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After nearly seven months that went by way quicker than I’d even realized, I find myself back in Portland, Oregon.

In the five days I’ve been here I’ve found that the weather is even more beautiful than I’d hoped, the beer is even better than I remember, and having a flexible lifestyle in the States is going to be even more enjoyable than I’d imagined.

Over the past three days I’ve done something that I haven’t done in, well, I can’t remember how long.  I’ve been completely shut off from the internet and my computer.  I’ve been spending time with friends that I haven’t seen since I returned and going to events that I’ve been looking forward to  for months. Somehow during that time, internet just didn’t quite seem to fit in.

And surprisingly, the world didn’t come to an end…

This weekend has taught me how important it is to take time to really enjoy the things that are worth living for in life.  I’ve been so caught up in work and projects over the past few months, that I think part of me forgot this.  Even when I was doing cool stuff like scuba diving in Ko Tao or motor-biking through Bali, I always felt guilty about it.  There was work that I could have been doing, so I felt like that’s where I needed to be.  But there will always be work that can be done. One of the fundamental components of the location independent lifestyle is learning how to embrace the fact that just because you can work, doesn’t mean you should work.

My new (old) home of Portland

In order to be successful in this lifestyle, I’m finding how necessary it is to “turn off” during tim es when I’ve told myself I would do so.  If I’m going to golf for an afternoon or take a bike ride, I need to enjoy it! The work will always be there when I get back, but nothing is going to be getting done while I’m gone regardless – so stressing about it has no positive effect, and in fact diminishes what could be a stress relieving activity.

I constantly struggle with this.

However this weekend I had no problem turning work off for a few days.  And you know what? It felt good.  If I can continue to embrace this mindset, I know that this is going to be one hell of a summer.  Between all of the stuff that is in store for both my work and my social life, I’m really excited to enjoy a summer in the northwest.

Quick side note: I’m currently on the metro train back to the other side of town, and just passed my old office building.  Man, to think that this time last year I would have been in a suit and tie and sitting in an office building is startling.  It’s completely sunny and 88 degrees out, the most perfect weather I could ask for.  It’s moments like this I know I’ve done something right.

So this will be the end of my transitional posts for awhile.  I know the last few have pretty much only been about my preparing to move back, moving back, and now being back.  That’s cool and all, but I know you are probably ready for something a bit different!  Stay tuned later this week for something a bit more substantial.

In the meantime, go do something fun.  Seriously – you’ll be glad you did.

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