Over the River and Through the Woods...
As all kids do when growing up, I dreamt of what I was to be when I was to become an adult. It is safe to say that I did not dream of working the equivalent of two full time jobs while attending classes and raising 5 kids. Not that I would not have it any other way, but...
...my childhood was spent dreaming of becoming an Astronaut. I attended 'Space Academy' when I was a sophomore in high school because this dream was inspired by the hours spent pouring over Astronomy books at my local library while waiting for my mom to get out of work.
My teachers always included on my report card that I seemed to have my head in the clouds during class, despite my good grades. Now that I think about it, they were right.
Well, it's safe to say that I'm no longer astronaut material. Who knows; had I fulfilled my dream, I may have had this chick stalking me and attempting to kill my wife!
It seems as if everything DOES work out for a reason.
What would qualify as one's dream job in America nowadays anyway? Is it a job that would catapult their name onto the front pages of papers worldwide? (Assuming your name wasn't Andrew Fastow or Anna Nicole Smith.) Or would you prefer relative anonymity while doing what you love.
I must say, after watching the movie Flicka with my kids this weekend, it would be amazing to have the opportunity to live in the high mountains of Wyoming, amongst the last refuge of wild mustangs in the world, and have a ranch where I could exhibit and teach my children the value of hard work; all the while appreciating the true beauty of God's handiwork in the unblemished natural American landscaping among the Grand Tetons.
Having the opportunity to manage a large parcel of land, care and feed for livestock, and to have no choice but to put in a hard day's work in order to survive- would benefit my soul as well as nourish and prepare the souls of my children for the tumultuous path of adulthood.
On the other hand, how my wife would fare without a Walmart nearby remains to be seen. Considering she is the descendant of 7 generations of pioneering American blood, I'm confident she would manage. In fact, she would most likely manage much better than I, as I imagine my softened-self attempting to care for a large scale ranch.
Upon further consideration, and coming upon the realization that I have a hard time managing my twenty square yards of front lawn- perhaps ranching is not quite suited for me.
It is just that, for some reason, existing as our pioneering American ancestors did, seems to be a more fulfilling and virtuous lifestyle than does our current one. The sleep experienced each night under the chirping of the native nightlife as a rancher would be sleep that was earned and appreciated.
If I were to do something I truly loved and would get excited to do every morning it would be to combine the aspects of living on a ranch and living the adventuresome lifestyle. Owning an adventure ranch would be more suited for me.
To own a ranch in the high mountains of Wyoming where river rapids could be accessible, horse riding lessons would be provided, hikes through some of God's most beautiful creations would be guided, rock climbing and repelling would be safely administered, and nightly cookouts over a massive fire pit filling the local air with wafting scents of roasting meat and impromptu guitar jams, would be my idea of the dream job in its dream location.
With our business skills recently realized, my wife's superb cooking skills, and my Bobby Flay-like grilling prowess, we could provide a place that would at the very least fill some stomachs with some amazing food after a hard day of adventuring.
To have the opportunity to establish a business where some of the most sought after adventure experiences would be provided to those who pound pavement daily, while having the ability to employ my kids in some rewardingly laborious tasks to provide the lessons needed to succeed in everyday life, sounds like a recipe for a successful family business.
To do all this while surrounded by majestic mountain majesties, broad plains to surround in solitude, and to be covered by a star studded night sky- would provide peace to the soul as well as an intimacy with the eternal nature of the world.
My goal is to soon replace the sound of rushing traffic with the hypnotic whoosh of a mountain breeze. I'd like to replace the competitive hustle of the sales life with the exhaustive labor of tour guiding for those who yearn to reconnect with the natural world. I'd like to replace the angst-ridden night of sleep with that of the sleep created by a need for my muscles to rest and strengthen.
A goal of this scope is not without its complexities; however, the lessons learned in the development of this goal would be the principals employed in the progression of this life's dream.
...my childhood was spent dreaming of becoming an Astronaut. I attended 'Space Academy' when I was a sophomore in high school because this dream was inspired by the hours spent pouring over Astronomy books at my local library while waiting for my mom to get out of work.
My teachers always included on my report card that I seemed to have my head in the clouds during class, despite my good grades. Now that I think about it, they were right.
Well, it's safe to say that I'm no longer astronaut material. Who knows; had I fulfilled my dream, I may have had this chick stalking me and attempting to kill my wife!
