In just four short weeks my wife and I will be embarking on a much needed journey away from the frozen tundra of the upper Midwest. We’re traveling to Saint Thomas (USVI) home of the island’s capital city, Charlotte Amalie. This will be our second trip there in as many years and it’s the kind of place you lose the worst parts of yourself in. By worst parts I’m referring to the strata of societal bullshit that, little by little, covers us all whether we like it or not. A place like Saint Thomas also forces you to slow down and refocus on what's truly important.
Last April was our first time using Airbnb so we had really no idea what to expect. We booked a room at a property perched in the hills called, Rich Rez. The place ended up being phenomenal.
We met some wonderful people and even made a lifelong friend during that trip. The Airbnb host, Lecia, has lived and taught on the island for the better part of forty years. With her suggestions we lived like a local for seven days and, truly, found it tough to go back to our “normal” hectic life. We’ve actually stayed in touch with Lecia this whole year.
Saint Thomas isn’t a place to go for those who want predictability. We had our hazing immediately. Our first experience after jumping in a taxi from the airport was to discover a good portion of the taxi drivers can’t read or write, they navigate by landmarks. We gave the driver the address of Lecia’s Airbnb and the driver promptly told us he didn’t know where it was but it was okay, he’d drop us off at a resort that he thought was close. We had a week’s worth of heavy luggage, mind you, and this is a volcanic island so the hills go literally straight up plus we had no idea where we were. Luckily and hotel staff member was ending her shift and offered us a ride so it all worked out for the best. She told us we should have told the driver to make a left after the gold Volkswagen Beetle.
So much has changed in my life in the past twelve months and all of that change is related to stepping outside of my comfort zone. Little did I know that shortly after getting back from Saint Thomas last year I would find a new social media platform called Steemit that would change my life in ways I’m still discovering. It breathed new life into my novel and my writing in general. Steemit helped us put a huge dent in our massive debt (which you can read about HERE), it allowed me to take a trip to Europe, speak at SteemFest, and connect with so many wonderful people on this platform.
This year our trip to Saint Thomas isn’t as much an escape as much as it is a celebration of all the good things in life. This trip is also a milestone in itself. This year our trip was made possible completely by revenue from Steemit and blockchain technology. While we’re there on the island we’ll be using cryptocurrency to pay for everything by way of our BitPay Debit Card. This makes me feel like such a rebel. I'm making it a point to consume anything I can read or watch about cryptocurrency and blockchain because I feel it's going to bring about a better future for us all.
Of course, I’m taking the trusty Macbook, and will be posting while we’re there. I also hope to get some work done on the sequel to my first novel Alarm Clock Dawn. What I’m learning is, with each post, I’m getting closer to living the life I’ve been dreaming about for the past two decades.
There’s so much for us all to look forward to in this next year and I feel so thankful and honored to be a part of it. Every life is peppered with both struggles and beautiful moments. Isn't it funny that, most often, the truly beautiful moments lie just outside your comfort zone? The great thing is they're still well within your reach.
*I am an American novelist, poet, traveler, and Blockchain enthusiast. My handmade poetry chapbook, Emancipation, is for sale on Peerhub for a limited time.
You article puts a big smile on my face, gives me hope and inspiration to keep on posting more and more and invest more of myself into this amazing and revolutionary platform.
As you know, I have been following you for quite a while now and It makes my heart happy for you and your beloved one to be able to live off the fruit of your Steemit labor, and even share some of it with us.
All for one and for all! Bon voyage and namaste :)
Thank you @eric-boucher! I so appreciate your constant support of my work here. Actually, you touched on the coolest part for me...to be able to provide for my family with Steemit proceeds is the best feeling in the world. It feels incredible.
I struggled for so many years not making much of anything with my writing so it's something I'll never take for granted. More beach pictures will be to follow! ☺️Namaste my friend!
Wow.. Amazing
Thank you! 😊
Thnx.
Do you think you could write a post about all the ways in which you yourself make a livable income through practicing your passion - and how you came to be where you are now in terms of being able to sustain yourself through writing?
I am personally struggling to create an income stream that supports my needs and provides value so that I may not only survive in this world but thrive.
You're welcome @coloured-content. I wrote on that topic a little a few months ago. Here's a link to the first post - https://steemit.com/writers/@ericvancewalton/balancing-the-books-a-financial-plan-for-the-indie-author-part-1-of-2
Honestly, it's been really tough for me to make a living and thrive. It's taken so much trial and error to get this close. How I've done it is to get really creative about all the different ways I can profit off one particular aspect of my craft.
In other words, generating multiple income streams from the same source. For example, I make Steem off my poetry here but I also sell it in poetry chapbook form, do personalized poetry on a commissioned basis, and intend on releasing an anthology with years' worth of work soon. I'm also dabbling in crypto-trading and have done okay with that. Not having all of your eggs in one basket also shelters you if one of your revenue streams doesn't work out. I'm still working a day job as well.
Last fall I thought Steemit would allow me to quit but my payouts here are a fraction of what they once were. I'm not complaining at all, it's still an amazing place but I'm happy I didn't quit the day job on a whim during the days of larger payouts. I hope that helps! Thanks!
Yes for sure.
I am looking to go the same route; get a part time job and continue with my passion
What is your day job?
I work for an insurance company by day.
Interesting.
Congrats! Enjoy yourself and bless the missus, Eric. You couldn't have picked a better time to get out of the MW either. I miss it kinda like I miss a hangnail.
Thank you! You pegged it @anotherjoe...MW is like a hangnail on every finger and every toe. Wow that sounded a bit like Dr. Suess. Lol. 😉
What a beautiful place this is. It will certainly be a change from a Minnesota winter!
