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My natural tendency is to distill and simplify the world around me. The irony is that it doesn’t seem to be possible to do. Complexity is a part of life. It’s a part of the world that has become the civilization we live in.

What if I lived in a tent in the woods? Would that remove all complexity from my life? My possessions would be simplified but my needs would be harder to meet and my long term path through life would still have many paths and decisions. Over-simplification is not a sustainable way to live.

Intention has been the key for me. My desire for a reduction in complexity is an intention but I’ve learned to be more specific about it.

from Blogger http://blog.joemcwilliams.com/2020/01/complexity.html

I stood on the beach in Sayulita this weekend with the waves crashing on my feet. It was a few days into the trip so I had successfully reached a state of relaxation. Something was different though. Normally I trick myself into thinking the vacation I’m experiencing is what I need forever. I normally wonder why I’m living a normal life when I should be on vacation all the time without any worries. This time I couldn’t do that. I was still engaged with all of my responsibilities. I was pondering what it would really mean to live my life without my current structure. I know too well that I can’t just leave everything. There has to be something more sustainable.

My journey to leaving started a long time ago. Even as a youth I had trouble with falling into a pattern and accepting that the world around me was the only path. I still haven’t found out what the end of this journey looks like. I have this fire and desire in me but I have only seemed to keep adding to this ideas without a firm conclusion. I don’t have a family. I don’t own a home. I do have so incredibly much to be thankful for and look forward to though.

I moved to San Francisco for work but I have found so much more here. I found freedom to think and to be. I have watched others express themselves and felt complete freedom to do the same. This city has fueled my fire even more.

I, like so many other people, have been interested in tiny home living for a while. I have done enough research and consideration to realize what it really means. While it’s a cheaper way to live there are trade offs. It’s the ideas I take away from the lifestyle than anything else. Simplicity. Frugality. Critically thinking about one’s lifestyle. All of these are principles that are contributing to my ideas of what I want my life to be.

Right now I am challenging myself to continue to come up with ideas but more importantly to come up with more conclusions about what I want for my life. Maybe I can’t take action on them immediately. Maybe I don’t have the time or money. I do have intention and the ability to surround myself with people and situations that lead me closer to a life that I see being fulfilling.

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This month marks my 3 year anniversary living in the San Francisco area. This post is dedicated to my favorite ways to explore nature in this area. I am avoiding some obvious choices like Golden Gate Park and Sutro Tower.

Lands End

Starting location in Google Maps

I like to start at Sutro Baths because there is ample parking. The baths themselves are also a sight to see. It’s worth reading a bit about it before you go.

Be sure to walk down to the ruins and take a right to go through a cave. If the tide is high enough there are rocks you can watch the waves crash onto.

After checking out the Bath House ruins follow the trail North toward the Golden Gate Bridge. The views will not disappoint and the path is wide and easy to follow.

Buena Vista Park

Corona Heights

Bernal Heights Park

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What a year! My entire life has changed and it’s been an amazing ride. I’ve written about some of it here already so I’ve linked to those pages.

Let’s start with January. In January I moved further than I had ever moved before…to Maine! Read full article

I also made it to Florida for my birthday to visit the Kennedy Space Center. A dream come true. Read full article

I also had the opportunity to visit New York a few times. The first time I got to see the SR-71 Blackbird with my own eyes! Another dream come true.

I’ve loved living in Maine. It’s so beautiful and the summer was mild and warm.

I drove up Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. I know you are probably thinking what I was, “psh drive up a mountain. This will be fun.” I was pleasantly surprised. I’ve never had so much adrenaline while driving in my life. It’s a road barely big enough for traffic in two directions with a sheer drop off most of the time. At the top were view that I can only describe as breathtaking.

Click for full size

Maine is famous for the beautiful fall scenery and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The leaves changed and the weather was perfect for a sweatshirt.

All in all, it’s been an amazing year and 2013 will be just as exciting! Thank you for taking the time to read about my year. I hope you all have an amazing Christmas and New Year!