I first alluded to my philosophy of life in my blog post “Strong Finish”. Life analogy to a basketball game based on four 20 year quarters (Downloadable PDF of Philosophy). First Quarter: Grow up, Second Quarter: Find your passion, Third Quarter: Pay your dues, Fourth Quarter: Return to your passion. And then hope for Overtime. My book: “A New Path, Finding My Passion in America’s Wilderness” provides a glimpse of how I entered my Fourth Quarter. But what about the search that took place throughout my Second Quarter? Sure I did some backpacking in Colorado, however, my passion was really about pursuing life’s adventure which now tends to manifest itself in backpacking treks. But how did that adventuresome spirit evolve?

I did grow up in my First Quarter, primarily in Lafayette, IN, with all the opportunities and inspirations of a typical midwestern city during a healthy period for our country. I grew up with the Vietnam conflict shaping our nation, so possibly not having my draft number called motivated my appreciation of life. When I look back on my Second Quarter during the 70s, 80s and into the 90s. I am amazed at the adventure that was compiled.

I married Connie who was a willing participant in the adventure. We started a family with an adopted son and then 2 homemade girls, moved about 20 times and had many jobs. It was not normal by any means and it was dotted with many landmark events.

Why write about my life? Yes, some people might find my search for adventure somewhat interesting, but mostly I would write about it for my own interests. Memoirs for my children and theirs. A guarantee that I will be able to remember it all. And probably the real reason is to give me something to do. So at least initially I will start this documentation with some posts that I will share via this page, after that I have no idea where this may go.

Summer of 73, Indy 500 and Secretariat

On the verge of entering my Second Quarter, my summer of 1973 opened my eyes to the importance of adventure in my life.

Leaving Indiana 76

Ending my college time at Indiana University in 1976 highlighted by the Hoosier Basketball NCAA Championship and then I was off to Colorado as a Presbyterian Missionary and having the all to real experience of the Big Thompson Flood.

Rabbit Ears Lodge

My missionary job was ending and I needed a job. Lucky for me the Adventure Continued with the opportunity to be the maintenance man for the beautiful Rabbit Ears Lodge located between Kremling and Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Steamboat Springs Ski Bum

Needing a job and a place to live, I landed just up the road in Steamboat Springs with the another maintenance man job at the Holiday Inn. I never really got to be a ski bum though, it did not snow in the Colorado Mountains during the 76/77 winter.

Move to Colorado

Steamboat Ski Resort closed and I made plans for Connie and I to move to Denver. Connie started to adapt to Colorado and I found myself in a strange job as a chemist. The groundwork was being laid to end up in Boulder to finish my degree.

Boulder Colorado

Boulder is a college town in a beautiful setting next to the Flatiron foothills, but in the summer of 77 it had its own post Vietnam era independent vibe. Connie and I truly enjoyed living the good life in Boulder.

Snow Mountain Ranch

I ended up as a maintenance man again at the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch near Winter Park, CO. This was a brief Adventure in very beautiful part of the Rockies as I was considering how my career needed to get started.

Colorado-Ute Chemist

I got a job as a chemist for Colorado-Ute’s Power Plants in Craig, CO. This was the beginning of my various professional careers but this was also out on the frontier a bit.

NIPSCO – Life Changing Time

I decided to advance my career as a chemist by applying for jobs with more opportunity. Somehow I ended up in Northern Indiana working at NIPSCO’s Mitchell Power Station.

Scientific Frontiers Computer Business

The microcomputer revolution was beginnings and I wanted to be a part of it. I also needed to return to my beloved Steamboat Springs to do it.

Oil Shale with Union Oil

The opportunity to program the computers for Union Oil’s Parachute Creek Shale Oil operation was another great Adventure.

Start a Family in Steamboat Springs

Fulfilled the legend of the Yampa Valley returning to Steamboat Springs as an IT Professional. Started our family and solidified a deep Wilderness love.

AM San Francisco

The acclimation to California and a job with Hewlett-Packard was unique in many ways, but an appearance on the TV Show “AM San Francisco” topped it off.

California

The three years spent in the SF Bay Area working for Hewlett-Packard solidified my Professional passion. But the Loma Prieta Earthquake was disruptive.

I still want more, so…

The Adventure Continues

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