Scott McNeely - Ultimate Book of Adventure: Life-Changing Excursions and Experiences Around the World

To Aimee, Emmett and Hollis,
and the many adventures yet to come.

Copyright 2018 by Scott McNeely

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available.

ISBN 978-1-4521-6422-9 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4521-6425-0 (epub, mobi)

Design by Liam Flanagan
Illustrations by Arthur Mount

Chronicle Books LLC
680 Second Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

www.chroniclebooks.com

Compared to any other time in human history, weve got it good.

Most of us live long and healthy lives. Food is plentiful. Technology keeps us connected. We have doctors to cure our ills and scientists to teach us about the universe. Everything is by no means perfect, yet in the great arc of human history, we live in a golden age.

And its all a little boring, isnt it?

Modern life, for all its conveniences, insulates us from adventure. We shop online, binge-watch television, and relentlessly check social media. We dont bother using all our vacation time. We worry. We overthink. We shy away from risk. We close ourselves off to what we do not already know. Far too many of us prize predictability and the familiar over the rough and bumpy road of the unknown.

Hopefully this book will change that. Of course, I dont expect you to attempt every adventure within these covers. But try at least one. Go outside your comfort zone. If youre a planner, throw away the plan. If youre a nonplanner, get yourself organized. Either way, be open to the new and different. Be open to having an honest-to-goodness adventure.

Why? Because we are all better off being adventurous. To live a rewarding life means taking risks. Trying something unfamiliar. Doing a familiar thing differently. Pursuing a new experience or skill no matter how uncomfortable it feels.

And no, it doesnt matter what you do or where you go. All that matters is waking up, unsure of what the day may bring. Your adventure starts when you embrace that uncomfortableand exhilaratingsense of possibility.

Scott M c Neely

For most of human history, adventure wasnt something you had to look for. Adventure found you.

Back in ye olden days, you might have been chased by lions across the plains of Africa or have your village unexpectedly ransacked by barbarians. You might have had your caravan robbed, or your castle sieged, or your city struck by a deadly plague.

Or perhaps you were an explorer. You set sail on a grand voyage of exploration on a Viking longboat, or in a Chinese junk boat, or in Irish fishing currach. You chartered a rough course and set sail with hopebut no guaranteeof a safe return home.

Adventurers can sweep aside the conventions of their time in pursuit of knowledge and self-discovery. They seek adrenaline rushes to jolt them into feeling alive, and they make pilgrimages in pursuit of the divine hiding in plain sight here on Earth.

Participating in unusual and exciting, and often hazardous, experiencesthats the dictionary definition of adventure and good enough as far as definitions go. Just keep in mind, adventures come in many shapes and sizes. There are many paths leading to the doorstep of adventure, and there is no wrong or right way to have one. There are only two things you need: an openness to new experiences and the courage to go and do it.

The hardest part is making the decision to go. The rest is easy.

Somebody once said, To risk is to live.

While it is not a bad bumper sticker for life, it does not mean that adventures must always be life-threatening. There is no need to take crazy risks. Nobody wants a misadventure, and nobody wants to die.

That said, there is no getting around the fact that many activities covered in this book are dangerous. Some activitiesyeah, were talking about you, BASE jumping!are downright insane. Your chances of being seriously injured or dying as a result of taking part in many activities in this book are uncomfortably high.

It goes without saying that you are putting both your health and life at risk, and it is your responsibility to be responsible. Know your limits. Dont take unnecessary risks. And be aware that something can go wrongthe weather, your health, your equipmentand usually does. You must be prepared to deal with changing conditions. Your life may literally depend upon it.

Medical insurance? Emergency evacuation coverage? Accidental death and dismemberment? Dont roll your eyes. If you get stuck on the side of a mountain and need urgent medical care, who will provide it and how will you pay for it? Its smart to purchase travel- specific health coverage wherever you go to cover the costs of unexpected medical issues. Many plans include emergency evacuation coverage to ensure you receive urgent care in a timely manner.

Before you leave on a trip, its also important to consult with your doctor, and complete any recommended vaccinations. You have only one body. Treat it well.

How can I do this? I could never afford it. Im still in school. Ive just finished school. Ive got a job. Im quitting a job. Ive got kids. Ive got too many bills to pay. I am getting too damn old. I dont know where to go or what to do....

Sometimes we all need help and a little encouragement.

Fortunately, many organizations and agencies exist with the sole purpose of helping people like you have unforgettable adventures. It doesnt matter if youre in high school or retired, if youre single or married with kidstheres an adventure out there with your name on it.

A gap year is typically a break between high school and college. While it doesnt need to last a full year, it does need to last more than a week or two. Thats the difference between a mere vacation and a true learning experience, which is what gap years are meant to be.

Studies show that for some students, a gap year better prepares them for absorbing the educational and life lessons offered in a college curriculum. It gives students time to mature, to become a little less me, me, me! and a little more aware of the world and others in it.

On the downside, gap years can seem like an expensive boondoggle. Not all kids can handle the unstructured time away from homewhich is a likely sign that they arent ready for college life, either.

A good compromise, perhaps, is an official gap year program. Numerous educational and nonprofit agencies have excellent half- and full-year programs. Some are vocational in nature (au pair abroad, learn yoga, etc.) while others are mission-based with a focus on do-gooding (spend a year in Africa, work with needy families, etc.).

No matter what, gap years can be life-changing. Spending time abroad in the late teenage years, and getting a chance to live and learn in a foreign culture, are key ingredients for nurturing creative and open minds. These traits, in turn, will unlock a life full of adventure.