About me
GreenWanderer has heard the call to adventure and is embarking on a “Hero’s Journey“.
My name is Jay Bruce. I am a 55-year-old Information Technology (IT) Architect, responsible for a portfolio of DB2 for z/OS Tools at IBM in Silicon Valley. I am also a cyclist, a sailor and a spiritually conscious, pesco-vegetarian, environmentalist.
A few years ago, I realized that I wanted to do something more with my life than contribute to shareholder value at a large corporation. I dreamed of sailing to the South Pacific, the Mediterranean and other exotic destinations. I yearned to cycle along the Tour de France route and dive the Great Barrier Reef. I wanted to explore the Amazon and hike among the ruins in the Greek Isles.
I knew that if I wanted to turn my dreams to reality, I had work to do. My sedentary corporate lifestyle had taken a toll. I was overweight and unhealthy. If I wanted to sail and cycle and hike the world, I needed to begin by changing my lifestyle.
And so I did. I cycled my way to a 75-pound weight loss. And when my name made it to the top of the waiting list for a slip at Santa Cruz Harbor, I bought a boat and began to spend my free time sailing. I had taken the first steps on my own personal hero’s journey. In the process, I learned that I could make my dreams come true.
The GreenWanderer blog will chronicle my journey to realizing my dreams and, along the way, it will serve as a beacon for others to heed their own call to adventure and fulfillment.
As a huge crowd of people, those of us known as “baby boomers”, gather on the horizon, most with few or vague plans, there is a growing and massive interest in alternative transitions into “retirement”. By sharing my experiences, I hope to inspire others to fully embrace and enjoy this dynamic phase of their lives.
Why GreenWanderer?
We are all waking up to the need to heal the planet. The “green” In GreenWanderer speaks to my personal commitment to be a good steward of nature. I am challenging myself to make this journey with minimal use of non-renewable resources, relying, to the best of my ability, on wind-powered and human-powered transportation.
GreenWanderer readers will be able to follow along as I consider the environmental impact of my decisions, from buying products to selecting destinations. I’ll share what I learn and ask for your opinions and insights, too.
I chose the word “wanderer” because life has taught me that the journey is more important than the destination. Plans change. Unexpected opportunities emerge. GreenWanderer aims to go with the flow, putting adventure and exploration ahead of fixed goals. Once the call to adventure has been acknowledged, each step along the way enriches our lives and becomes the embodiment of the dream.
Solo, but not alone.
Sure, this blog is about my journey, but I won’t travel alone. My first mate, Pam has been an important part of my life for a decade. She will keep me honest and contribute her point of view to the GreenWanderer story. You’ll occasionally meet my friends and family as they step in and out of the adventure.
Then there is you, the GreenWanderer reader. Your comments and feedback will influence and shape this blog. I look forward to hearing what you have to say. And when I sail or cycle into your neighborhood, I look forward to meeting you in person. GreenWanderer is as much about you as it is about me.
Bon voyage. Jay
