i picked the shred- NO more wife- no more house- no kids- was it worth it.... all the travel, friends, coverage-THE UPS & DOWN so worth it to me- saying good by to life is hard-
why work to retire???
PLAY then work, while you have skill-

good luck-

Korean are you? I am too...but I'm quite a bit older. Went through the whole please the family and competitive stuff. Got married and divorced and we were never happy because we were always trying to get that much more. I have a pretty lucrative career being an office stiff...If I didn't have financial responsibilities, I'd maybe consider moving to a mountain cuz I realized that when I'm on the mountain none of that other crap matters to the point of almost being stupid. But I don't know if it's true...if I did do that, who knows, maybe I'd say, "ummm, ok, it's not that fun anymore every single fucking day especially when I have no income to afford bbq, sushi or a new car to replace the junker and I live in a relative dump."

I'd say finish the GRE, get into grad school and make boarding something that relieves the stress...education will always have lifelong value, boarding may disappear with a torn ACL or MCL (worst case scenario obviously) or become ho-hum when it's your job (just ask any porn star LOL).

some comments on you guys-

that last paragraph was helpful jimster. i think you should take his advice

craddick- you know how people say the family , the wife and kids, the whole shibang, that becomes so important. I mean I know people my age who have 2 kids already, it's pretty damn weird. but they are pretty happy too theyre just on a different life plan than I am. I donno I feel like they're still pretty happy, it's their kids that make 'em happy. those lil buggers. can't you have that family to make you happy and the mtns, don't you think you could have the wife, house and kids and shred?

i've got no inspiration to post as you know because I am lost aswell. a lost soul aswell..

I've never followed the predictable road that everyone follows. Our society dictates that to be "normal" you go to school for 13 years, then college, then after college you join the work force, some time after highschool and before you get to middle age it's expected to marry and procreate. It's the standards that society sets, granted there's other options like military and what not but I'm not going to cover all bases here.

There's also this myth surrounding what being a true snowboard bum is all about. I get flack all the time from people that believe because I live in Summit County and ride 100 days a year that I'm poor and have no money to do anything. It's like anything else in life and that's choices. People that work for resorts don't ride much or get paid well, but those that work outside the confines of the resort can live fairly well if they sacrifice a little. Are there days where I'm like fuck I don't want to ride? Hell yeah it's only natural, there's days I get to the mountain and conditions suck so I just say fuck it and leave.

You have to look at yourself in the mirror and say is doing what is expected of me more important than what makes me happy? Also ask yourself are you living for you or living for someone elses expectations? Once you figure these two questions out you'll have your answer.

Personally knowing that I have roughly 75 years on this planet before I drop dead makes me believe I should have fun while I can. It's giving me life stories I can tell until the day comes that I die. School will always be there to go to, women come and go, houses are just a material object you can't take with you. The only thing you leave on this planet when you die is your legacy and your stories.

@asian

I know what your talking about. The first week of Feb I had an epiphany so to speak.

I've been thinking about this a lot too, I worked at a small resort throughout high school so when it rolled around to graduation time I knew I wanted to keep snowboarding but I had no idea where or how to do that, I had no game planned so I panicked. So I ended up in tech school, and then university. Yet the whole time I was thinking "this is great, but there has to be something more!" Eventually, I took an internship for the summer and realized that I wasn't happy with the career I had picked and I like school, really I do.. but I realized I loved snowboarding more. So now I'm starting my shred journey this summer by moving to the mountains, so really I'm basically lost too, just takin' it all in stride...
But that being said I don't believe that choosing snowboarding means giving up a steady job, or a family, or a marriage or any other so called norms of society. There's always jobs in the sport that require a degree and an education, you just have to look a little harder to find them. If you really want to be part of the industry, there's always ways to make it happen. As for a family, I personally know I'm still too young and freebird to be able to give much advice but I have a lot of friends that are now married with kids, yet they ride more than me (We're talking 100+ days). They just met someone that shared a passion for the sport and they found a way to make it work around their lives. Granted some of them have dream jobs like running shops or managing resorts but the point is that they found a way around the typical all or nothing senario.
Like angrysnowboarder basically said, you have to do what makes you happy...whatever that may be. If that means grad school then do it! Education never hurts in my opinion, and if you get to ride while you're going to school then that's just perfect...I'd do that in a heartbeat if I had the option. :)