It is a joy to follow your work as post by post you set up the life of your dreams. Steem on my friend.
Thanks @lydon.sipe! We can't wait. The re-entry into our regular routine is rough after a trip like this but it's all worth it and we feel grateful to be able to do it. I think this will be the year I'll be able to take the leap and write full time but it will depend on how well the next two books do. Enjoy the rest of your weekend my friend!
It'll be a great trip, fun to see this peak at your adventure last year.
I hope so, @natureofbeing! Thank you. I always am concerned with getting off the ground at this time of the year here. You never know when the next big winter storm will hit. Fingers will be crossed! : )
That looks like a beautiful place to visit. Just four more weeks and you will be there! You will no doubt have a wonderful time there and I'm looking forward reading about you travel adventures. And yes I believe 2017 will be magical!
It's amazing, @exyle. St. John is even more beautiful but it's a lot more expensive to stay there so we load the rental car up on the ferry and take day trips to that smaller island. I share your enthusiasm about 2017 and beyond. It's only up from here! Thank you my friend!
Sounds like you've got a nice trip coming up!
Airbnb is awesome, I've had my best travel experiences when staying at Airbnb places. Best of luck, safe travels.
Thanks @susanne! We're counting the days! Airbnb is awesome. There's no way we'd stay in a hotel now, they can't compare. My mentor, James Altucher, lives in Airbnbs for months at a time. That sounds intriguing to me. It's be great to do that for a month or two in Amsterdam.
That sounds amazing! I would love to live in Airbnbs for one year around the world! :)
I must admit, it's very tempting!
It sounds like quite a place. Have a great vacation!
It's beautiful and it's a place that forces you to s l o w down, I need that. Much appreciated @donkeypong!
Just last weekend I went on a 3day hiking tour in Laos, north of Luang Prabang. Hiking is not what I do, but this tour (although very heavy) brought my friend and I to unspoiled villages with beautiful people, some of them invited us for lunches, dinners, drinks, game of jeu de boule and even sleep overs at their homes.
So Indeed, Beauty Lies Outside Your Comfort Zone!
Wish you a GREAT trip!
What an amazing adventure that sounds like @edje! I have a really good friend from Laos, Fong Vang and enjoy the stories he tells me about their culture. Travel is the best antidote to propaganda because you realize people, as a whole, are kind everywhere. Has that been your experience too? Thank you for your comment!
Absolutely. In many places I've been to in my life, I've met great and super nice people; from recent months in Thaland and Laos, to Africa, to Amricas and my own continent Europe. Generally, what I find, it is about how open, friendly, interested you are. I love to travel, weather for pleasure or business. Enjoy.
Resteemed, Love your photos...
Thank you, @witze! I had heard that five category glitch was fixed but I notice that only the "story" category is showing up on all of the comments. So, I guess I'm not sure now.
Thanks !
What a meaningful post, Eric! Thanks for sharing.
Upvoted & Followed you as well.
Thank you @lazariko12! I appreciate the support!
That sounds incredible, what a great way to show people how it can be done! I'm happy for you, have an amazing time, can't wait to read the insights you gain from the experience ;)
Thank you, @dreemit. I have a way to go yet but this will, hopefully, be a preview of "normal life" soon. I long to be a digital nomad for a while after twenty three years in a cubicle.
The character of Adam was so real I could imagine he is out there somewhere, and I suppose in a way he is ;)
When you release your second novel, are you putting it through here? I have to admit a part of me hopes it will be on Amazon so I can read it all at once ;)
I spent a lot of time developing that character. It's funny, each one is a mosaic of people I know. Is he your favorite in the book? I'm actually leaning towards releasing Truth Is Stranger on STEEMIT in installments first and then on Amazon in book form.
Yes, he's my favorite, though if Bear had come into it sooner I would probably be divided. Of course, you need to release it however is best for you. My hope was a selfish one ;)
Bear is a good guy. (There I am talking about them real people again 🙄) My favorite is Ikeda. I need good beta readers. Would you be interested?!
Ikeda makes the list for one of my favorite side characters of the past five years at the least, I loved what he brought to the story. As the writer you spent a great deal more time with each of your characters, so you may not even view him as a side character :) That has happened to me in several stories that I've written. As a reader, I develop attachments to the characters involved, and many times that's proportional to how much they're with me through the story. But really, all of your characters were very well done.
Beta reader...that's a type of informal editor, correct? Looking for spelling and grammar errors and possible plot holes etc.?
Wow, I'm very flattered! You bring up a good point, each reader relates to the characters in a different way. I had certain actors in mind of each of the characters while I was doing my last rewrite. My goal is to have the trilogy made into a Netflix original series. Yes, you're spot on about Beta Readers. I had a team of 8-10 for the original novel before it went to the editor. I got some really useful feedback from some of them.
Sorry I took so long to reply. The truth is I wanted to say yes without thinking about it, but I've spread myself too thin in the past for doing just that. I am honored you would consider me, and if you wanted someone to read it and give you the broad strokes, I would love to be that person. I'm just not sure I have the time to pull it apart with the attention it would deserve. If there were any spelling errors or blatant grammar issues, I'd likely spot them, my eyes are fairly well trained for that, but that's not to say nothing would escape me.
I really would love to read it before anyone else, that's a given ;) I loved your book and I greatly look forward to this new one.
It's no problem at all, thanks for being honest about how much time you could devote to it! I'll reach out once the draft is ready, I can use broad strokes too! Thanks @dreemit!
Did "they" fix the bug with five keywords ?
Have fun!
Thank you!