[NewYawka]

Here i sit. A life long New York City resident who just turned thirty.
Aside from the familiarity of what i already know, it seems that only a handful of good friends and riding buddies (some are both) give me reason to stay where i have been all along. And yes, i do love our technical riding. A lot.
I find myself now at a turning point:
Single
No family to fall back on.
No family that needs me here.
No debt that cannot be managed
Lacking a college degree but know what i would study should i go back
A long time bike shop employee, a damn good one at that, who now finds himself no longer in a bike shop for the first time since high school.
Enough saved that i could float, for a bit, if needed.
I have always admired those that seem able to just go and start somewhere new, or continue a passion somewhere else and just live life with only the minimal amount of planning realistically needed.
It is something i have always said i want to to do but i hold myself back for all the reasons in the world. There have been many. Now, maybe the only reason to stay would be to stay in the familiarity and play it safe. Again. Try to make it work here for me, again. Hope it works for me, again. Knowing inside i will always wonder what would have happened if...
Bend Oregon is calling me and I want to listen.
What would you do in my clipless shoes? What did you do when you were in your yours?

 

[BigBill]

First I would switch to platform pedals & five ten impact shoes. Then I would run, not walk to Bend OR and kill the McKenzie River trail! Then I would drop a grand on flyfishing gear and catch the tail end of the winter Steelhead run on the Rogue river. Then I would get a season pass to Mt. Bachelor for next ski season as soon as they went on sale.

NYC is a rad place to visit. The mountains are a good place to call home.

 

[CraigCreekRider]

If Bend called me personally, I would listen. That's a great area.

 

[lowendrick]

As a life-long NewYawka who moved out at 30, I say go for it. If you don't like it, you can always move back. I've gotten really comfortable living in rural-surburbia 'bout an hour and half from the city. Much easier living and the trail is only a rideable mile from the house. But, I often wish I would've moved further. Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico. You only live once.

 

[Dirt_hog]

You have to do it. The only regrets you'll ever have in life is not taking any risks. Do it!

 

[Shuteye]

A bad ass sawcut to my arm (2 surgeries and 5 months of physical therapy) sent me back to school at 30 years of age to get a degree in physical therapy. I was going for my contacter's license at the time, running a framing crew, drinking lots of beer. I have never looked back. I'm older, love mountain biking, love helping my patients get well (or accept what they have been dealt) and enjoy drinking a wee bit of wine.

You are obviously a thinker and intelligent. You also have enough of your life left to invest it in something. Do what you gotta do, bro. Just don't end up an old grizzled loser.

 

[steve32300]

There's one thing about familiarity,and that is that it is the same thing no matter how you look at it,over and over and over.Use common sense,keep your feet on the ground and realize that this is America and your supposed to get out and see the country on your mtn bike.................If you dont,one of those freinds will.I got a buddy and he goes everywhere,from germany,spain,canada,asia,florida,california,chicago,blah blah blah,wish I was getting to see all of those places........

 

[electrik]

Do something.

 

[electrik]

Anything!

 

[p.doering]

Life is too short and the world is too big, to spend it all in one place. Move far and often.

 

[SeaBass_]

Go West, Young Man!

 

[All_talk]

I don’t really consider myself old enough to give life advice, but somewhere between age 30 and my current 41 I came to realize that the only regrets I could see on the horizon were the result of fear and self limitation. Only you can stop you from being who you want to be. Be responsible, follow the golden rule and do what you want.

Gary

 

[Shark]

You have to do it. The only regrets you'll ever have in life is not taking any risks. Do it!

This:thumbsup:

 

[Nenbran]

It's never too late to learn something new and get a new lease of life...unless you tell yourself otherwise.

