Fangorn, What Madness Drove Them Into There?

   Four weeks ago the only things keeping me in Ottawa were my friends and a part-time job. Overall nothing too serious. I wasn’t really giving up much for this trip. My friends will always be there (Because I know Evan can’t leave the Ottawa city limits without having a panic attack); and a job is a job. It’s there for financial reasons (which aren’t the most important thing in my life right now.) SIDEBAR - I remember hearing something like this a while back, “Indulge. Spend your money on things that make you happy because money comes and money goes.” Soooo....

   On Saturday, February 4th I made the decision to purchase my ticket for New Zealand. My planning had been on-going for awhile and I knew that I couldn’t move to the next stage unless I had a ticket. That morning I bought my ticket and gave myself four and a half weeks to get everything together. 

   A day or two after the reality kicks in that, holy shit I am leaving and I only have 4 weeks to,

1. Find a sublet 
2. Pack up my life for three months 
3. Pack up my room 
4. Sort of my banking 
5. Purchase Travel Insurance
6. Work, etc. etc. etc. 

   You go into terminator mode and power through everything that is a priority. I can tell you that 4 weeks is not that much time and when having to deal with banks and insurance companies, things will not happen as quickly as you feel they need to and they will mess something up. So you need to confirm everything you did like three times and then quadruple check that everything you can control is perfect. 

   While doing all of this you want to see your friends and spent time with the people that mean the most to you as much as possible. So there are definitely trade-offs that take place but whatever means the most, whether it’s spending time with a special someone or sitting in your empty room trying to save money, usually you’ll do what your heart really wants.

   Since February 4th a lot has changed in my life. I have learned about travel preparation and I have new reasons to come back to Ottawa (mainly Evans Birthday :P ). I realize that maybe I am giving up more than I originally thought I was but if it wasn’t for the purchase of that ticket then none of the changes would have happened.

“You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” - Rabindranath Tagore