Big Holidays, Big Dreams – July 4th In Review

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Big holidays are easy to remember and provide a great yardstick  for me to measure my life.

I might not remember where I was April 18^th, but I can pretty easily list off where I was the last few July 4th’s (American Independence Day):

Last July 4^th, Meg and I were in Berlin.

The 4^th before that, we were in Miami.

The 4^th before that, we were also in Miami.

The 4^th before THAT… we were in San Francisco getting engaged (fireworks on top of fireworks… am I right?).

And before that, we were in Boston.

So what does this tell me?

Well… we sure bounce around a lot!

We were in none of these places for a vacation. The one destination that comes closest was Berlin last year, but we we were there for a month as part of our year-long around the world adventure.

Because these dates stick out so much and are tied to such different destinations, I also remember what my biggest goals were in those moments.

Where I Was

Boston: Finishing the first year of my first job after college as a financial analyst for a big national bank. Meg is working as a business management consultant and traveling all over the country. I want to do well in my job, spend more time with Meg, and save money.

San Francisco: I am in my bank’s five month training program that only a few analysts are accepted into. I want to succeed in the program, get placed in a fun city once the training is complete, and have Meg marry me… so I propose. Spoilers: She said yes

Miami: Helping grow a new office and managing my first real corporate responsibility as I have large customers and sales goals to meet. Meg is now my wife, we spend every weekend at our building’s pool or at the beach, and I begin to wonder what is next?

Miami: Still working in my bank’s Miami office, I have been dealing with office turmoil as there is a fair amount of turnover. Keeping my head down, Meg and I finalize our plans to spend all of 2012 traveling the world.

Berlin: Half way into our year-long journey, I could not be happier. We have made some incredible new friends and redefined what we are passionate about. We begin brainstorming business opportunities and working overtime to grow this site.

When I look at my last few July 4th’s in this way, I can see that the person I was in Boston could never have predicted where or who I would be in Berlin. But I also see that each year gave me new goals and skills to help me arrive at the next destination.

I was saving money way back in Boston by living with my parents and limiting my weekend bar trips. Why? No major reason that I knew of, but I wanted to be prepared. For what? I had no idea about that either. But it eventually came in extra convenient when we wanted to travel.

I applied to my bank’s credit training program when I was a financial analyst and was accepted. I saw it as the next step in my corporate career, but I can see now it was my first step towards learning to live anywhere and be comfortable with change. Plus, it afforded me the opportunity to propose to Meg on top of an apartment building while watching fireworks explode over the bay… badass.

Living in Miami gave me even more confidence that I could live anywhere. No friends. No family. But Meg and I had some great experiences making the city our own.

Where Am I Going To Be Next Year?

Who knows! And that’s the fun of it.

How about you?

Where you last July 4^th?  Where are you going to be next year?