Freedom job #2 The teacher

I know what you are probably thinking, "Don't teachers work 9-5 with kids and have to spend a lot of nights grading papers? how is that freedom"?

And I would tell you of all the times of when I was working as a missionary/volunteer adventure guide that a teacher would come out and help out with our trips.

Teachers do not only have a rewarding career, helping mend out children's minds and future, they also have a 3 month vacation every summer! not only that but some teachers get to go on trips and conference trips to some amazing places, all on the districts dime!

Now if you want to go up to the college level of teaching, there are a lot more options.
You could work one quarter and then take one off, teach 6 classes on quarter and not work for the rest of the year, you could teach online courses (from a coffee shop anywhere), or a mixture of all!

Needless to say, there are options!

Freedom job #1 Fireman!

we are are all in love with adventure and are constantly looking for a way to set ourselves free so that we may be able to have the time to pursue our passions and adventures. How do I know that about you? You are reading this post!

I would say that the best way and my favorite way to achieve this is to find work as a fireman!
Imagine working 2 days a week doing something honorable and exiting!

Time
As a fireman you have the unique ability have an extremely flexible schedule. a lot of fire service jobs will allow to pick and choose your own schedule, wither it be 12 hour shifts, 24's, or 48's, you could do a full weeks work within 2 days!

Money 
volunteer you make pennies, say 7.50 per call
part- timer, 9.80-11.20 per hour and you work as much as you like
full-time 21.72-36.84 per hour at 48 hours weekly!

Check out my blog on firefighting:
http://youfriendlyneighborhoodfireman.blogspot.com/

Freedom!

As you already know being that you are already an adventurer, you have in do doubt have experienced the struggle of trying to find the time out of your busy schedule to pursue your dreams and meaningful experiences. 

So, the question remains how does one find his/her freedom

here is my answer:

1. Blogging

Yes, I know what you are most likely thinking... "isn't that hipster crap that never works out for anyone"? or "that's not a real job.  If that is what you are you are thinking, then you are both right and wrong. Yes, it is extremely trendy and everyone and there mother has a blog! But here is the deal, rarely does someone actually put in the work and dedication to make a living off blogging. Most people start a blog and then loose interest in less then a year, if you want to be a blogger you need to put in the effort. 

Once you have put in the time and done the required work blogging can be extremely beneficial. It can give you a form of semi-passive income and you are your own boss! You can travel and write about it! but it's not for the weak at heart, it takes guts and dedication to get through the hours of work and marketing to get going!  

Another thing to thing to consider is, are you skilled enough as writer to do this full time? I ask myself this question every day. Here is what I recommend, go to the thrift store, buy some cheap used college level English books and practice your trade! You can do it, you can be a Blogger! 

enough babbling, onto the next option

2. Real estate

yes, real estate. Not the 'Timmy Turner's mom's selling houses' real estate but rather the rent out of real estate. Yes, becoming a glorified land lord, haha "Big tracks land"! 

I'm not going to lie to you... this method is a little expensive to start off with. If you are really desiring freedom and have some carpentry skills this could be your method of choice.   

One of the best ways to get into renting real estate is to buy a for closure home for say $90K, fix it up, and then rent it out for $500 more then the mortgage. 

If you can get 4 properties under you control, that is:

(4 X 5)100 = 2,000 monthly!

or

24K annually

That is more then most young people make!

you  can see the earning potential of real estate, the best part is that you don't have to do much of anything other then fix a leaky faucet every once in a while! 

3. writing 

You my friend could be the next J.K Rowling. But seriously you could spend the next year writing a hit seller or selling crappy off shoot E-books on Amazon but hey I'm not judging, those people are Awesome! 

You always see people at Starbucks typing on their laptops, surely you have seen them, these are the writers! Could you imagine this for your life? writing the next hit wonder, best selling, top of the charts book that put hairy potter to shame! 

You could write in the back country, pool side, in some cafe' in Paris, or where ever your heart takes you. ultimately the world becomes your office! 

And all it take is one hit to make your life wonderful for the rest of your days! the bet part is once it's published, you don't have do touch it again, it's pretty much automatic income at that point! 

