Greetings,

Today marks a special day as it’s officially 3 years that this blog has been online. The first post went live September 17th but the domain was purchased on the 16th aka 3 years ago or 1095 days ago. It’s also the day I flew from Ottawa to Vancouver on a one way ticket with an open mind. This is one of those times where your typical blog would make some big run down of all the cool things they’ve done but we’re different and we’re going to take a different approach, as per usual.

The whole point of this blog was to start a running journal of sorts to show people that you can leave your life behind you and pickup the pieces to do something new, something cool. I’m throwing out my path to the world in real-time and time-stamping the events because authenticity is of utter importance, along with integrity. Instead of writing recaps and photo stories, this blog is a daily diary as I understand that leaving your life behind is incredibly terrifying. It took yours truly 5 years of internal conflict to finally get the courage to say “$@#$ it”, let’s do this. Any regrets? NONE.

I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who reads this regularly. I’m here spitting out what I’m up to regularly but it’s you who finishes the feedback loop, had this blog never picked up who knows if I’d still be writing it? Also if I wasn’t writing this blog would I still be traveling? This blog has opened so many doors that I’m not sure where I’d be without it. Naturally I take the time to write it but YOU take the time to read it and share it and for that I am thankful.

The next 3 years should be interesting as the first 3 were spent getting this snowball going, now this snowball is tearing through the arctic country side and I’m busy riding it like a bull fresh out of the gates at some Rodeo in Calgary. I’m off to Costa Rica in a few days and I’m 99.87234% sure that I won’t be taking the ticket home. I’m going to spend the winter exploring C. America in true SHABL style which is an open mind, fist full of fiat currency, stained t-shirt and a smile. We’ve seen a lot of the world together but there is still more left. My main goal in life is still to see the world and spend as much time as possible in paradise where I’m surrounded with pleasant and passionate people…

Just remember that if you want to do something like this, you can. Just be sure to avoid debt like the plague, say no to group think and spend time figuring out what truly makes you tick… The road into the unknown is often lonely and dark but it’s also incredibly rewarding. When you look back on your life from the end of your road you’ll be thankful for the risks you took that meant something to you. I’m also really happy to just be “Rob” again instead of “insert profession” or whatever title you may have now. It’s like you graduate from school, sell your individuality and become your profession? That’s weak, isn’t it?

Remember this, you’ll never know unless you go and your life goes where your energy flows…

Thanks for an amazing 3 years and get ready for more as there is no going back when you’ve gone this far…

Tips hat,

P.S: Photo is from Nungwi, Zanzibar aka one of my favorite places on this planet…

P.P.S: The endless summer is attainable and worth the effort…