March 30th, 2024: Greetings from Austin! Today’s post is one from a fellow dad and early friend on my pathless path, Jeff Hittner. We first connected after I quit my job in New York and ended up doing a podcast episode more than five years ago on career myths
So interesting, Charity! I can’t wait to dive into some of your writing. I’ve noticed so many of the fathers that I coach so willing to build visions around their career and work but when it comes to doing the same for their life as father or more broadly their family (beyond materialism) they are stuck, or afraid. There’s a lot of social conditioning to unravel.
Mar 30·edited Mar 30Liked by Paul Millerd, Jeff Hittner
WOW, I'm in a totally different life stage as you, Jeff, but it was really moving to read your experience in Valencia.
Something I really needed to look at this city in a long-term perspective.
In the beginning of March, I moved to Valencia to finally start a new life chapter, settle down and therefore, to end my 2-year-long turbulent period of finding myself and a desired life environment.
But, on the day I moved, I had a motorbike accident, broke my ankle, and while the Spanish healthcare was pretty good so far, I have to move back to my home country for surgery and 6-8-week long recovery.
I'm gutted but now trying to envision the future in Valencia that will, finally, happen in the summer, if all goes well.
Since I haven't experienced too much from the city in this past month, I always had some doubtful moments if I'm in the right place, but I know that the accident and its aftermath mainly impact those thoughts.
Reading your experience - and all those other expats living in Spain - reassures me that I am (and will be) in the right place.
Hope to meet you, once I'm back! :) Perhaps we could do a Pathless Path meetup in Valencia? :)
Your story is very inspiring, Jeff! I write about deep Existential Revolutions just like the ones you describe. More people need to start setting these kinds of boundaries around their work to protect their family time or we'll never reach a critical mass where we can start reorganizing our workplaces to prioritize human relationships over work.
Great to see you on here Jeff and glad to see your project is moving and can't wait to dig into your newsletter. Massive hug and I may be down in your parts in June.
Thank you Jeff for introducing me to "Double days" - I never had a simple phrase for how to explain this phenomenon.
I've been in BCN for 5 years always working with US clients and I love the schedule. Whenever I'm back in the US visiting family I feel so rushed in the mornings. Being able to work on my own personal projects up until 2PM has been a god send.
I can coast through my zoom calls in the afternoon while I pour most of my mental energy into creative endeavors in the morning hours.
It also helps that in Spain they don't have dinner until late so by the time I wrap up my meetings I can still enjoy an evening out with friends if I choose to do so.
What a cool time we're living in, geo-arbitrage is so fun :)
This is great to hear. I'm a Ghanaian immigrant living in Spain. But I have left to the UK, although I’m still a resident there. The reason being that I couldn't see a way there to bring my ideas into fruition over there. But leaving there to live here and comparing the difference between the two countries, I'll choose to live in Spain every day. And it’s what I'm going to do when I'm done with what I'm doing here in the UK; return. So, yes! It's a great choice you've made for your family for tranquility and a relaxed life, Jeffrey...
So interesting, Charity! I can’t wait to dive into some of your writing. I’ve noticed so many of the fathers that I coach so willing to build visions around their career and work but when it comes to doing the same for their life as father or more broadly their family (beyond materialism) they are stuck, or afraid. There’s a lot of social conditioning to unravel.
WOW, I'm in a totally different life stage as you, Jeff, but it was really moving to read your experience in Valencia.
Something I really needed to look at this city in a long-term perspective.
In the beginning of March, I moved to Valencia to finally start a new life chapter, settle down and therefore, to end my 2-year-long turbulent period of finding myself and a desired life environment.
But, on the day I moved, I had a motorbike accident, broke my ankle, and while the Spanish healthcare was pretty good so far, I have to move back to my home country for surgery and 6-8-week long recovery.
I'm gutted but now trying to envision the future in Valencia that will, finally, happen in the summer, if all goes well.
Since I haven't experienced too much from the city in this past month, I always had some doubtful moments if I'm in the right place, but I know that the accident and its aftermath mainly impact those thoughts.
Reading your experience - and all those other expats living in Spain - reassures me that I am (and will be) in the right place.
Hope to meet you, once I'm back! :) Perhaps we could do a Pathless Path meetup in Valencia? :)
Your story is very inspiring, Jeff! I write about deep Existential Revolutions just like the ones you describe. More people need to start setting these kinds of boundaries around their work to protect their family time or we'll never reach a critical mass where we can start reorganizing our workplaces to prioritize human relationships over work.
Great to see you on here Jeff and glad to see your project is moving and can't wait to dig into your newsletter. Massive hug and I may be down in your parts in June.
Thank you Jeff for introducing me to "Double days" - I never had a simple phrase for how to explain this phenomenon.
I've been in BCN for 5 years always working with US clients and I love the schedule. Whenever I'm back in the US visiting family I feel so rushed in the mornings. Being able to work on my own personal projects up until 2PM has been a god send.
I can coast through my zoom calls in the afternoon while I pour most of my mental energy into creative endeavors in the morning hours.
It also helps that in Spain they don't have dinner until late so by the time I wrap up my meetings I can still enjoy an evening out with friends if I choose to do so.
What a cool time we're living in, geo-arbitrage is so fun :)
Thank you so much for sharing this. As opposed to many people's thinking, having a child made me want to be more "pathless," not less!
This is great to hear. I'm a Ghanaian immigrant living in Spain. But I have left to the UK, although I’m still a resident there. The reason being that I couldn't see a way there to bring my ideas into fruition over there. But leaving there to live here and comparing the difference between the two countries, I'll choose to live in Spain every day. And it’s what I'm going to do when I'm done with what I'm doing here in the UK; return. So, yes! It's a great choice you've made for your family for tranquility and a relaxed life, Jeffrey...
Great post, Jeff!
My brother moved from DC to Murcia, Spain since he too wanted that change of lifestyle. I loved seeing his beach life.
He recently moved to Costa Rica and is hopeful that it will be a similar pace but a bit closer to us in ATL.
Thanks for sharing your unique experience.