4.Buy a franchise

Ok, admit it, We have all worked at McDonalds or some other fast food vender before but have you ever asked yourself; "Who actually owns these businesses"? well.... could be anyone, really. Anyone can buy a franchise and after a bit of hard work, set the store up the to automatic. 

If you manage become profitable and are able to hire staffing, you could set up managers to handle your business for you, while you go adventure!

Here is a start, I will continue writing on this topic another day. 

Vital climbing gym review (Bellingham)

Last month I was invited by my fellow adventurer Channing Waage to vital climbing gym in Bellingham, Washington. After going a few time I can say, that I have thoroughly enjoyed the expercience. For only 12$ for An all day pass that allows you to come & go as much as you like, & rock shoes rental for 2$ it is worth every penny. The staff there are extremely friendly & are usually rock climbers themselves. The best part is that they change their routs often, so if you like me & only like to climb a route once; your in  luck. The only complaint I can even think of is, people. On Fridays & Saturdays it tends to fill up, though most everyone there is friendly; it still get's hard to find room. Go on a week day or Sunday for the best time on the rock. 

I give it an A+

A new year & a new fight.

As we ring in the new year many of us make new revolutions that undoubtably will fail in the end. For us adventurers this is an opportunity to restart our momentum. The reason peoples goal fail is that they want to do great things but lack the dedication to peruse the passion. With the new year here, we gave the opertunity to reknew the drive that once was that has since gone.  Start this mew year off with some adventures & plan ahead for adventures this year & get out there! Don't stop! Keep going! That's the key. Because once you stop, you will begin the process of slowing down. It's ineffable. That being said, it's time to get started. Make 2014 your year. 

selfishness.

Of late I discovered a flaw in the adventuring community & a fear of it becoming my reality. As we are seeking adrenalin, mystery, personal growth, & adventure we tend to get caught up in our own persuits we tend to get caught up become blind to the needs of other seeking the same things that we are. In all of my adventuring days I have met very few experienced people who are willing to invest in new adventurers, & to them I owe a great deal. The thing is we have to remember that as we begin our adventures is that there are others who never tasted the experience we've had. One of my greatest joys is taking a normal person out & showing them our world, teaching them what I have been taught. 

If gain nothing from this blog other then these next few words, I will be happy. You must remember "adventure is meant to be shared & no one should ever adventure alone". 

Getting started

Just Go. Get started, start moving, try new things, take chances, take hold of every opportunity. You have to build you momentum. Start small & start pushing your limits.

