Family Trek

Today is my birthday, da na na na na na….

I’m 33 years old.

In many ways, I can’t believe I am only 33-years-old.  Since graduating from college I’ve moved from Indiana to Santa Barbara, I’ve had a successful career, got married, started a family, bought a $689,000 house in Santa Barbara, started a business, lost a business, started another business, ran for Congress, lost my election, lost my $689,000 house, moved into my in-laws garage, re-invented my life, and moved to Lake Tahoe.  When I look at that list, I think there’s no way that I’m only 33 years old.

Yet, at 33, I feel younger than I have in years.  I’m more physically active.  This ski season, for the second consecutive year, I’ll spend more than 50 days on the slopes.  But skiing is just the beginning.  [Check out my post about how climbing mountains sets us up for success in life].  I feel creative again — the way I felt creative when I was 19 or 20 years old and everything in the world seemed possible.  I’m having fun and I am full of hope.

To commemorate my 33rd birthday, I’m making a list of 33 reasons I’m excited to be 33.

Here it is:

1. 33 is the year of Larry Bird, the number worn by Larry the Legend.
2. 33 is the number I’ve punched into the microwave more than any other number.  It seems like lots of things need to be warmed up for just 30 seconds, but since I was a kid, whenever I needed to put something in the microwave for 30 seconds I’ve always pushed 33 because it’s faster and easier.
3. On my birthday I’m going skiing, and it will be my 33rd day of skiing this year.
4. For my birthday I got a new pair of skis and when I ski on my birthday I’ll be skiing my new skis!
5. I love a good dinner party, and we’re hosting some very good friends at our house for a dinner party on the evening of my birthday.
6. I’m about to be  a dad again!  My wife is pregnant and will give birth to our 3rd child within the next few weeks.
7. My daughter Emery is 3-years-old and I’ll now be the same age as her, +30.  At least she thinks that’s pretty cool, and since she does, so do I.
8. I’m still in my “early 30′s.”  Now, technically, there may be some debate about this.  30, 31, and 32 are undoubtedly early 30′s.  33 could go in either the category of “early” or “mid” 30′s, but because I feel so full of hope and full of life, I’m claiming “early 30′s.”
9. Being 33 is great in that I really don’t give a shit, actually, whether you label me “early” 30′s or “mid” 30′s.
10. I don’t give a shit that this list really has nothing to do with being 33, perse, I just use that number when it’s convenient, like the Larry Bird thing or the microwave thing.
11. Along with Larry Bird, 33 is also the year of Scottie Pippen, Roger Craig, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Jose Canseco.  ”A Jose Canseco bat.  Tell me, you didn’t pay money for this.”
12. Only people around the age of 33-years-old have any idea where that quote, “A Jose Canseco bat.  Tell me, you didn’t pay money for this,” comes from. (If you know the answer, leave a comment at the bottom of this post).
13. As of the time of this writing, 33 people have wished me a happy-birthday on Facebook.  I really do love Facebook.
14. A few days before my 33rd birthday, I had dinner with a guy who works for Facebook and his boss is Mark Zuckerberg.  Not in the sense that you’re a federal employee and your boss in Barack Obama.  No, this guy reports to Zuck.  The guy had Zuck’s cell phone in his contacts on his phone.  I mean that’s pretty cool.
15. Jesus was 33 years old when he was crucified.  Wow, that’s something to think about.
16. At the age of 33 I can get excited about a joint performance with MC Hammer and PSY performing Gangman Style.
17. I have Ice, Ice Baby on my ultimate ski playlist.
18. Being 33 means that I know what Hulkamania is all about: fighting for what’s right, love of country, and taking your vitamins.
19. I can now watch videos of Hulk Hogan with my kids and they think he’s hilarious.
20. Getting to be Jackson and Emery’s dad.  Being 33 in that sense is awesome.  I wasn’t doing this at 23.
21. At 33, I’m in the best romantic relationship of my life.
22. At 33, I get to support my wife who is pregnant for the 5th time and just tired.  In fact, as I write this, she’s asleep on the couch.
23. At the age of 33, my wife and I equally share responsibilities regarding income, housework, and caring for our kids — and studies show that couples who share these responsibilities have a better sex-life than their peers who don’t.  I didn’t need a study to tell me that.
24. My wife and I are connected. We are on the same page.
25. At the age of 33, I have more freedom than most people twice my age.
26. We spent 6 weeks traveling in Central America last year.  Considering that 2-years-ago we were living in my in-laws garage, we’ve come a long way.
27. In my 33rd year of life I will see the Grand Canyon for the first time!
28. When my dad was my age, he’d already buried his father.  My dad is still young and vibrant and engaged in things that he loves.
29. 32 was great, but I feel that big things are about to happen in my life at 33.
30. I’ve completed the first draft of my first book!
31. Indiana University is a national title contender in Men’s collegiate basketball again.
32. I have really great in-laws, and not many people will say that.  And not just because they let us live in their garage.  They really are remarkable people.
33. Because there’s no time like now.

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Hi, if we’ve not met before, I’m Clark and I am on adventure called life with my wife Monica and our two kids Jackson and Emery.  We’re expecting a 3rd child in just a few weeks.  We live in Lake Tahoe, California, not because we have to or because it’s just where we happen to live.  We live here because we want to!

We’re on a quest to work less, live more, and travel the world as a family.  We’d love to connect with you.  This isn’t just a blog.  We’re people.  So reach out and let’s connect.  You can  like our page on Facebook or follow us on Twitter but when you do, don’t just be anonymous.  Drop us a line.  We’d love it.