As far as dropping a grand of fly fishing gear...that's the best advice I've heard in awhile. (Though it can be done for far less than one grand. :thumbsup

And get out and meet people. I know this doesn't really compare, but the previous semester (my first in college) I met hardly anybody. I felt like my life was spiraling downhill fast...I had just broken up with my girlfriend of a year and a half, I had no family within several hours of me, I had next to no friends...it wasn't pretty. And that, I'm sure, pales in comparison to what you're going through. But I've started making friends, and all of a sudden I have a booming social life and I've even gotten into training for marathons and triathlons...something I never thought I'd be able to do. So just go somewhere new, meet new people, build new skills and never give up. You've got this, my friend.

 

[michaelsnead]

The Road is Calling!

Here i sit. A life long New York City resident who just turned thirty.
Aside from the familiarity of what i already know, it seems that only a handful of good friends and riding buddies (some are both) give me reason to stay where i have been all along. And yes, i do love our technical riding. A lot.
I find myself now at a turning point:
Single
No family to fall back on.
No family that needs me here.
No debt that cannot be managed
Lacking a college degree but know what i would study should i go back
A long time bike shop employee, a damn good one at that, who now finds himself no longer in a bike shop for the first time since high school.
Enough saved that i could float, for a bit, if needed.
I have always admired those that seem able to just go and start somewhere new, or continue a passion somewhere else and just live life with only the minimal amount of planning realistically needed.
It is something i have always said i want to to do but i hold myself back for all the reasons in the world. There have been many. Now, maybe the only reason to stay would be to stay in the familiarity and play it safe. Again. Try to make it work here for me, again. Hope it works for me, again. Knowing inside i will always wonder what would have happened if...
Bend Oregon is calling me and I want to listen.
What would you do in my clipless shoes? What did you do when you were in your yours?

Hey Mr. Yawka,

You don't need us to tell you to do something you clearly already want to do. Enjoy the ride and see where it takes you!

Take care, have fun and be safe,

Michael:thumbsup:

 

[PatrickK]

I hear you man... We have lived in Yonkers, NY for 6 years and would love to move (we are Europeans). I have to commute to Midtown everyday and it is PITA even though I take Metro North. We have been thiniking about going West as well. We are quite sociable but since we do not drink, do not have cable (only internet) work full time and then have a small business on the side and love to bike most people find our lifestyle quite bizarre. So do not despair. Wife is currently going to college (physician asistant) so we are stuck for the time being.

If I was you I would take a long deserved vacations and go West for for weeks.

 

[onbelaydave]

I can only reiterate what everyone else has said about your life decisions.

The only thing I might add is this..Why the H would you choose Bend :madman:

Of all places W of Old Man River, Bend is near the Arm Pit of the west.

 

[Expat-in-Asia]

What'd I do? I moved as far from my comfort zone as possible, both physically and mentally.

After finishing an engineering degree in 2002 and feeling wanderlust creeping up, I moved to Java, Indonesia. (was from Michigan)

What started as a one year trip, turned into 9 years of adventure that I wouldn't trade for anything. I'm now based in Manila, Philippines.

I'm just getting back into biking after too-long hiatus. This is my first post on mtbr, as I tip-toe back into the world as a newbie once again.

I documented most of my travels through writing and photography. If you're keen to know more of my story, here's my blog (promise it's not spam): http://www.thejavajive.com/blog

I realize you may not want such a drastic change, but what a world-warping experience it is to leave your own country and experience other cultures, language, food, and people. Nothing else like it. At the end of my life I now know that I'll never have to wonder, "what-if?" and isn't that what it's all about?

Cheers

 

[akura]

To me it sounds like you've already made up your mind.

There's nothing stopping you, so do what you want to do. If it doesn't work out you can always go back.

 

[MendonCycleSmith]

Just my two cents, and nothing against the west, but you could try upstate NY first as it's right in your back yard. The Adirondacks offer supreme wilderness, small towns, and good people. Saranac Lake comes to mind.

If you find your itch scratched after a season or a year, you haven't spent all your cash figuring it out and getting there.

Go get it.