A brief history:
In my 20's I rode 120-200 days a year in places like Jackson Hole, Valdez, and New Zealand. It was ALL about getting mine...Powder that is, white room face shots were the goal and I'd shank your Mama to get some. My big validation came in a Warren Miller film where I was quoted as saying, "I don't have a dollar in my pocket but I'm rich like the King of Kings" See I rubbed elbows with a lot of rich dudes in Jackson who were envious of the lifestyle I had earned by sacrificing the creature comforts others saw as paramount. You know, sleep in a trailer and wake up early to the avalanche bombs and the cold. Too cold to sleep so you get after it... Life that is. Sleeping in and being lazy is for suckers. I was a happy as I can only imagine and making on average 8-12 grand a year.

In my 30's I strived for career cornerstones and Comforts and Security. Yes, wife, kids and a mortgage can make you an asshole. I got angry...why? I still snowboard enough to be happy about it and I haven't lost it yet. I think the Father issues were the root of my anger. It's the program I learned from my Father as how to react. I've tried counseling, drugs and alternative therapies to concur my rage, but I'd still react badly to my family for not striving as hard as I do towards my goal. My set goals...eeeessshhh

I'm now turning 40 and I found Jesus Christ is the answer. His path and methodologies can be my families goal and we can all follow them together as we seek Him as our Lord and savior and Guide!

So while skateboarding today I thought about Comfort Zones and how we REACT to new situations. It's easy to master your terrain and eventually find it comfortable because you know how to react to the ground under your feet. You've mapped it out and been over the moves enough to know how to handle it. Seeking new terrain is unpredictable but exciting. How will I react to this? Will I be able to handle it? Fear does you no good. Only mental mapping and visualization see you through the action of encountering the unknown. You can only have faith that this new situation will work out because you prepared and you're willing to fall trying. Life is not without risks. Seek it and you shall find it. Security and hording wealth is for suckers.

The big thing in the Bible that caught hold of me is that we are charged in multiplying our talents. You're a sinner first, your dept paid by Jesus second, and thirdly you need to act in accordance with His plan. Scriptures are the instructions. Now go and double or triple the grace that has been given to you. The reward and satisfaction are unbelievable. It just feels good to be in sync with a plan. Plus you can give it all to God, your stress and fear. If you don't know where you're heading then give it to Him to be your Guide. It's amazing how things will open up for you if you do...

Back to my selfish 20's. I was back in Jackson Hole this winter and I hung out with some righteous dudes. I always thought, Satan is skillful but em' cannot reach the highest temples. And by following these great dudes around the planet that I'd find righteousness in Heaven and earth. Bullshit! Satan offered Jesus the world from a high peak as if it was his to give. My reward and satisfaction is now with only one guide and I will no longer idolize the mere Men of this earth. Their reward is temporary. My soul is filled with purpose and the grace has been multiplied ten fold. Salvation! So my life has really just begun as I have a whole new direction. How will I react to this new terrain? Well I have a lot of mental mapping and reading to do.

I started this post, deleted, started again. But screw it, cuz its on my mind and so I gotta let it fly.