It seems as if everything DOES work out for a reason.
What would qualify as one's dream job in America nowadays anyway? Is it a job that would catapult their name onto the front pages of papers worldwide? (Assuming your name wasn't Andrew Fastow or Anna Nicole Smith.) Or would you prefer relative anonymity while doing what you love.
I must say, after watching the movie Flicka with my kids this weekend, it would be amazing to have the opportunity to live in the high mountains of Wyoming, amongst the last refuge of wild mustangs in the world, and have a ranch where I could exhibit and teach my children the value of hard work; all the while appreciating the true beauty of God's handiwork in the unblemished natural American landscaping among the Grand Tetons.
Having the opportunity to manage a large parcel of land, care and feed for livestock, and to have no choice but to put in a hard day's work in order to survive- would benefit my soul as well as nourish and prepare the souls of my children for the tumultuous path of adulthood.
On the other hand, how my wife would fare without a Walmart nearby remains to be seen. Considering she is the descendant of 7 generations of pioneering American blood, I'm confident she would manage. In fact, she would most likely manage much better than I, as I imagine my softened-self attempting to care for a large scale ranch.
Upon further consideration, and coming upon the realization that I have a hard time managing my twenty square yards of front lawn- perhaps ranching is not quite suited for me.
It is just that, for some reason, existing as our pioneering American ancestors did, seems to be a more fulfilling and virtuous lifestyle than does our current one. The sleep experienced each night under the chirping of the native nightlife as a rancher would be sleep that was earned and appreciated.
If I were to do something I truly loved and would get excited to do every morning it would be to combine the aspects of living on a ranch and living the adventuresome lifestyle. Owning an adventure ranch would be more suited for me.
To own a ranch in the high mountains of Wyoming where river rapids could be accessible, horse riding lessons would be provided, hikes through some of God's most beautiful creations would be guided, rock climbing and repelling would be safely administered, and nightly cookouts over a massive fire pit filling the local air with wafting scents of roasting meat and impromptu guitar jams, would be my idea of the dream job in its dream location.
With our business skills recently realized, my wife's superb cooking skills, and my Bobby Flay-like grilling prowess, we could provide a place that would at the very least fill some stomachs with some amazing food after a hard day of adventuring.
To have the opportunity to establish a business where some of the most sought after adventure experiences would be provided to those who pound pavement daily, while having the ability to employ my kids in some rewardingly laborious tasks to provide the lessons needed to succeed in everyday life, sounds like a recipe for a successful family business.
To do all this while surrounded by majestic mountain majesties, broad plains to surround in solitude, and to be covered by a star studded night sky- would provide peace to the soul as well as an intimacy with the eternal nature of the world.
My goal is to soon replace the sound of rushing traffic with the hypnotic whoosh of a mountain breeze. I'd like to replace the competitive hustle of the sales life with the exhaustive labor of tour guiding for those who yearn to reconnect with the natural world. I'd like to replace the angst-ridden night of sleep with that of the sleep created by a need for my muscles to rest and strengthen.
A goal of this scope is not without its complexities; however, the lessons learned in the development of this goal would be the principals employed in the progression of this life's dream.
When you find a way to finance that, clue me in! ;)
Posted by
Anonymous |
2:08 PM
You know I will, besides, I'll need someone to muck tha stalls...
*grin*
Posted by
Peakah |
9:39 PM
Aren't you the funny one? heh And I guess you'll be the one with your arm up to your shoulder in the rectum looking for whatever it is they look for! ha
Posted by
Anonymous |
12:18 PM
If there's anything up there that needs to be found that bad, I'd rather be without it...
Posted by
Peakah |
9:04 PM
My wife is too much of a city girl to become a recluse. Me I could live anywhere really, I'm not much of a complainer.
Posted by
Dr. Phat Tony |
12:02 PM
When you open your "Dude Ranch" let me know!! lol Wyoming was a destination of choice at one time. Even found a place to work in Cheyenne. The "other half" had "other" plans! ;-)
It's amazing how God redirects our will so easily - He must have been looking for some "super" parents and spun the sign away from the over-crowded "crazy" astro-nut field!
It's fun to think of the "what if" dreams and plans.
Nice read!
Posted by
Anonymous |
10:35 PM