2019
goals
2019 was fan-freaking-tastic. Epic travels to the bottom of the world, a job assignment that took us back to the wonderful Arizona desert, tons of canyoneering and caving and skills progression, and getting married. Definitely the best year to be alive so far!
Personal Goals
-Books: 15 pages each and every day. All books for acquisition of knowledge, wisdom and self-betterment, generally to directly support other goals.
-January: The Global Family Planning Revolution
-February: UNFPA State of World Population 2018, Global Gag Rule: Rhetoric Versus Reality
-March: Man Swarm, The Family Planning Fiasco
-April: Move Upstream, The Baby Matrix
-May: Seven Billion and Counting, More
-June: The Moment of Lift
-July: One Child, Sparing Nature
-August: The Sixth Extinction
-September: Pre-suasion
-October: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Desert Solitaire
-November: Lonely Planet Puerto Rico, Keeping the Wild
-December: Conservation Refugees
-PARTIALLY MET. I got behind on books in the spring, with nightshift, and never fully caught up.
-One truck upgrade. Do it myself. Learn something about vehicles and mechanics.
-FAIL. It just doesn't interest me. I don't feel like spending weekends working on a car at home.
-Buy a house. Have a base. Personalize it with girlfriend.
-FAIL. However, I did put in the time and effort, and, most importantly, the practical consideration of this goal. It is incompatible with both our lifestyles and all other goals. So, in the sense of achievement, this goal was met.
-Weekly podcasts from role models related to self development topics: relationships, societal roles, work, etc.
-FAIL. Made no effort to listen to podcasts, in part they are often rants.
-Focus, focus, focus on speech. Talk slow. Say more with less words. Use volume.
-MET. This goal was remembered often, and brought great benefit. I especially learned slow speech from the Navajos.
-Social media is for posting and sharing relevant info with close people. Delete meaningless 'friends'. Do not scroll.
-PARTIALLY MET. I uploaded a lot, but still got lost in scrolling a few times a week.
-Write reflection WHENEVER YOU HAVE THE URGE. Not necessary only at the end of each month.
-PARTIALLY MET. I wrote several deep reflections, but they were few and far between. For all that I experience in a year, I should be writing more.
Adventure Goals
-Technical skills only. No hiking.
-MET. We did not pursue any serious hikes.
-Pay-for-play ratio must be at least 1:1. Meaning approach must be shorter than activity.
-MET. Short approaches and exits.
-Plan adventure, gets maps and beta, and leave it. Do not waste time salivating with anticipation. Spend time on developing career instead. Adventure is hobby, not calling.
-FAIL. I salivated a lot, beyond basic planning.
-Have a gear shed. Organize stuff in garage/room for easy, quick, stressless packing and unpacking.
-MET. Although I never bought a house, we organized our gear well enough.
-Buy excellent gear. Spend extra money for performance, durability, lightweight and life of product.
-MET. We bought some expensive items, such as the packrafts, and I have no regrets.
-Caving:
-Join grottoes. Go on trips.
-CAG joined June
-NAG joined September
-SAG joined December
-MET
-Go to caving conference.
-FAIL. Had to work, distance too far.
-Up to $500 investment in gear.
-MET. Full vertical set and lights bought.
-Canyoneering:
-Do canyons with only girlfriend.
MET
-Go on group trips. Possibly lead group trips.
FAIL. There are no group trips.
-Rock climbing:
-Go often. Ignore the fear, trust your equipment. It's safe.
-FAIL. I went once. Rock climbing is not my sport.
-Top-rope a 5.9.
-MET. Climbed several 5.9s in gym.
-Lead an easy multi-pitch.
-FAIL. I have no interest in leading anymore.
-Lead a 5.8.
-FAIL. I have no interest in leading.
-Climb with someone that knows more than me. Listen. Learn. Receive advice.
-PARTIALLY MET. I never climbed with anyone, but I listened a lot of experienced people and learned.
-Fall from above a bolt.
-FAIL. I have no interest in falling.
-Sport and top-rope only. No leading trad.
-MET. No desire to lead trad. Ever.
-Go to a climbing gym several times at least.
-MET. We only went once, but it was beneficial enough.
-Mountaineering:
-Take a difficult and thorough course.
-FAIL.
-Buy equipment
-FAIL
-Lead an easy objective.
-FAIL
-Water sports:
-Scuba dive at least once.
-MET. Dove once in November in Rincón, Puerto Rico
-Surf. More than one session. Wipe-out, attain some proficiency.