So, I'll give it to you from another angle: I married my high school sweetheart my first year of college (19, retarded I know, but its a long story), I had my son when I was 20, divorced by the time I was 22. I worked all this time to support my son, no child support, no alimony, not a dime from his father... ever. I was miserable and kept thinking "there HAS to be something more". I was a city kid and never even knew snowboarding existed. I'm in my 30's now. The first time I went snowboarding (this season) BAM, it hit me like a mac truck. For the very first time in my life, I was truly happy. Nothing ever came close to what I felt when I realized that I was in love with this sport (aside from my kid of course). I felt FREE. Like Mel Gibson in "Braveheart" my mind and heart was screaming "FREEDOM!!!" Then: "Damn, is this what I missed out on?"

My son is going to be 15. I did my time, and I'm almost done. When he goes off to college, I'm out. I have to be out, while I'm still young enough to enjoy it. Now, I feel I'm not young enough and I don't have that much time, and regret that I hadn't found this happiness sooner. I feel I was lost before I found snowboarding. Now I know exactly where I want to go.

I plan to travel (something I never got the chance to do) with my ride. I feel like I got a "do over" with life. I don't care if I have to live on Ramen noodles because I've been struggling all this time anyway. The cool thing is, my kid understands (he even said he got me on the Ramen if I ever needed! LOL He's the man!). I put myself through school and I have a great career. But I'll tank my career tomorrow if my boy was off with his own life and OK, to be off to shred the world. At least I know I got something to fall back on. People change careers all the time. I realized that it is just money. While everyone wants to have a lot of it... well... that in itself takes a toll. I'll get a job anywhere to support my shred habit. Did the whole "marriage, family and white picket fence thing". There are no white picket fences for me, just white mountains.

But seriously, maybe at least take the time and finish grad school then make your decision. Just like snowboarding, you only get out of your education, what you put in. That education is yours and no one can ever take that from you. After that, just LIVE dude. Have fun, enjoy it while you can. Everything else will fall into its proper place. Don't think so hard.

The "family" thing ... that will come. Never force that. While your out there living the life of a snowboarder (should you choose), more than likely you will meet some hot shredder that has the same passions as you do, then you can create and build on that (assuming you don't have someone in your life already, I dunno). You can shred and have a family. If they love it as much as you do, that can be a beautiful thing. Then you can take your future little groms on the mountains and show them what its about. But go out there and kill it first.

I did what was expected of me. I was miserable. You have a choice. Don't conform and don't settle for anything less than true happiness. You CAN have your cake and eat it too. Just do it wisely, because there is nothing worse than having to live with regret. I hope this helps.

This is your life: Do you take the red or the blue pill?

@ Asianmang

Firstly, I truly feel you should stick with school, its something you can always fall back on. Life is always easier when you have choices and school still gives you time to delay the worst... a real job. Most jobs suck, but I do know a few lucky few that really do love their jobs.
Once you finish school, see where your heart pulls next. You could follow the snow for a year and hit up all the best mountains in america, then go to new zealand for a bit and then head down to south america for some real soul searching shredin . Plus you could take both your surf board & snowboard to all most all those places!
I myself live for snowboarding and try to work as less as possible, just enough to keep a roof over my head and food in my mouth. I spend most of my money on season passes, gear, rent, gas, food you get the idea. I will agree with some that sometimes riding will come between you and a loved one. I strongly believe that if they really knew you and cared bout your happiness, it wouldn't be an issue. So what ever job you do take don't let it waste your life away and try live your life to the fullest while you are young.

I was just talking to someone from work about this thread. It keeps getting me thinking more and more- you guys are all amazing. I'm gonna pitch in what she said. You know how some people say live like every day is your last. And well I have a problem with that just because you kind of have to plan for tomorrow. I mean if you lived like today was your last tomorrow you'd be broke and homeless. Or you wouldn't plan for sunday's picnic at the park or next weeks trip to the zoo or whatever it is. Someones gotta plan things if not they won't happen- as horrible as I am with getting places on time and organizing I realize there is some planning involved and it is important.

-So. point being. friend of mine said, this comes from her father, rather than live every day like it's your last, live like you've got 6 months. -

maybe 2 years. now map it all out and think about your priorities with that kind of time frame...