Josh Hammett’s Epiphany

All in all, since stepping away from work last August, I have been thoroughly enjoying life and pretty much doing whatever I want:

• I took my first train ride

• I got a job 2 days a week working at a doggy day car

• We’ve been building Legos and playing Minecraft like cRaZy

• I also took some ASE testing and passed

• I’m working with a master carpenter since wood working has always interested me

• I devote 8 hours a week to reading books and learning 3D design

• I write articles for trade magazines

• I produce training videos in my field and publish them on YouTube

• I do some consulting every now and again for the company I have been working for…

It all started when me and Heather, my partner in crime and shenanigans, took a road trip on the motorcycle. It was probably the best thing I have done in my life so far.

During the ride through Wyoming to Mt. Rushmore, we were fighting 30+ MPH crosswinds and decided to stop at a rest area in the middle of nowhere and refuel with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, jerky, and some coffee! This picture I think really tells a great story; our bike is in the background.

Along the way, we found an old 1961 Corvair pickup in a field where it had sat since the 70's. We brought it home and this truck received everything new, from the headlights to the tail lights… everything was rebuilt. I did all the work myself, except the seat upholstery, and the best part was, contrary to what everyone said (except my dad – thank goodness for Dads!), we restored it without hardly any issues.

This past summer, we decided we were going to drive it to the red wood forest, the Gulf Stream waters, and as many National Parks as we could hit along the way. Anyway, when you cover 4,000 miles at a top speed of 63 mph, you have a lot of time to think about life and what you really want to do with it. Along the way we only had to replace a brand new fuel pump (thank goodness for FedEx) and we rebuilt a generator that was original to 1961 somewhere in Oregon.

During the drive, Heather and I had several long talks about me taking some time off and reclaiming my life. Well, we finally made it to the red wood forests

and camped out in the ol’ rampside Corvair pickup, then drove to the Pacific Ocean, and along our adventure, the three of us (maybe four, counting the Corvair), were able to reconnect with each other and redefine what really matters most in this brief life we live: family... simply family, our loved ones, those who mean the most to us. Not career, not status, not things; just the love that only families can shared.

Our son’s name is Michael and he just turned 12. He’s a whole other great story; he was never expected to make it past 2 and if he did, he was supposed to be a vegetable! He suffers from a number of complications from being born at something crazy like 16 weeks! He’s my step son and I feel like he has been one of the biggest influences on my life. This kid takes nothing for granted and lives life to the fullest. Part of his complications makes it impossible to tell lies, feel sad, and other stuff like that… but, is that really “impairment”?

Shouldn’t we all try to live a little more like that?

So, so far the sabbatical has been fantastic! Sure, there are a few things that get sacrificed, like cable and eating out, but how much do you really miss those things when you have time to do what matters most and on your own schedule?

Next June, we’re leaving on another motorcycle trip and hope to be back home by September. This time we’ll be touring east of the Mississippi. Hopefully, we’ll will be back soon…like September but, even if I am not - know that I am out enjoying the crap out of life!

So that’s our story! Thanks for giving me an avenue to share it with great people.