Decisions

Please don’t play the lottery

  I was waiting for a bus a few days ago. I was the only one there, save for another guy, maybe 40’s or 50’s looking, a bit haggard, but dressed well. He was smoking and attacking a scratch card … Read MoreRead More

Why having more money won’t simplify your life

  You may think that making more money will solve some of your problems. And you’re right. That’s certainly what I’ve found in my life. But when that happened, I found that new problems were created, greater in number than … Read MoreRead More

The high cost of free frequent flyer miles

  There’s a tension between having an interest in travel hacking and an interest in taking control of your finances. On one hand, the two pursuits seem to go well together. Travel hacking involves having creative travel experiences on a … Read MoreRead More

In praise of dumbphones

  I am one of the only people I know who doesn’t have a smartphone. I’m not bragging about this. I just have decided that at this point, it’s not something I want in my life. I’m not suggesting you … Read MoreRead More

If you’re not doing it, stop

  I like to think about ways to get myself people to accomplish things and not just say that I’m they are “going to, someday”. I’m fascinated by what it is inside ourselves that causes us to self-sabotage. (The book … Read MoreRead More

Is there ever a reason to buy a new car?

  New cars are alluring. Who can deny that? The combination of something being all new, mixed with the sense of freedom (real or imagined) creates an intoxication that is hard to resist. Notice I said “intoxication.” Like lots of … Read MoreRead More

Accept when your plans are changed

  It was to be a good day. I could make it to the ferry terminal with enough time not to have to rush (for once). The ferry would be a leisurely two hour ride to the island of Jeju, … Read MoreRead More

How to determine how much money you need to travel

  Warning: this post contains math. I want to expand on a point I made last time about reasons people don’t travel: namely not having enough money. I’ve been having an ongoing conversation where I’m trying to convince someone to … Read MoreRead More

You are more than what you do

  “I’m a musician.” I used to define myself that way. When people asked what I “did,” and if the context wasn’t obviously asking about my day job, that’s how I would respond. Music was such an integral part of … Read MoreRead More

How to book an award ticket in 785 easy steps

  In my last post I talked about how adventure shouldn’t be postponed. To this end, I decided to redeem some of my frequent flyer miles for the first time ever. … Read More