A Recipe for Something New

Have you ever just wanted to make real change? Perhaps you're trying to get away from something in your life, or perhaps you're just tired of the same old routine and want to try something different.

I'm doing that.

In a month I'm going to leave work and my life in San Francisco to go live in Barcelona, Spain for three months. I've been working for the last six years in a tech job and I need a break. I need distance away from my normal life in order to change old habits and think objectively about everything.

How does one go about leaving his life?

I don't currently have any attachments or commitments which would prevent me from going. Part of this is by design since I've been wanting to make a trip like this for many years. I've always admired people who have been able to detach themselves from belongings, jobs, etc. and travel far away for longer than a normal vacation. My life has generally been very comfortable with trusted friends and belongings close by to keep me happy and safe. This trip is an exercise in detaching myself from things that I depend upon in my normal life.

Here's the plan. I am giving up the lease on my little studio apartment and selling all my furniture. My work is letting me take an unpaid leave of absence for three to six months. On June 3, I will fly out of LAX to Barcelona where there's a month of Spanish school and an apartment two blocks near the water waiting for me. I've only planned my trip through the end of June. During that time I will figure out what to do and where to live for July and August. I would like to find a random job at a cafe or something in order to practice Spanish and meet random people.