Outdoor Discoveries

So many destinations

It used not be the case that my mind went went roving the world when compiling lists of places to go. Then, I limited myself to Britain, Ireland and the Isle of Man but 2015 changed all that. International possibilities not only became realistic but even became a necessity during times of work dissatisfaction and domestic political tumult before the latter began to feel international in its own way.

Even so, overseas journeying has not stopped with Canada becoming the latest country that I have got to visiting. Others like the U.S.A., Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile also are tempting though I may need to temper such thoughts given how far away Seattle, Portland, Tasmania and Patagonia actually. To get that far afield needs a little stability in my working life and there may be some big changes ahead of me.

Even within Britain and Ireland, I need to exercise control for Donegal, Kerry, the Ochill Hills and numerous other places all call in their own way. It is when the list grows so large that the limits of human capabilities and lifespan start to dawn on you. It is then that you get to wishing that books of things to do or places to visit refrained to mentioning human mortality in their titles. After all, who can do 1001 different hikes in their lifetime when other matters need more attention?

There are some whose lives are focussed around such things but, aside from being obsessive, all this needs to take is place among other priorities. A recent career break had me assessing just those because we all need fulfiling work lives without depending solely on pleasurable experiences to keep us going. Thinking back to 2016 and 2017, I know all about the futility of just that.

Satisfaction is what lasts even if it does not feel entirely like fun at the time. That was the driver for my recent trip to Vancouver though I got a lot of enjoyment too. The same needs to apply to working for a living and that will be in my mind over the next few years while I may need to allow appealing thoughts of visiting far flung parts of the world drift away from me so I can deal with more important matters while still exploring what surrounds me.