2007 is gone now. I don't mind. We had some good times, but it was time for 2007 to say adios.
So, once again it is time to evaluate my life and decide how to make it better.
In
last year's New Year blog I defended 'New Year's Resolutions', so I won't bother to do it again.
Last year went pretty good. I must say, I like the "event oriented" resolutions where if you do it, you win. Here are examples from last year:
Get a job.
Buy a new car.
Get an iPod.
I did all of those within the first quarter of the year. In fact, right now I am at work, listening to my iPod and... well, my car is in sight of me. So.. I win! HA! But the life-change resolutions are a bit more difficult. Last year's:
Do More Stuff.
Read More.
Learn More.
Meet More People.
Some of those I did better than others. I didn't really do much more. I didn't realize how much a job cuts into your free time. But at the same time I did plenty of things. I climbed to the tops of 11 distinct peaks. I was also on many other trips where there was no summit attained. So, I did stuff, just not as much as I had hoped.
I read more than usual, but still not a whole lot. I just finished Ed Viesturs book "No Shortcuts to the top" a few weeks ago and started reading "Into Thin Air". I could stand to do more still.
I have learned a lot, about the world, about politics, about history, and about myself. None of it was formal though. Does it count? Sure. I really don't know if I will get back to school this year or not, so I won't make it a resolution.
I did meet people. I should still do it more though.
So, what is in store this year? I will categorize:
CLIMB
I climbed 11 peaks in 2007. That's not even one a month. So, in 2008, I will climb at least 1 peak every month! Many months I will do more, but I will do at least 1. January holds Lone Peak in it's sights.
Along with peaks, I want to get back into technical rock. I just bought a membership to Momentum, the climbing gym next to REI in Sandy. This will be great for me (despite the steep price). I plan to get there very often to climb, or work on the machines. I know, I know... a New Year's resolution about going to the gym. How original. BUT this is different. Most people's involve "Looking Better". Well, I'm fine with my appearance (obviously... did you see that beard?). This is about being in the best physical condition of my life so that I will be a stronger a climber than I have ever been. And monthly goals will definitely help this. Lone Peak in the winter is a beast. It is difficult in the summer! So, you will see me at the gym fairly often getting myself ready physically so that I can make the summit, not slow anyone down, not be the cause of incident, and if needed, be of help to another in need while in the wild. I don't care what my abs look like, but if I need them in a life or death situation, I want to be able to depend on them.
I'll probably throw another blog up that is just my climbing goals for the year.
MONEY
Okay, It's true. I suck with money. I really shouldn't have bought that gym membership. Or a lot of other stuff... I don't quite have a financial plan worked out, but I will do one.
It's not as bad as it seems. Mainly, I spend just a little too much to save money. I am in a minor amount of Credit Card debt that could disappear pretty fast if I... stop buying stuff. But I don't have savings. If a rainy day comes, I'm hosed... or more correctly, I'm going to have to go into a lot more credit card debt.
So, no savings, a little debt. But I'm confident that around the 1 year mark (Feb 14) of getting my car, I will be able to refinance and get rid of my co-signers. Hopefully I will get a better rate too.
Well, I really can't think of anything else right now, other than the same Do More Stuff, Read More, Learn More, Meet More People thing from last year. I'll post again if something else comes to mind. New Year's is the time we all think about this, but it can't be the only time we change ourselves, throw out the old, and bring in something new and good.
