People you know with very interesting lives

[lovemeblender]

I spent a few hours in a large bookshop recently perusing many books, and it struck me there were loads of "following a diagnosis of depression, Anna woke up one morning and decided to trek the Appalachian trail/cycle across Asia - alone, with no money and no map" type of books. I'm sure there's always more to the story (Salt path!) but it struck me that I don't know anyone who has done something like this. I know people with what I would describe as having fulfilling lives, but they all have jobs, mortgages and families. Buggering off to set up a gecko rescue centre in Zakynthos is not an option.
Please regale me with tales of the most interesting person you know.

I know:

• An amazing ethnographic photographer travels around Africa and just produces amazing work.
• An anthropologist who researches unrecorded migrant deaths in Spain.
• A chap who spends all his time ‘conquering’ mountains (he’s a bit of an idiot).
• Lots of campaigners and people who run fantastic NGOs.
• An inventor (friend’s dad, absolute genius)
• A high fashion photographer.
• A sitcom writer (whether or not this is interesting is a matter of opinion)

Possibly more, but that’s all I can think of right now.

I want to be in your circle group!

I know a couple who went off to be missionaries in Asia.

I know lots of people with interesting lives. A lot of it is because they have interesting jobs, though, or have jobs designed to fund the thing they really care about. I know a forensic archaeologist who has worked on a lot of high-profile crime cases, someone who does extreme ultramarathons (like in the Sahara or the Arctic) and is also rewilding a country estate, a guy who divides his time between studying to be a Buddhist monk in Ireland and being a mountain guide in the Alps, someone restoring a decommissioned lighthouse, a former enclosed nun who now makes cider, an artist who makes works involving rust in Arizona, someone who runs a very cool music festival. A novelist friend has just walked a pilgrim route in Japan over three months for a book.

I know lots of people, but I don’t view interesting as limited to travel. I know volcanologists, brain surgeons, judges and other top professionals. I know people who have travelled widely or started charities. People with niche hobbies and knowledge. I knew someone who worked on the Treaty of Rome. Someone who dived with sharks.

I think most people have interesting lives, in the context of what they choose to do.

The interesting women I know are all child free . For some child free by choice but not all.

My theory is they have used their time on earth to fully explore their many talents.

I agree that being interest certainly isn't limited to travel, and I do know people with interesting (and very fulfilling) jobs. I don't know anyone though who has just been able to up sticks and clear off for 3 months at a time.

That doesn't surprise me, it's only now my youngest is nearly an adult that I can really pursue my interests properly, without guilt.