Feeding the Need
Ten years before my fiftieth birthday, I hatched a plan. I wanted to reward myself for reaching that iconic milestone. The way things were lining up, fifty would be the year I wrote my last tuition check for my daughters’ educations. Supposing I’d still be in good health, I started dreaming of a sabbatical as a reward for the sacrifices my wife and I made while rearing two delightful children. Through all the iterations of those dreams, one thing remained constant… the sabbatical would involve one of my very favorite activities: travel . A Kerouacian road trip, perhaps. Or a hike up the Pacific Coast Trail. Or a voyage down to Antarctica. Through the years, other reasons began to emerge that started fueling the need for a sabbatical. Most notably, work. Recently, my company has been on a magical tear – one of the finest ten year stretches in the company’s 167 year history. Heavy growth has nearly tripled our ...