Taking a sebatical

I am calling it a break. In April 2020 I am starting my Sabbatical. I am taking 3 months off work, with the potential to quit and take additional time off if I need to.

Why?

  • I want to. The quality of work I have been delivering was not up to my personal standards. I was able to complete tasks with a reasonable degree of quality, but it needed to have a deadline and I wasn't going above and beyond on any of it.
  • I can. We saved enough money leading up to this that I think we are in an okay spot to not work for a bit.
  • Travel. We have taken a few vacations over the years, but always with the background idea that our lives exist away from the experience that I was taking. It was always a nagging feeling that in order to appreciate something it needed to be with out the idea that I am going back to work in 2 weeks I need to make the most of this expirience.

Hopes:

  • Digital Nomad - I have long desired to travel more and try working from different places around the world. My hope is that I can take some sebatical time to skill up on a few things I want to be doing then pivot side projects to fall inline with that.
  • Learn - I have let my career drift into the space of what I am good at, not what I want to be doing. I would like to take a step back and figure out what I want, then strive to become good at that thing.
  • Un-burn out - I have felt so burnt out lately, I can focus when it is time sensitive, or for short periods of times... but if it isn't time sensitive, and it requires long term dedication it wouldn't happen.

Fears:

  • Losing traction in my career - Gap on resume, tech scene will pass by, I will be viewed as flighty
  • Returning to a bad economical situation - We haven't experienced a real depression
  • Having to eat into savings - FIRE dream might be dead, but we don't want to dig into 401k or Trad IRA in order to survive.
Lisbon, Lagos, and Portimao…We’re in Portugal

Lisbon, Lagos, and Portimao…We’re in Portugal

Tyler and I are finishing up a delightful 2-ish weeks in Portugal. If you’re interested in our high- (and low-) lights, continue reading.

Malta Month of MERRY-ment - Part II

Malta Month of MERRY-ment - Part II

As our month in Malta comes to a close, we reflect on the things we learned and enjoyed about this historic island in the Mediterranean.

Travel, Save, and be Merry

Photography