Creating a 5 Year Plan

Recently, I've been browsing around the internet for writing prompts (here's an excellent list for March) because I assume that at some point, you will all get bored in reading my weekly life updates and want some actual thoughtful and semi-well written information. So in that spirit, I present to you my thoughts on 5 year plans, mission statements, bucket lists, and over arching life goals. Ready?

Do it. 

I know that may seem like a bit of departure from my usual devil-may-care, travel everywhere, do whatever, laid back, low stress, life advice. Hear me out. I have a 5 year plan. The thing is, my 5 year plan goes though at least one significant change about every 6 months. 

Planning out approximately 5 years in advance gives me TONS of motivation when I'm stuck in the occasional months where I am not traveling, laying on a beach, or spending the vast majority of my time playing with craft supplies. 

No, I do not plan out every day on my wonderful 5 year plan. It's a simple document in my Notes app on my Macbook, readily accessible and incredibly easy to change. 

I like to block things out in semester long periods, because I find them to be sensible dividing points. Janurary - April I do one particular thing (in the present case, Maui), then May - August I do another thing (Victoria), then September - December one more thing (in this case, my schedule reads: take classes either online or in Winnipeg and make some progress on your degree ya bum). 

I think it's healthy to give yourself lots of "breaks" in life, and try tons of new things in new places. Dividing my year into 3 sections encourages me to do that frequently, and has the added benefit of working quite well with my on again off again approach to University. 

I also like to have a side list of goals for the week + month in my paper day planner, just to keep me on task. One of the biggest challenges I find myself faced with in daily life is my desire to throw myself into a million and one projects, which inevitably leads to things being half finished if they aren't written down.

How do you structure your 5 year plan? What kind of goals are you reaching for? Tell me your life!

Cheers,

Day 49: Chasing Waterfalls and No Money March !

Oh so many wonderous life updates! Where to begin? Firstly I suppose, Maui continues to be great. This island has continued to fill me with positive thoughts and good vibes only. Secondly, I've officially got a summer job in Victoria, British Columbia, so my return to Winnipeg will be wonderfully short lived, at least until September when I go back to champ out another semester at good ole UofM. Thirdly, and I promise I will expand on this, I've declared March a no spending month or "no money March", and will be endeavoring to literally not spend any cash while saving all my tips and side business money, since my food and lodging are covered, it's the most opportune time I can think of.

sunset on the beach

First off, I am consistently in awe of the beauty that is all of Maui. I admittedly spend most of my time off the beaten path given that I have no car and live in the middle of the jungle, but ermagawd. Everything is pretty.

random stream/waterfall/pool off of the Hana Hwy

Seriously, if I didn't remind myself off all the pretty places in Canada I would seriously be considering burning my passport and becoming a beach hobo. I also really like the internet so beach hobo might not be the perfect lifestyle for me. A girl can dream.

The decision to move to Victoria for the summer came from literally online polling my Facebook friends on Vancouver vs Toronto and then being told Victoria is the land of the hippies. Never been but that's enough of an incentive for me to test it out and a potential Canadian home base a few years down the line. 

coconuts are literally everywhere and fair game. eat them all!

Lastly, No Money March. So working out here, all my food and lodging expenses are covered. I make tips from work, which average to around $30 US a week, and I'm going to start selling friendship bracelets on the beach for some extra cash. Mostly, this money hides in a very sneaky location inside of my tent, the rest of it goes to me buying postcards, souvenirs, and booze. However, I've recently come across the idea of doing a month free of spending money on Pinterest (aside from a tiny budget for essentials) and thought, hey, I literally have all of my essentials covered, I should challenge myself to not spend any money on shit I do not need for an entire month. So that's the plan. Feel free to join me and get your spending habits under control (I'm looking at you my online shopping addicts club).

Anywho, that's my life lately. It's pretty freakin great if I do say so myself. Build yours to be equally lovely in your own eyes and tell me how you're doing it!

Cheers,

Day 37: Wanderlust got me hard and hasn't let go.

I love traveling. I've grown up traveling. I've never had the inclination to not take any random opportunity presented to me to travel. Being in Maui is a prime example of that love. But man does the wanderlust have me sucked in right now, even as I'm in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

The original game plan was to be "home" in Winnipeg for summer, work, take a summer class or two or three. Standard student stuff. But oh man. I want to be everywhere. Winnipeg is becoming less and less likely, and my eyes are drifting towards Toronto and Vancouver. Last summer I was planning a bike tour out to Ottawa before a nasty injury and a lot of physio therapy, and for some reason the idea of biking fully across Canada on the Trans Canada Trail is really settling in again. Probably not a realistic goal for this summer but still. It's there. Growing in the back of my mind.

The other looming potential travel plan is New Zealand and/or Australia for 1-3 years doing the whole working holiday thing that's so very popular out there. Unfortunately they don't hand out that visa to people with basically empty bank accounts. The struggle is real.

Toronto or the GTA at least seems like a reasonable summer, I can always stick around Ontario for a while, maybe branch down into Quebec in the fall with some time to practice my french.

Where do you think I'll end up living next, suggestions? Staying in Canada for at least 6 months to work and actually make some money so towns up here would be wonderful.

Cheers,

Day 34: Spinning yarns and omnomnoming

tiny lizard friend I made this morning

 Today was another blissful day off to enjoy living in paradise. I decided against adventuring, mainly because I felt lazy, and also crafty as all hell. My inner housewife is still lacking the love earned from feeding the ravenous masses I called roomies and neighbours in Winnipeg (love you all). I breakfasted on some super simple but delicious french toast and devoured the majority of a coconut toasted in the same pan. My belly is happy.

Cinnamon Raisin Toast made into french toast with fresh coconut (also toasted). I like toast.

Next step: Crafternoon. Finally pulled my test yarn out of it's several day solar dye bath in old moldy Spriulina/water/vinegar solution! Also harvested some more cotton, carded and spun for literally 4 hours with time flying by.

Who knew Spirulina dyed so pretty?!

I cannot get over the wonderful shade of teal the cotton changed into, and the unevenness and multi-dimension to the color is basically making me fall over from sheer joy. #dying. Next step, trying to get a pink with avacodo pits and skins. The internet told me it was a thing. Also basket making.


Cheers,

1 month in Maui !

Cannot believe I've already been in Maui for an entire month! Time flies ! Yesterday I had the day off and went to Jaws. Absolutely a must see on a big swell day. Nothing quite like the peace of watching 30 foot waves and surfers. Personally I advise catching a ride in though as 4 of us walked it and it is about 2.2 miles each way on a narrow gravel road. I fell and scraped up my foot and knee, but that's more of a "I'm hella clumsy" moment then a "this road is trying to kill us all" moment.

Meditation Pad view at Huelo Lookout Workawayer's area

View from Jaws

so so so pretty

Cheers,