Hi there!

- I'm Ian -

I've spent most of the last decade traveling and living abroad as a Surface Warfare Officer in the US Navy. But on Halloween of 2017, I resigned my commission to embark on a new adventure - a six month Life Sabbatical!

Travel

Since I left the active duty Navy, I have spent months traveling around Europe as well as North, Central, and South America! I was lucky to have talked some of my best friends into joining me during various portions of my travels, and it has been an absolute wonderful experience.

From the Swiss Alps to Niagara Falls, the Panama Canal, and the mountains of Colombia - the journey has been exciting and unforgettable!

Learn

I decided to harness my freedom to pursue several side-interests and hobbies.

I followed-up on a childhood promise to my mother to continue the piano lessons I quit when I was 8. I successfully brewed my first beer (a delicious dark IPA I call "Dark Energy IPA"), built several robotics projects, and started rebuilding a '92 Land Rover Defender I imported from Europe.

Additionally, I have made an effort to learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python. This site is the result of that learning experience!

Recharge and Reconnect

By far, the best outcome of this "life sabbatical" has been to reconnect with old friends and family with whom I had grown distant while living abroad over the last several years.

You can never fully make-up for all the holidays, birthdays, and other events you miss when stationed overseas - but making a habit of visiting grandparents, finding time to golf with my dad, and committing to frequent game nights with friends, both new and old, has been an absolute treasure.

Dedicating real time and effort to self-improvement through travel, learning, and reconnecting has had the ancilliary effect of recharging my spirit and energy. I now look forward to moving on to the next step of my life with a clearer understanding of who I am, what I want in life, and how I can use my experiences and knowledge to best help others.