2025 Q1

In less than a month, on May 1, I will fly to India for my big expedition of 2025. A quarter into 2025, I have ticked off almost no items of my 2025 bucket list, yet my life has taken shape in ways more fulfilling than what I imagined for myself a few months ago.

The process of publishing the bucket list made me realize that I cared more about securing a source of income than any item on it. I initiated the process of joining the Sailors Union of the Pacific as an ordinary sailor. Each day I also applied to dozens of temporary jobs including yacht technician, bike mechanic, and content creator. Failing to gain traction with that, I started biking around Seattle to visit businesses in person that were hiring.

After hustling for a month and not landing even a minimum wage job, I leaned into adventures, which you can read about in my five-part series. A week after climbing Glacier Peak with Eric Gilbertson in February, I volunteered to set up a skimo race at Alpental where I met a guy named Ted. We instantly connected and talked about life as we planted sticks in the snow to mark the race course.

Ted studied computer science in college in the midwest and then worked on boats at sea where he met his now-wife. He followed her out to Seattle and worked as a yacht mechanic for a couple years before going into IT. He now works remotely for a company based out of Boston that manages steam system while raising two young kids with his wife. At one point, he asked if I would ever go back to software engineering. I told him, “Honestly, I just don’t see it happening for myself. I’m pretty committed to doing extended adventures and haven’t found any software engineering jobs that would work with that.”

We exchanged numbers, and he asked me to send him my resume. A couple days later he called me with an offer to work with him as a contractor. He told me, “We want you to take over our mobile app from a team in India: fix bugs and add new features. We’ll pay you hourly. You can work as much or as little as you want. We know you do long adventures and that you’re going to India. That’s fine as long as you prepare us before you go.”

Ted asked if I wanted to think about it, but I couldn’t think of anything to think about. Ted had described a job that fit perfectly into my life. I accepted over the phone. For additional context, even REI, a company supposedly built around adventure, passed on hiring me as a minimum wage bike mechanic because I’m leaving for India May 1. By the time Ted offered me the role, I had already curbed my enthusiasm™ and resigned myself to a life of frugal austerity until shipping off on a military supply ship as an Ordinary Sailor.

I started working for Ted the Monday after he called, and overnight the biggest problem in my life shifted from boredom to stress. Since starting, I’ve been in a non-stop race to balance training, expedition logistics, my job, fixing my car, and trying to go on dates. The best part about the new situation though is that I definitely chose it for myself and am well aware of the alternatives to it. The additional life context of seeing lots of hungry people in Africa has helped me not get too stressed out about app bugs.

In another gift from the universe, a room I used to rent in Fremont will become available on May 1. My old housemates asked if I wanted to move back in. My first reaction was, “No way Jose I’m flying to India the same day it opens!”

But, then I remembered the worst part of my Forrest Gump run through Canada: returning to Seattle without a home and finding that the adventure didn’t have an off switch. I was still couch-surfing and even living out of the baby stroller! A week after finishing the run, I flew back to the east coast and stayed with my parents for a month.

Similarly, after my Africa run, I stayed with my parents for a month before going back to Seattle with no home or job this past December. I’ve gotten so used to constant adventure: building a life, tearing it down, building it back again, that I’d forgotten there are other modes of existing.

I may or may not have announced on my blog (can’t remember) that I’m now framing my adventure project as: 1000 miles every continent by 2028. (I got excited about this mission because I realized I already have 2 out of 7 done— North America and Africa.) If I gotta do this five more times, I might as well invest in home. “Life is best organized as a series of daring ventures from a secure base” - John Bolby.

In addition to added stability, I’m anticipating added love. Digression: I used to think that I’d commit to and grow old with only my romantic partner. But, now I think about growing old, not only with a romantic partner, but my entire community. Lukas, Daniel, and I talk intentionally about our friendship as a committed long-term relationship. We support each other and hold each other accountable to our goals on a daily basis. In fact, my friendship with Lukas and Daniel has likely been the most important development for me in my 20s (including the adventures) and opened my eyes to the possible ways of connecting and relating to others in the world.

With Tally, Tiara, and Julie, I see an exciting opportunity to give up some control over my own life and allow myself to be influenced by people who I love and admire in an environment we create together. Yesterday, Tally and I sealed the deal: I will “move-in” May 1, the same day I fly out.

So, if YOU or someone you know has a desire to experience a storied Seattle Summer between May and August in a beautiful house on top of a hill overlooking the Olympics to the west and the Cascades to the east with beautiful housemates, then please let me know. You can email olly.k.cohen@gmail.com. It would be a shame to let that room sit empty while I’m in India.

Right after committing to the lease, we went to see Sandro open for Tamino. The show brought me to tears. Sandro stood alone on stage, singing with a guitar. The performance reminded me that great artists don’t show off their talent, they use it to share their humanity. With great power, comes great responsibility.

I’m very happy about Cory Booker’s speech. He’s my new favorite endurance athlete. We ultra-runners ought to take notes… 25 hours without a pis!!