No money no problem. The number 1 deterrent adventure seekers is the lack of funds, It doesn't have to be. We adventurers need to adapt a different type of mentality to wards monetary system that governs our world. Write this Down, "Money is our enabler not our definer". Money does not define what we can do but rather allocates how easy some it is going to be. For example, transportation. You could pay for air far & board at a fancy hotel or.... you could take your families SUV, a tent, & a few sleeping bags to the cannon for a nice rock climbing trip. There are ways to save on costs, if you are willing to go the extra mile. one way you could save money is car pooling with like minded people, It's better to have company on adventures anyway. Bottom line, Adventuring does not have to be expensive.
My Advice. Start small, Wait for a sunny spring day without even a hope of rain, grab your blue jeans, strap on you converse, fill your plastic water bottles, make a few PB&J's, through on your rock sack, & don't forget your buddy. Go down to your local state park & spend a day on the trails. Get to know the discomfort of  "normal people's clothes" on the trail & pray to the lord it does rain! Once you've been on the trail, your more than likely hooked on the feeling of fresh air & the invigoration that comes with a challenge. Still you need to nurse your swollen feet, aching muscles & jean rash. here's some things help you enjoy you adventure more.
Gear tips. So onto my favorite topic, Gear. Man do I love gear! The thing that you must understand is that gear makes our lives as adventures easier & you usually get what you pay for, thought there are exceptions to this rule & ways to cheat. once you master the theology of gear, you can assemble your own go to system. 
Purge the cotton. say it with me, "Cotton is the devil!". Cotton which is in most retail clothing absorbs water similar to that of a sponge & does not dry easily. I have never experienced cotton drying without a great deal of time in the summer sun or a drier. The problem with wet clothing is that will cause you to loose body heat quickly & in some case be the difference between life & death. So things like blue jeans & sweat pants have be left at home. Look for things made of synthetic clothing like nylon, poly pro, Gortex & vinyl. get used to reading labels, they will tell you what the article of clothing is made of.
A Good Pare of Hiking Boot. are absolutely essential & will make your life so much better. A pair of boots can run in hundreds of dollars of realm, but you don't need to start there. My best pare of boots I obtained for 4 dollars. what ever you decide to pay is your choice, just make sure you get something adequate for you activity. A good pair of boots will save you from blisters, twisted ankles, broken toes, & reduce slipping. In most boots now a days are equipped with Goretx to keep your feet from getting wet.
Socks. Your best bet is going with some nice wool socks. there's nothing worse than cold feet. The benefit of  wool is supposedly it stay warm.
Undies. Ok, let's get a little intimate with our talk. we all know how horrible it is excising in cotton underwear, how it always rides up, chafes, saturates with sweat, & occasionally rips. the best thing you can invest in is a pare of synthetic underwear. Trust me, you will thank me later. best part you only need to get a few pairs.
Pant's, Skirts, Shorts, Skorts, Leggings, Tights, & the Like. Basic rule of thumb, must be synthetic, flexible, & light weight. a good pare of nylon leggings (yes, men too) can go under anything & keep you warm in the most difficult situations. Most outer layers are best bought from name brands & will last you forever. sometimes, especially when you don't know what you looking for it's best to go to REI find the clearence section,ask an associate for help, & shell out the money. Running gear also works really well.
Base Layers. synthetic layers that are sweet wicking are Ideal for all temperatures & will help keep you at a comfortable temperature. Remember staying dry in a life saving skill. Once again you can use a lot of running gear to supplement.
Fleeces. anytime of synthetic fleece works great over you base layer in the colder temperatures, also they are Ideal for water sports. You can find hundreds of fleeces around thrift stores
Puffies. are the replacement warmth layer for fleeces. they can be used use under shells or above them & they are a considerable improvement as far as insulation goes. the problem with puffies is most can not get & they tend to be rather expensive & damage easily. You should never buy a puffy from a thrift store, if you ever manage to find one.
Shell Jackets. There are 2 types of shells jackets, Hard shell & soft shell. A hard shell is keeps the rain off, insulates you, blocks wind, protects against UV rays, & in durable enough to help prevent minor injuries. A soft shell is light, blocks minor winds, protects again UV rays, looks cool. it lacks any other function.
Shell Pants. similar to the jacket, just over pant.
Hats. A good wool or synthetic beanie is worth it's weight in gold. the human body looses 75% of it's body heat from it's ears.
Gloves. same as the hats with the exception of the variable of thickness.           
Where to Buy. If you've got a hole burning in your pocket & there's one next to you,  I would start with REI. They're a great place with a selection of Quality products, great 1 year warranty, & knowledgeable staff. But if your like me & like to save as much money as you can, thrift stores are the way to go. If you enjoy the thrill of the hunt & know what your looking for, you can save thousands of dollars. Be warned there are things you should know, the Items that are there are there for a reason. Wither it be from someone loosing a great deal of weight or the product is damaged, thoroughly exam each item. there are certain pieces gear that should only be bought from a licensed outfitter, like REI (AKA rock gear).  

Food. It is my belief that the single most important thing in the world is indeed food. Food is what fuels our adventuring bodies & what you choose to feed your body can make. The difference of accomplishing a mission or returning home with a serious case of diarrhea. First off, while we're on the subject of poop, never drink out treated or boiled water. Furthermore you need to be aware of the dangers of juardia. Juardia is a microbacterial diseas of the intestines that causes massive diahheria, that could lead to dehydration. Also, what you eat is terribly important. If you say, decided to have mcdonnald's or did not eat anything of any real substance before a hike, you would have a miserable time. What I recommend is Taylor your food choices based on the activity you plan to do. Each adventure has it's own needs & demands. Hiking requires a large amount of water & high protein, river rafting requires carry on snacks, backpacking requires light but high callorie diet & skiing requires hot drinks for the sake of re-warming. 