-FAIL. Though we went to surfing beaches in PR, the waves were always too big or too small.
-Take, and pass, a freediving class.
-FAIL.
-Learn to fly fish.
-FAIL.
-Kayak:
-Float a desert river, multiday.
-MET. Big Bend National Park, October
-Expedition in Patagonia.
-MET. January-February 2019
-Get packrafts. Do multi-day expedition.
-MET. Escalante River, May
-Snow:
-Get in the snow with Suhei. Conditions permitting, teach her to ski/snowboard. Possibly buy splitboard/take course.
-MET. Guanella Pass, April
-Certifications:
-Attain at least one certification: avalanche, swift water rescue, vertical caving, etc.
-MET. NCRC Orientation to Cave Rescue, October
Relationship Goals
-Prioritize girlfriend and relationship over ALL other goals. As always.
-MET
-Support girlfriend in everything she wants to do.
-PARTIALLY MET.
-Start her US visa process.
-MET.
-Go abroad with friends. Short trip, long trip, adventure, whatever.
-FAIL. But, we did make friends abroad, probably friends for life.
-Make a new friend AND do something together.
-MET.
-Three family visits, at least two with grandmother, at least one to Pennsylvania. MET
-1. Pennsylvania, March/April
-2. St. John, US Virgin Islands, November
-3. Durango, Colorado, December
-Try your best to get family abroad again.
-MET. Best efforts made, stars aligned, opportunity fully available. And everyone loved it!
Health Goals
-Gym hard. Two full sessions per week. Maintain numbers of 205 kg deadlift, 315 lb squat, 275 lb bench press and 165 lb press.
-MET. Every week, obsessed. Although I cut down my 1RepMax in favor of more reps, and I think it has worked.
-Improve diet. Cut out unhealthy meats almost entirely: sausage, highly processed bacon. Spend extra for healthy food. Increase nut intake. Smoothies nearly daily. Continue high amounts of meat.
-PARTIALLY MET. I still do a pound of bacon a week, for the fat, and can't pay for organic food.
-Go to dentist for standard cleaning.
-MET, Zumpango, March 2019
-Routine checkup with bloodwork at a PCP.
-MET, Zumpango, March2019
-Prioritize sleep. Take the occasional day to lay in bed and rest.
-PARTIALLY MET. Nightshift ruined me, although I did take the occasional rest day this year.
Career Goals
-Start the career transition. Make at least one action per day towards new career: reading article, browsing jobs, looking at degrees, conversation, writing down ideas. Take part-time job or volunteer opportunity if feasible.
-MET. So many conversations, interviews, books, news articles. Nothing and no one supportive. But, I ended up in a job with potential.
-Complete two travel nursing contracts. Have a third at least lined up (signed) before the end of the year.
-1. Tuba City, Arizona
-2. Tuba City, Arizona
-FAIL. I burnt out of the ER. The travel lifestyle, no, but endless drunks, yes.
-Take every available opportunity to learn at work. Say yes to any available class.
-MET? There were no extra classes, there wasn't anything extra to learn.
-Work some overtime. How much? Not specific. Make money while you can, as current career will be far more profitable than future career.
-FAIL. Did not work a single day of overtime.
-Let new career transition drive you. Bring it up constantly. Express desire to transition to new career frequently.
-MET. All my friends and coworkers new, and supported me.
Travel Goals
-Five new countries. Period.
-1. Argentina
-2. Paraguay
-3. Bolivia
-4. Puerto Rico
-5. United States Virgin Islands
-6! British Virgin Islands
-MET.
-Continue style of alternating bare-bones and luxury.
-MET.
-Avoid 'cheesy' destinations, as always.
-MET. Not a single moment as tourists this year.
-Avoid hikes, especially hikes just to get a view.
-PARTIALLY MET. We did do a few hikes in Argentina, which were miserable.
-Focus on deep, connected travel. Go abroad to pursue a technical skill related to the uniqueness of the place (ie spearfishing the Tuamotos).
-MET. Caving in Puerto Rico, November
-MINIMIZE flights. Do not spread time too thin in destinations.
MET. Every single flight this year sucked, but we took the shortest and most direct flights every.
-Pack LIGHTER than you feel you should.
-FAIL. We took too much to PR, on overnight canyoneering trips, and every long drive.
-Get a good camera (up to $1000). Learn how to use it. Take fewer photos, but of higher quality. Improve video-making skills.
-MET. Although I considered a real camera, I'd break it, it's heavy, it's not easily accessible, and a decent one costs several thousand dollars. I went with a GoPro, and got tons of good shots.