Modern Life For Me
My life today looks a lot different than it did even a few years ago. After selling most of my belongings and embracing living in a vehicle at the end of 2020, I have been steadily building my life around seeing and doing more. The last couple of years have seen me flying heavily for work and sometimes for fun. In 2024 I was on 127 different flights and 2025 will be a couple more than that. Now this is primarily business travel but it still amounts to nearly 200,000 miles of traveling in two years.
How do I balance the work and personal travel? Structure, mostly. Its a combination of attempting to work normal business hours while simultaneously crafting a vacation strategy that allows me to immerse myself in the culture of my destination. A typical work week for me is Monday through Thursday, sometimes Friday if its necessary and occasionally I have three day weeks. My days usually consist of long hours and lots of driving but I have the opportunity to visit some unique places along the way, like the St. Louis Arch. Another national park on my list that would have been a bit difficult to get to without being sent there for work.
Another benefit of all the travel is being able to ride mountain bikes in virtually every state (at least the ones I go to). Most places have a trail network of some sort or are located close to something rideable. Frankly, this is the biggest perk to my career. Bicycles are relatively easy to travel with, with the right gear, and provide endless entertainment. They also act as a fitness tool and I would probably never have the opportunity to ride in such spectacular places. This perk is going to lead to trail reviews and destination information. Something like “got two days in Nashville and want to know where to ride?” I genuinely love reading about new trail networks and do my best to find time to go. I would like to take my experiences and put them in a place where others can learn from me.
What about international travel? I try to make one international trip per year. It’s important to experience other countries and cultures. I also do this around how cheaply I can get tickets with miles or if there is a place I desperately want to go. For example, 2026 flights to Switzerland are already booked (WOOHOO!) because I got a great deal on tickets. Granted it’s only one way and I have zero clue how we are going to get home but that's a problem for later. I am also going to attempt foreign mountain bike racing, probably in 2027. There are lots of stage races I would love to participate in, so stay tuned for that. It’s combining my two favorite activities, travel and bikes! I honestly can’t think of anything better!
In addition to big trips I take several smaller trips throughout the year that are mostly camping or overnight trips in my van. I love getting out to spend time in nature, taking photos, and breathing fresh air. These trips also allow me to explore the amazing places in my backyard. For 2025 my partner and I went to Kings Canyon, Yosemite, and Sequoia national parks. They were close to our base in Phoenix and were a wonderful escape!
Why am I doing this now? Mostly because I want to contribute to something that lasts. I like reading what other people have to say and feel that I can contribute to the topics I enjoy in a meaningful way. If you like what I have to say, leave me a comment! Same thing if you have questions or feedback for me.
Thanks for tuning in, I will have some proper content topics soon!
Cheers,
Rhino