River rafting. Trust me when I say this, the river is dangerous. It is also the most Amazing experience of your life! The best thing you can do is hook up with a river rafting company & do a guides season's training with them, it is the safest & best way to earn the skill to keep you alive. Also if you want to make some money this way, you know have a certification. It will cost you a pretty penny. The Price is worth it for the skills & the introduction to the river comunity. the other option is to befriend a guide & have him/her take you out. You will need to invest in a wet suit & a PFD (personal flotation device) before you can even think of getting on the water. What ever you do, respect the river & act according to that respect. Your life may depend on it. That dead there is only one thing better than the river, motorcycling. 
Kayaking. Takes a certain amount of skill & knowledge, get with someone who knows what to do or take a class & practice your roll. It's vital to practice & become competent! Luckily for you kayaking is wildly popular & classes are readily available at outfitter, local pools & colleges. Just take it slow & be careful. Kayaking is like the motorcycle of the river, It has it's risks & it's rewards.

Back packing. Muck like hiking, it's a lot of trial & error. Select a good comfortable pack (this is worth the money), remember your layering system, & purchase some gaiters (fancy covers for your boots & lower legs). A tent that will save you from the elements, a 3 season sleeping bag, & good layering will save your life. Food packaging is going to be the big one here. This will take all of your technical skills in prepping & packaging. Zip locks are your best friends! You may want to read up or take a class on orienteering & map reading. Spend the money & invest in a map of the erea you want to explore, it's only 7 dollars from Grean trail's maps. 
Rock climbing. Is a hard thing to get into, without proper training it can be extremely dangerous. You can either learn from someone experienced, take a course, join a guide company, or self teach(I do not recommend). There Andre many resource available for beginner climbers. My favorite book is then freedom of the hills. It is the best rescourse I have come across since I began adventuring. How I would begin if I had to start all over would be, go to a boulder gym & meet some people. My local one costs 10 dollars per person & 2 for shoes. After you've met some people who are willing to take you out on a climb, purchase a harness, helmet, shoes. Participate, ask questions, ask the to show you how to set up some anchores. After you've learned a bit about the system & safety, buy yourself a rope & some carabeeners, & study you book. Once you feel confident enough grab you buddies & set up a climb. Ask them to check it out, don't feel offended if they adjust something; learn from it. After a few times out your ready to top rope. After mastering top roping move onto learning how to set up gear. Keep moving & keep learning. 

Skiing. Is one of those amazing fun things that take money & time. My only advice is to get teachings, wither it be from a friend or a skii lesson from the skii lodge staff. Start on the bunny slopes & work your way up.

Horse riding. Every women's & some men's dream. In a concrete society, Iit's not out of reach. All you have to do is Some how locate a local ranch, nock on their door, & ask if they offer lessons in riding. Most ranchers will jump at the chance to earn a few extra bucks! Once you have learned to ride you can either lease a horse, befriend the local cowgirl, or rent a horse from any of the ranches near your desired adventuring location

Motorcycling. My favorite sport! Also the second most dangerous.... Motorcycling is a thing of wonder, like riding a tiger, but with all things wonderful in life there is some risk. The thing is you decide how much risk you are willing to live with. What type of helmet you wear, full face or open face is a decision you make. Gear is the number on risk management system for motorcyclist. Also I highly recommend taking a course. As far as obtaining a motorcycle it's really not that hard or expensive. Actually the motorcycle will save you thousands a year in gas, they have an unheard of a MPG. I recommend buying a motorcycle in the winter because of reduced prices due to weather conditions. Do your research, talk to experienced people, & read up on it. Trust me you won't regret it 

First Aid. In all adventures, someone is bound to get hurt or scraped up. It's imparitive to have someone skilled in medical with you. Why not let that person be you? There are plenty of first aid courses out there & for the knowlegedge gained, it's worth the money. If I were you I would skip the little stuff & go right to an EMT + Wilderness class. You can get the best life saving skill known to the adventuring world short of a degree. 

Outdoors Schools. Nols Is a great school that you can learn most of the basics from. If you desire you can even obtain college credit from there courses. Another one is the American alpine institute.
The Golden Rule. Never go it alone. going it alone on anything bigger or more technical than a small 2 hour hike is extremely dangerous.

Now get out there!