Just wanted to write a follow up to yesterday's post, and go over some inspiration for my trip. Last summer, I went on this rockin' trip to Alaska with my mom and sister. We did a cruise of the inside passage, had many wonderful stops in Alaskan ports, and then did an overland voyage from Fairbanks to Denali to Anchorage. Denali park (Mt. McKinley for the uncouth) was completely breathtaking, and one of the most pristine places on earth. The air is different, it is clean and fresh, and it gives you a natural high to be there in that beauty. It is no wonder the Athabascan indians based their religion around the mountain. Even all of the women were completely beautiful, living on a diet of Salmon. And I mean all. You can see some of my photos from Alaska here, but they certainly don't do the place justice.

I can't really describe Alaska in words, but it was such a beautiful place, for a while I just contemplated quitting my job and going back to Denali to be a tour guide or a bus driver for a summer, just so I would have a chance to breath that air again. In fact, most of the people we met up in Alaska were transplants who had already done just that.

But I got to thinking, maybe I should see what else is out there, maybe see the rest of this country, before going back to Alaska. Perhaps I'll see as much beauty in the lower forty-eight. So that's what I decided to do. I'll get to see plenty more national parks down here, as well as get to see a lot of baseball games all across the country, and no doubt, meet more people than I would in Alaska. I also have some friends scattered around the country, and hopefully I'll be able to crash with a few of them and get a chance to catch up.

Aside from Alaska, there are two other big inspirations, 1 is that I have a lot of travel goals, especially in the US, and I'll be able to cross some of those off the list. Another is the really neat book I got, 1000 Places to See Before You Die. It is a neat little travel companion, with an eclectic look at most of the beauty in the world, (from inexpensive beauty to refined) and almost a quarter of the places are in the US.

Finally, I'm twenty five (twenty six by the start of the trip), I have a bit of money socked away that I've been saving for a rainy day. I think now is the perfect time in my life to turn that rainy day fund into a 3 or 4 month adventure. I am not yet married, I do not yet own a house, my car is nearly paid for, and so the only thing really tying me down to anything is my job. If I don't take this opportunity now, I may never get the chance again.

So yeah, that wraps it up. I'm taking suggestions on places to see in the US.

Sort of itinerary:
Drive to the top of Maine, and catch Route 1, and follow it all the way down to Key West, making various stops along the way to visit family, friends, and historic locations and other points of interest. Additionally I would like to try to see baseball games in several stadiums along the way.

After Key West, I'll be heading out west, starting with New Orleans, which is my favorite city of all the ones I've been to. From New Orleans, I don't have as exact a map of where I'd like to go, except that I'd like to try to hit as many states as possible, as many baseball games as possible, as many national parks as possible, plus the following things: Route 66, St. Louis, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, San Diego, LA, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Utah, Colorado, Chicago, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Niagara Falls, and the Baseball Hall of Fame... So I'll probably make a zig-zaggy clockwise circuit around the country.

If I have any time and money left over at the end of this trip, I may find myself in Australia, Hawaii, or Italy.

After all that, who knows? I may go back to school for a master's degree, or I might try some different careers, like Black Jack Dealer, Commercial Fisherman, or Casting Director. Or I could wind up back in Connecticut, or maybe move to California, South Carolina, back to Massachusetts, or even Alaska. I don't want to think about the future until the trip starts, or maybe even after.

I love my job at FactSet, its a great job, but I've given it a lot of thought, and decided that now is the right time in my life to move on to a big adventure. I've discussed it with my family, friends, and an HR friend at work. I'm prepared to do this.

I initially asked for a sabbatical, but I didn't think my chances were too good, because I haven't really been there long enough to warrant such a thing. Also, it just wouldn't be fair to my co-workers to grant me a sabbatical. I figured my chances of being granted a sabbatical were 10%, and chances of being fired on the spot were 5%. Which left an 85% chance for what ended up happening: I had to resign, in order to go on my adventure.

But I've got 5 months! To plan, to pack, to figure out my path. I'm going to drive all over the US and see what there is to see. I'll be able to tick off a lot of the goals on my list. The resignation is effective May 27th.

Keep an eye out here, as I hope to post a few updates between now and then, and once I'm out on the road, I'm planning on keeping a log of my travels.