“You are living the dream” is something I hear often from my guests around the dinner table on the M/V Odyssey, the recreational dive vessel I captain in Truk Lagoon. As truthful as that statement is the work and the lifestyle I chose years ago has had its downsides. It’s hard to get any sympathy telling tales of tribulations when looking out over azure blue water from a glassed in climate controlled dining room in a paradisal setting of Micronesia

         I was fortunate to have an epiphany at a young age that life is brutish and short; that one should experience as much of the world as possible while you still have the vitality of youth propelling you to do so. For some, providing for a loving family or living a peaceful sedentary life is the ultimate. There’s nothing wrong with that as long as you go to sleep at night feeling like you are in the right place doing the right thing. If that’s you then stop reading here or continue on for insight.

         It took years of grinding it out in corporate New York City while procrastination spurred on by irrational fear held me back from striking out down a more exciting path. After seven years I finally got up the courage and left a promising career behind to pursue a simpler life that offered me the opportunity to work, travel and live overseas. I was finally able to see the world and not from the window of a tour bus or on TV from the safety of a Lazy-Boy. It’s been a wild ride the past 25 years and I’m just getting warmed up.

         None of it came without costs though. Several days after I left my city job I was separated from my wife and shortly after divorced. Apparently, she didn’t like my decision. For the early years cash was always tight but, it will surprise you at how little you need when your thirsts for adventure are satisfied. I may never own a house in the Hamptons with a Ferrari parked in the garage but, I think I’ll survive. Developing meaningful relationships has been difficult and continues to be so. It’s hard getting to know someone when you aren’t in the same spot for more than a few months at a time. In addition, I nearly died several times in my search for the next adrenaline rush. I understood then, as I do now, that adventure comes at a price. I paid my ticket and took my chances. No whining from me.

If you have the will and want to “live your dream”, then what are you waiting for? Don’t let fear paralyze you. You wouldn’t want your epiphany to occur on your death bed when it’s too late to act on it. Your last thoughts laying on your silk pillow may very well be, “what the hell was that all about?”.