Change

It's been a long time since I've posted anything here, possibly because there's not a whole lot going on. Weeks, months have gone by where days seem to run together. Work, eat, sleep, repeat. Not much else, aside from a nice weekend spent up at the Mt. Adams lodge for some quiet, non-internet time, xc skiing, reading by the fire, and stopping at Bonneville Hot Springs for some spa relaxation.

I was thinking the other day about being adaptable to change. Generally I think I embrace change fairly easily (unlike my mother, for example) but upon further reflection I am determining this to be a lie I tell myself. I have had the same job for 6 years, I have lived in the same house for 10 years, and I drive a car I bought in 1998 that has 255,000 miles on it. Change? What is that? I have even had the same cell phone for 3 years, which is just unheard of in this day & age.

Why the resistance? No answer there. Comfortable, familiar things are good, and maybe when I do take a leap of faith on something, or any kind of risk, it doesn't seem to work out so well. Could be one explanation. The other is that I am THE slowest person to make decisions, and the worlds best procrastinator. It takes me years of thinking, planning, considering, weighing options, etc. to make any kind of major change.

In the past year alone I've considered moving to a condo and selling my house, buying a different car, going on a cycling trip to New Zealand, and training for a triathlon. Yet, I did none of those things. Not a single one.

Just lastnight when hearing people talk about their travels, I remarked that I'd been to Hillsboro, and then I thought, why is that? Why don't I ever go anywhere? Well, I've been to California to visit family, but that's about it other than traveling in-state over the past year. I'm envious of my Intel friends who take sabbaticals. I was talking to a fellow cyclist the other day who is taking some time off just to enjoy life. What a concept! So lastnight, I decided to take my own sabbatical. When? I don't know yet.

Then today, an opportunity came my way that I don't think I'll be able to pass up, it just seems like good timing (I hope) and a wonderful thing to do. Italy. In May. On a bicycle. Think Tuscany, Umbria, winding roads, gelato, pasta, bruschetta, olives, wine. Oh and a tiny bicycle race that happens to be going on in Italy during May, the GIRO.

How can I say no? Best part - I have to decide by TOMORROW. I think that's a done deal.