Balance of work and play makes all the difference in the world. Having been on the road for the last nine months and kiting on two sides of the Pacific, two sides of the Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean, Gulf of Mexico, Sea of Cortez and soon to be coming home. As amazing as this trip has been I have to say there is no place like home. I can't wait to hook into a few projects, because all play gets old after a while.
When I took up kiting I changed the way I contracted my work. I put a high wind clause in and was up front with all my clients. I would never leave anyone in a precarious position and just bail, but I would manage it so I was ready to hit it when it was on. No one complained because it was all up front and they expected it. I also produced better work because I was stoked all the time. Now I don't have to work any more. I run my kite school in the summer and find projects to keep me amused and challenged. I don't have millions in the bank, but I don't need that either. We keep our life reasonably simple. We make choices every day. Make your choice and let it start to unfold piece by piece, and sooner rather than later you will become what you want your lifestyle to be. You have to dream first before you can live the dream.

dafish said..
When I took up kiting I changed the way I contracted my work. I put a high wind clause in and was up front with all my clients.

High wind clause

This was such a cool read !!
Would love to know your decision if u can post it someday?
Self employment/managers flexibility is the key
Follow yr water passions dive kite whatever dont waste time in life. Got involved with an unflexible 9-5 office wrker or two..they brainwash u..its a sad existence..owned two houses.never again...u can allways liquidate.all this was such a cool read-thanks.the only constant in life is change
My plan is to buy a yacht..moor up on that and never see a plastic bag again..

I work predominantly from home (I am paid for sending a few emails and making some phone calls, essentially ) and home is across the street from one of the most popular spots in WA and the country. I can sneak out for a quick lunch session or morning session in winter (gold) or an early arvo session, or even better a sunset session as I don't have to worry about driving back etc.
I also had 2 years off after I was made redundant. Wasn't that enjoyable however as I had to think about what to do next i.e. where the money will come from. First 6 months were fun though.
The crazy thing is that when I was younger I would have killed for having all this. Now that life is perfect (minus the mortgage, but let's face it renting a proper house is not an alternative solution either) I get picky and complain about too many kiters out, the wind not being perfect etc.
When I recovered from an annoying inujry and jumped onto a surfboard for the first time after a 6-9 month break, this is when I got the stoke back, and even though I was just cruising and not doing much it was thoroughly enjoyable. Just like those first months/years when you start kiting.
Also, when you are busy and only get out from time to time, then I realised the enjoyment is actually higher than if you can go out whenever you want. Kind of weird. All a matter of the right dose I guess. 1st world problems I know

Plummet said..
This thread is indeed very interesting.

It seems that the blokes that are the happiest are dudes that have managed to find work that is flexible and a location that is within minutes of work and beach allowing them to milk the wind as much as practical.

Live at beach, work 20 minutes away, only took 28 years to get the work flexibility, yep pretty happy with my lot, caught the last 3 seabreezes by finishing work early to get the wind and tides

CJ2478 said...
Any civil engineers out there who have the work:life ratio in check? If so, what is your strategy?

I know one flies regularly...ten times a month P to exmouth...not big three week 'on' shifts...so he gets exm after work and P after wrk too... only met a few times through kiting/windsurf wa ... was an iko instr too when a civ eng student. Plenty of sessions..there we go

I used to be a chemical engineer but this summer I'm bartending at Cottesloe Beach so I can kite almost every day! I have time to do a downwinder then hop on the upwinder van back up before work through the week Monday-Friday. During the week I'm less busy and free to kite when the water and beaches are less busy.

I have to an extra 700 hours a year for no extra pay ... That cuts into my kiting time way to much. Now I'm looking at taking a 50k pay cut to increase my potential kiting time to a thousand extra hours.... .It used to be money now think later. Now it's think now money later!

diamond2001 said..
I have to an extra 700 hours a year for no extra pay ...

That's ***ed up

Ive worked my nuts off kiting here recently