I’ve just finished reading and reviewing a new travel book for Gadling by first time author Eric Weiner called “The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World” (see the review here).
Great read, but more importantly, it made me reflect on my own Bliss Factor which clocked in unexpectedly high. I know that sounds improbable coming from a guy who’s blog posts in the past month have focused mainly on places that he hates and how pissed off he is, but there you have it.
I’m like an enigma wrapped inside an onion, baked inside a five-tiered wedding cake. Peel away all the layers and you still have no f*cking clue what going on.
So, why am I happy? Well, for starters I have the fourth greatest job in the history of the universe (for the record, it goes: 1. rock star, 2. movie star, 3. Playboy Playmate talent scout, 4. adorable travel writer), I’ve had the best year of my freelancing career, I’ve just moved back to my beloved Minneapolis, I got my mojo workin’ and as you read this I am very likely soaking in a Jacuzzi on an adventure cruise ship, meandering up and down Chile’s Patagonia coast, having just returned from a helicopter day trip to a prime fly fishing locale, drinking a variety of Chilean wine and eating three gourmet meals a day, prepared exhibition style so I can take mental notes on cooking tips. In a couple days I’ll be checking into the Ritz Carlton in downtown Santiago (where it’s in the low 80s, in case those of you in MN were wondering) for three punishing nights of discovering the city’s food and drink offerings.
Can you blame me?
I could get bent out of shape about Minnesota’s worsening weather or the lack of confirmed work after I return from Chile (hint, hint editors) or that I’m still earning an average of $2.78 per hour or that I somehow gained three pounds last week (stupid Thanksgiving), but I’ve decided to zen past all of that for now. It’s how Buddha would have wanted it.
So, to sum up:
• Very happy
• Being lavishly pampered at the moment
• Cue spate of jealousy-fueled messages in comments section
• Need work starting in January ’08, preferably in traveling writing, but I wouldn’t mind moonlighting in rock starring, movie starring and/or Playboy Playmate scouting
• F*cking Italy!!
Through the magic of delayed posting, I’m actually writing this last Thursday and I really should be packing, so I’ll conclude the bragging for now and resume trying to remember where I put my inflatable, shoehorn airplane neck pillow.
By the way, Gadling is giving away five copies of “The Geography of Bliss”. Leave a comment here for your chance to win.
I was in Vanuatu earlier this year, which a recent survey listed as the happiest country in the world.
There was absolutely nothing about the country which struck me as being more or less happy than anywhere else.
Happiness surveys are pretty much BS.
while I am reading your blog I am looking out of the window. The sea is very blue, because it is a sunny day and little boats and yachts are floating here and there. In the background the tall mountains, with snowy tops. Across the sea (my town is a peninsula, like Italy itself), when the air is clear like now, I can see the coast all the way to Naples and Vesuvius itself and the islands of Ischia, Procida, Ponza (where Caesar sent his daughter Julia in exile for being naughty) and Ventotene.
What were you saying about Italy?
Happy fishing
Gemma
Glad your bliss level is so high – mine moved up quite a bit picturing you in full, fly-fishin gear; you better be posting pictures when you reach the Ritz!
How did you land this luxury travel gig? Are you writing for Conde Nast now?
Your review was very good; since you haven’t written yours yet guess I’ll buy his.
Damn! I missed the cut off for the free book. Oh well.
Anyways, I just thought you should know my new favorite quote is:
“I’m like an enigma wrapped inside an onion, baked inside a five-tiered wedding cake. Peel away all the layers and you still have no f*cking clue what going on.”
Aaah! I want to read this book! And have your job. :)
I’d like to have heard more about the author’s time in Bhutan- I understand the government there actually measures G.N.H (Gross National Happiness). I’m sure as soon as our US government catches a whiff of this concept, it’ll be all over it.?.
Not seeing much evidence of a spate of jealousy-fueled messages, happy to oblige: Damn you! L! for the Patagonia-helicopter-Santiago Ritz windfall…you could have spared our non-traveling, non-pampered feelings and written about your trip in code…for example, I froze my ass off (80 degree weather) driving a Hyundai rental through the Badlands of South? Dakota (boating and ‘coptering it in Patagonia) while living on MacDonald’s fishwiches and cold coffee(3 gourmet meals)… but no…