on optimizing for fun
on optimizing for fun
and the lake charlotte mini epic
When I saw the look in his eyes, I knew he was my brother.
Not a bio-bro, but the kind from a different mother dontchaknow.
Ten years younger than me, his energy seemed anything but. He was laden down like an old mule. He had a backpack on each shoulder, a duffel bag crossed those as well. His left hand pushed a cart that looked like a rolling Jenga tower. His right hand pulled a carry on bag with three additional duffel bags clinging desperately to the handle.
Two children under five ran screaming around what I assumed was his wife who was muttering and texting frantically as they made their way away from the baggage claim.
Our eyes caught for a second. He shook his head and laughed. His laughter was entirely without pleasure.
His ashen skin and sunken eyes told me everything I needed to know: This was a man returning from vacation. And at this moment? He couldn’t wait to get back to work.
Vacation should not be a drag.
And it always seems to be.
Go away for a week, then take two more to recover once you return home. That seems to be the way things go.
When we go on long distance bike rides, we do not want to live like this man. We travel light. You’ll never find pannier bags attached to my bike. Instead, we hire someone to move our camping supplies.
It’s more fun to be unburdened when you travel. Though it takes a bit more planning, it’s not that bad.
When we do the Lake Charlotte Mini Epic in a few weeks, folks won’t return from the ride like the pack horse dad returning from vacation.
Our stuff will be transported to where we need to be.
All that’s left is the joy of pedaling a bike.
We spend a whole shit tonne of time thinking about how we can support ourselves with our work.
How can you spend more time setting up your pleasure such that your life is optimized for fun?
See you there.
Ride your bike.
