Don't you have goals??

I was recently asked what it is that I want out of life, what my goals are, where I see myself in 1, 5, 10, 20 years. I'm almost 30, and the one thing that I have been able to say for most of my short life is that I can honestly say I can't answer that "where do you see yourself" question. I never have been able too. But I can say that I know what my passions are and I know that where ever I end up, it will involve something on that list.

I live to be outside. Running on the road, hiking a trail, riding a single track, hunting coyote, or just relaxing on the beach...fresh air, open spaces, adventure. I love these things. I could spend every moment of my life in the woods. I could wake up every morning in a tent, ride my mountain bike out to the job site, ride home to start a bonfire and grill some dogs and drink some beer with friends.
Yes, I enjoy living in the city. It works in a twisted concrete wilderness sort of way. Instead of getting up in the morning and driving my car to the office, then driving to the gym, then driving to the bar only to drive home, I get to walk to the office and enjoy the mornings weather, I get to spend my lunch sitting by the river at a restaurants patio watching boats cruise by. No, I'm not climbing a mountain or building the worlds largest bonfire, but I get to spend my free time out of the house.
All this being said, the city is not a forever thing for me. One of my goals...is to live in a place I can wake up in the morning and go for a quick mountain bike ride, on real mountain single track, before heading to work at a job that allows me to work outdoors or at least with products and services related to being outside. And I want to be able to do this year round. I really do like snow, but I hate winter. The things I love to do don't happen below 45 degrees. From pretty much December 1st until April 1st I'm cooped up, I'm trapped.
I have gone on January hikes, but since I don't ski, ice fish or snowmobile, there's not many other options. And not to be a dick, but hiking in the mid-west really isn't much more than a long walk in the woods.

My professional goals center around owning my own business. In my mind there is nothing more rewarding than the challenges faced and overcome by a business owner. That, and all of the above having been said, my business will be related to something outdoors. I have a few plans in my head, some of which are making their way out on to paper (I'll keep you posted). These plans just need to be viable enough for me to live off of. I have no real aspirations to be a millionaire, I just want to live comfortably off of a day to day life that I enjoy. I want to wake up excited about what I am going to do for the day. I want to care about the work that I am doing.
The great thing (and shitty thing) is that I know what it is going to take to obtain this. It's going to take long hours and hard work. But at the end of the day all those late nights are truly worth the stress and aggravation if I get to wake up in the morning and give two shits about what I am headed to at the office (after a 10 mile mountain bike ride of course).

I'm not a guy that wants much. I couldn't care less about a fancy house with all the bestest bells and whistles. Give me an average house, on about 20 acres, a jeep wrangler, and a good sized gun collection. I don't need decorations up the ass, I don't need the fancy slate counters and high end kitchen appliances. In fact, the less shit I have, the better I feel. I intend to spend as little time inside as humanly possible, so why spent the money to decorate and fancify?

Ok, so at the end of the day...I want to spend most of my life outside, I want a job that involves the outdoors in someway, I want to be able to enjoy this stuff year-round, I want to own my own company that does outdoor stuff, and I want an average house on a few acres without a bunch of shit I will never use. Oh, and a jeep wrangler.

I'm a pretty simple dude.

-JB

50 Reasons...

Not that I'm complaining, but the following is a list of 50 reasons I am actively looking for a new job. All numbers are based on data from CNNMoney.com for positions requiring 4 years or less experience (some require special training but none more than a Bachelors Degree) in my local area. All pay more than I make...

1) Associate Pastor - $67,499
2) Bricklayer - $49,285
3) Custodial Manager - $48,829
4) Volunteer Coordinator - $42,745
5) Warehouse Supervisor - $55,868
6) Campus Recreation Director - $67,026
7) Assistant Coach Minor Sport - $41,505
8) Estimating Manager - $65,686
9) E/L Accountant - $ 45,329
10) E/L Architect - $42,684
11) E/L Budget Analyst - $52,674
12) Business Banking Development Officer - $60,042($52,385 low)*
13) Call Center Quality Analyst - $41,839
14) E/L Compensation Analyst - $54,292
15) Consumer Credit Analyst - $43,578
16) E/L Copy Writer - $44,602
17) Correctional Officer - $42,952
18) Chicago Police Officer - $58,896 (after 18 mths)**
19) Documentation Clerk - $40,287
20) E/L Electrician - $45,594
21) Employee Relocation Rep - $48,192
22) Field Auditor - $54,393
23) Financial Associate, Corporate - $61,042
24) Health and Safety Administrator - $59,494
25) Interior Designer - $41,044
26) Logistics Clerk - $42,407
27) Metallurgical Engineer - $58,608
28) Meter Reader - $45,306
29) Procedures Analyst - $49,327
30) Pipeline Technician - $62,788
31) Press Operator - $46,255
32) Recruiter - $45,987
33) Retail Store Management Trainee - $41,962
34) Sales Analyst - $49,707
35) SBA Business Development Officer - $74,340
36) Travel Clerk - $43,637
37) Fire Fighter - $44,053
38) Automobile Estimator - $43,045
39) Administrative Services Supervisor - $59,059
40) Archivist - $45,799
41) Campus Recruiter - $61,339
42) Executive Assistant - $53,248
43) Meeting/Event Assistant - $47,021
44) Translator - $48,571
45) Actor - $53,257
46) Broadcast Technician - $45,224
47) Development Associate - Museum - $63,161
48) Retail Buyer - $47,804
49) Cashier Manager - Grocery - $46,295
50) Group Underwriter - $47,778

*My current position, even the low tops my pay
** Data found at Chicago Police recruitment website