receiving a deployment date…well whenever it comes.
It seems such a simple thing. Starting a new job, turning over a new leaf. People do it all the time. Though I doubt many would have guessed it, I have personally felt stagnant for a while now. A long while. Though it is only a six month contract at a location I have already visited, it is so much more than that. It is a job in a field I have dabbled in yet have so much more to learn. I have missed learning. It is a contract for six full months, plus I fully intend to extend the adventure in new-to-me locales. That means leaving home, and the United States, for the longest continuous period of my life.
I couldn’t be more ready.
All that said, perhaps watch for posts in the near future. Even if this position does not shake out how I expect, change is in the air. If you’ve known me or some time you’ve likely seen my ‘get-rid-of-everything’ posts attempting minimalism. Leaving the country to live out of two backpacks for nearly a year suggests I may very well own too much sh*t, and I intend to move on from some of it. I intend to be ruthless, even if it hurts a little. Now is the time for flight, to be speedy and light.
Cheers to growing up, and moving on.
“In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.” ~ Lewis Carroll
