El Nido Reflections - Planning the Return

Yesterday night I talked with my very dear and close friend Rabbi Mendy Plotkin. We gave each other much-needed life updates and reflections. He asked me if I have thought about what comes next after this trip. As I have mentioned, I am beginning to steer my ship back to shore, which is a bittersweet feeling. I am not lost in the middle of the sea anymore and need to plan my return. I told Mendy that what helps me plan my next steps is starting with what I will not be doing. I will not be moving to a new American city. I will not be working an in-person job in the US. With those two stipulations, it narrows the question much more. I think about a remote, asynchronous job, freelancing, or doing an awesome business with my friends — that would be cool. At the end of the day, it's all part of the Surrender Experiment, and I'm not really stressed about it. While conveying these ideas to Mendy, I realized a theme: I do not want more material possessions. I enjoy living out of a backpack. This realization helped me understand myself more deeply. I love the flexibility of having all my belongings on my back. I love the simplicity. You don't waste time choosing what shirt to wear or what shoes match. You don't care much how your hair looks or if your colors coordinate. I love being able to stay nimble in this ever-changing world — intellectually and physically. The thought of buying a new TV, a car, or an apartment literally repulses me. The idea of living in a big urban city with noise pollution, homelessness, fast food, and gross billboards everywhere is haunting. When I think these thoughts, I realize I'm not that excited to return home. I love the adventure. I love the nomadic lifestyle. However, I know and understand this is a crucial step in the hero's journey — to continue to develop all of my intellectual, emotional, and spiritual faculties, and put them into practice.