For me, this is an odd question to answer. Everything I wanted 10 years ago, I have. I got a good career doing something I love that pays plenty, bought a nice house in a good neighborhood I love, have plenty of rewarding hobbies to keep me occupied, and as for relationships, I'm getting married next Saturday to a woman that I love and have a ton of fun with. So now that I have all that, "everything I ever wanted", I'm left asking myself "What's next?" I'm not the type of person to just settle and do the same thing for the rest of my life, and I'm always trying to get to that next step, and for the first time in my life I have no concrete ideas as to what that next step is, and it scares me a bit. My main thing, is I would love to start a business that can support me and my soon-to-be family, and not have to work for someone else the rest of my life. Other than that goal, and a handful of web domains in various stages of development, I'm not really sure what I intend to do. For the first time in my life I don't really have any clear goals, and can't answer the "what's next" question. So, even if you get everything you want, if you're like me, you'll still be looking for that "what's next". So don't worry about the destinations or the finish lines, enjoy the journey, enjoy the race.
I'm getting married next Saturday to a woman that I love and have a ton of fun with.
Awesome! Enjoy the day and congrats. I remember you mentioning the engagement.
Thanks! We got engaged last November, October 5th is the big day. Looking forward to it. :) Though I've realized something funny about leading up to the date. The media always focuses on people getting cold feet and having second thoughts or getting nervous about that. I couldn't give any less shit about getting married, as in the legal sense, we're both totally okay with that. But man am I tired and stressing over the planning of the event itself. I just want it to be over.
That is a pretty common theme regarding marriage. I was the same way, I wasn't concerned with whether or not I wanted to get married but I sure as hell was tired of planning it and having my entire world revolve around one day and night. My favorite moments were when we actually got married and at the hotel that night. -Not for the reasons you may think, though that was in there too, but really just to be alone as husband and wife for the first time, that was cool. Plus Michael Stipe from REM was staying there and I got to meet him in an elevator. I figured that was a good sign. I'm sure everyone has already told you this, but the best advice is to take moments alone and be present. Also, many times it seems people have to spend too much time talking with people they rarely see or will rarely see again, don't do that. Spend your time with the people that are the most important to you and will be for many years to come. Have fun!
Congratulations on the wedding! I saw in your lower comments you've found planning it very stressful. YES. IF I ever got married and that's a big if, I'd want to have the most casual wedding ever. I think the industry screws you over on stuff a bit. As a kid I never had a defined dream of "the perfect wedding" and I'm certainly no fairy-tale princess or into that kind of stuff, so luckily I can dodge all of that "fulfilling childhood fantasties" sort of stuff. I think part of my problem is I tend to temper what I want with what is practical. Is that a problem? I dont know, sometimes I think it artifically limits myself. I mean, I'm quite young now, starting a business or whatever just isn't in the cards - don't have the capital, don't have the experience, etc. I want to work more with my hands. I want to actually create things. I'd love to go into baking, for instance, but don't have the experience or training. How can I get it besides either going for a culinary degree or getting hired in a kitchen? How can I get hired in a kitchen without experience? OR, a bartender. I think I'd straight love to be a bartender. But in my state you're not getting hired as a bartender unless you have server experience, and I don't have that. How can I get it? I already have a full time job. I'd have to get a part time job working only past 5 and on weekends, which I guess might be viable...I don't know. I feel like if I were a bartender and good enough I could eventually quit my 'real' job if I wanted and just live off the bartender salary. I think I'd enjoy the hell out of it... ...but mostly, it just feels like a dream. Anyway, sorry for the ramble, I really appreciate your input. I used to think the destination was more important than the journey, but now, I don't. Good luck with everything! I'm excited for you.
Starting to bake is easy. Just buy a recipe book and some flour and get to it. Watch YouTube if you're not getting a good result; go on message boards on allrecipes.com or something. There is no reason to take a culinary degree to learn to bake. Just do. You'll have a lot of fun learning at home, and probably make a lot of really good stuff.