November 15, 2018 – South Lake Tahoe, California

If it weren’t for these hikes…

Stop it, Nick. Look around you. Breathe the air. Enjoy the free time while you can.

I often struggle with my mindset when it comes to these transitions. When I come to a place expecting to work for money, my focus shifts in that direction. Especially after having a month “off.”

And paying for rent here.

And groceries.

Unfortunately, my training here at Kirkwood has been very spread out. And though I am accustomed to resort life and came financially prepared for a slow start to the season, it can still be a bit frustrating.

You’re paying for this experience. These views. How can you put a price on that?

My first room here was on Kirkwood Mountain. Dorm style—three bedrooms with a bunkbed in each, one “living” room, two bathrooms. Tiny kitchen. Nice to be able to walk to work, but being stuck on this mountain for days in the dead of winter is not something I want to endure. That, combined with the inevitable party culture, do not translate into a healthy lifestyle for this guy. Know thyself.

That was a temporary room until my spot in South Lake Tahoe opened up (thirty miles away). The new digs? Old-as-hell-motel turned employee housing. Two beds in an open room with concrete flooring. A bathroom. No roommate, currently. The house/office that’s connected to the building serves as a community space for the potential thirty-some tenants. Living room, dining room, double kitchen. I’ll share a lockbox with my roommate, and share a fridge with ten or more others. There are dogs. The heater sort of works.

But these hikes though.

Despite the less than ideal room, I feel that at this point in my life, I can handle any living arrangement. Any level of amenities. And I’ve certainly lived with less this year. The money will come when it comes, as will a ton of workers and tourists. Until then, I need to be at peace with this extension of free time. Work on the project. Explore the area.

Commune with nature.

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson