"Ditto"

Nice one-word, informal contribution to the record of another pass through the walls of this familiar room.  Comfortably straight-forward and stress-free, adding a few needed bankable hours to this lacklustre start to 2017.  Could have been at Wembley on the weekend and gearing up for Two Door Cinema Club in Paris with the random Shakespeare and Company flyer, but alas the Arsenal.  Instead, money saved (as planned at the year's start) in favour of a look-ahead to Toronto x3 in the months ahead.  Let's see where that goes... 

"Give me some seconds please..."

Scotia captures the elicit email transfer scam attempt.  The call centre employee re-activating the card for online banking kept repeating the memorable phrase in the title, as you sort out the long-term financial planning for another year.  Will the bubble burst?  Should you cash out of some of the recent gains now?  The "Be right.  Sit tight." crowd versus the cold truth that "...one can never go broke taking profits." 

I wonder how you will look back on the investment in the wind farm that you were so instrumental in protecting that you are handing over this afternoon in exchange for tax credits and 20 years of dividends.  I wonder how you will look back on the ultimate worth of the "incredible" assets of Friedland and co.  I wonder if you will implement the bold new idea that came to you a few nights ago in a dream and crystallized further during this morning's long-ish breakfast at the Hollis, as you stared into the pillar in front and dreamed of the road's call...

It is an idea that is simple enough.  A true creative non-fiction idea.  2020 and the death of nuance.  20/20 Hindsight.  America in the age of Trump.  A year through all 50 (divided) states.  Etc. 

And so the plan is hatched and made more formal by the purchase of two maps and a book.  To peruse, and begin the long-term planning.  King's start in 2019.  The main year of the course focused on the research and writing.  Completion and pitch in NYC aligned for early 2021.

The original Camino plan suffered through some fits and starts but ultimately carried the day, as did the goals for the 6 month travel sabbatical and the aborted PhD.  Antarctica as well, postponed by a year (or else you would be on Elephant island today), but firmly in view for a 2018 escape.  I wonder if this is the roughly final shape the MFA degree might take?

I think it might.  Me gusto.  Go out into the world, and slowly, surely, make it so.  Give me those seconds!

POSTSCRIPT - And a $150 order of classics in the genre to get you started as well.  The likes of HST, DFW, Mailer, Lewis, White, and others.  Heh.  Thanks Amazon.

Rules of Engagment

Another meeting in the multi-purpose room, another session of silence and daydreams and wonder...  The cliches and the angst, the concern over money and silos and spreadsheets, the search for vision and culture.  All the while an internal voice screams, enough.  Gagged indeed.

With the motivation lacking into 2017, and the low number of billable hours ahead, the midnight thoughts turn ever again toward alternatives.  Maybe King's is the right call for August 2017.  You kid yourself if you think that waiting will give you time to write in advance, there is no evidence of it.  The contrary, even.  

Here's an alternative.  Finish Twizel on this long weekend.  Put in the Application.  Use the money from the RRSP and write the tuition off the taxes in 2017-2019.  Start this August.  You will have time during those two weeks.  Then go to Antarctica as planned.  See out the course through 2018 into the New York week as you plot a potential exit, armed with the new degree (finally a Master!) and some writing/journalistic credentials that could lead into 2020 and a last graduation in time for the 40th birthday?

Yes.  Stop the water-treading, and just. try. it.  What is there to lose?  You have the concept.  As the hiring managing partner said today, he's looking forward to the memoirs.  Time to get started on them.

Alternatively...

Let's make some (Valentine) assumptions...

1. You follow through with Antarctica - 2.5 months off

2. No real estate purchase until (at least) June 2018

3. Enroll at King's in Spring 2019

4. Notice given sometime after that

5. Condo status re-evaluation in 2019 (rent/sell)

6. America 2020

... not a bad trajectory, it must be said.  Room for a down payment if something ideal emerges this summer, but mostly avoid doubling needless tax and other expenses while on board the Barque.  Gear up for a political year of travel if dollar recovers, otherwise other options (Central America, etc..) possible.  Use RRSP funds for tuition.  Figure out what you need for the rest?

Worth pondering.  As you slack off alone through this winter storm, dreaming of escapes.

What choice?

Watching Rounders over Pinot on a Friday night.  After a long post-dart lie-in and drive out the Eastern shore and review of the PAC report, you come to the easy conclusion that as desirable as 120 JS would be, it requires too much of your time in an office over the remaining years.  As the judge says, he had to answer his calling.  And since the road is yours, it is simply too much to ask to trade the whole world for Tangier.

There may be a way.  17107.  A get-away, in the truest sense.  I'd never have come to it, a mini-home on the highway in that direction.  But Highway 7.  In the right spot.  At a low price point, under the original one, when you imagined it first.  When Tancook was the dream.

I have oscillated and equivocated so much since the book began.  August 4, 2015!  It is time to bring it to a close, and the way to do it is with the cheapest option.  Sell the mutual funds, put that partly in the RRSP for Doucette and use the rest as a down payment.  Buy a sweet kayak and top notch camping gear and tell no one.  Explore over the summer and consider the merits of land on Janvrin in the months as well.  While you wait for the Trump correction?

But, above all.

Don't give up on the dream of Shackleton's grave.  It must be visited.

Oh I wish I had another bottle of vino.  And another night to chat with RR.  Ha.  Onward.  Go and put an offer on that place.  Needs must.  (And ask for the white chairs and cooler to be included!)