Posts in Adventure

Witnessing the Future

Adventure Life SpaceX Travel

Reflections on the Starship Launch

Some moments in life feel like they’ve leaped straight out of the pages of a sci-fi novel, blurring the line between imagination and reality. That’s exactly how I felt back on November 19, 2024, when I stood with my family watching SpaceX’s Starship launch from Starbase in Texas. As someone who’s always been drawn to stories of exploration and innovation, it’s why I’m pouring my heart into my first novel. It was a trip that resonated on so many levels. SpaceX embodies that spirit: pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, turning wild ideas into tangible progress. They’re not just building rockets; they’re charting a course for humanity’s next chapter, and getting to see it up close was nothing short of incredible.

This wasn’t just any outing; it was a special family adventure. I decided to pull the kids out of school for a few days, three daughters and one son, all wide-eyed and ready for something real. We loaded up the Tesla Model X Plaid, which I’ve come to love more than I thought possible. That car feels like living in the future already, especially with the self-driving features kicking in on the highway. Smooth, effortless, and yeah, a bit mind-blowing every time. Can’t imagine going back to anything else now. The drive down to Boca Chica was part of the fun, talking about space and dreams as the landscape rolled by. We stayed right on the beach in South Padre, which made the whole trip even better. The kids absolutely loved it, splashing in the waves and building sandcastles between launch prep excitement.

Arriving at Starbase, the energy was electric. Crowds gathered, the massive Starship towering against the sky. It was surreal. When that thing ignited at 4:00 pm and thundered upward, the ground shook, and we all cheered like we’d just witnessed history. Which, of course, we had. The kids were absolutely thrilled; their faces lit up with awe as the rocket climbed, and we talked about it for hours afterward. I truly believe they learned more in those three days than they would have in class, lessons on engineering, perseverance, and the sheer audacity of human ambition. It’s the kind of education that sticks, fueling their curiosity about the world beyond our own.

Looking back, that launch fired up my excitement for what’s ahead. Mars colonization, multi-planetary life. It’s not just sci-fi anymore; it’s within reach because of innovators like the team at SpaceX. It ties right into my own creative world, where I dream up interstellar tales by the light of beeswax candles back at home. Running the company keeps me grounded in the day-to-day, but experiences like this remind me why we push forward. With our family growing stronger as we near that 20-year milestone, and plans for the permaculture farm taking shape on our Texas property, life feels full of possibility. Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll be watching launches from our own backyard haven, animals grazing nearby, kids dreaming of the stars.

Moments like these make everything worthwhile.

Reflections on Our Texas Haven

Adventure Life Nature

Building a Permaculture Dream

There’s a certain rhythm to life that I’ve come to appreciate more with each passing year. The way dreams take root in the soil of everyday efforts, growing slowly but surely into something tangible. Lately, my thoughts have turned often to our property in Texas, a modest 5-acre tract nestled between Houston and San Antonio. It’s become a quiet anchor amid the demands of running the company and nurturing our family, even as we haven’t fully settled there yet. While it’s just the right size for our current chapter, I’ve found myself envisioning expansions, acquiring adjacent land to fully realize the vision of a permaculture paradise. Sustainable living, harmonious with the earth. Gardens thriving, animals roaming freely, all woven into a landscape that sustains and inspires.

The challenge is real; the sandy soil demands patience and ingenuity, requiring layers of compost and careful cultivation to transform it into fertile ground. Yet, that’s part of the appeal. The work itself becomes a meditation on resilience. We began with raw land, overgrown with brush and dotted by trees. Clearing the undergrowth was methodical; we preserved the larger oaks and natives that lent character and shade, ensuring the space retained its natural essence. A camper now sits there for our weekend escapes, offering a simple refuge where the family can unplug and reconnect. It’s reminiscent of those serene moments by Lake Cle Elum, though grounded in the familiar warmth of Texas.

Practical steps have followed: installing an electrical pole and running the lines underground to maintain a clean, uncluttered aesthetic. No visible wires to disrupt the horizon. Details like these matter, preserving the property’s serene beauty. Now, my wife and I are immersed in designing our dream home, a place of simple elegance where we’ll relocate with the children next year. Spacious enough for our brood of three daughters and one son to flourish, yet designed for a balanced life amid the farm we’ll build. Chickens clucking in the yard, perhaps goats or other animals I hold dear, alongside fruit trees and vegetable beds. It’s an extension of my love for the natural world, much like the beeswax candles that light my writing sessions, casting a gentle glow on evenings spent with my sci-fi novel.

The holidays brought a spark of adventure; for Christmas, we gifted the kids an ATV, a dirt bike, and a four-wheeler. Seeing them navigate the trails we’ve carved, their laughter echoing through the trees, fills me with a profound joy. It’s these shared experiences that deepen our bonds. And now, with Grandma having moved just down the street, it’s truly a family endeavor. Her presence adds layers of support and stories, making the property feel like the heart of our extended world. Collaborating on this with my wife feels like the culmination of years built on partnership and shared aspirations.

This Texas haven is more than land; it’s a canvas for the life we’re crafting. Amid the chapters of my novel and the rhythms of leadership, it offers a space to dream bigger, to cultivate not just soil, but souls. I’m eager for the day we call it home, watching it evolve into the luxury permaculture farm we’ve imagined. In the quiet of those acres, life’s possibilities unfold.

 

Washington State – a pleasant surprise

Adventure

I’ve always believed that the best stories emerge from the quiet spaces between obligations and dreams. As I sit here back in Texas, reflecting on my recent trip to Washington State, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for how it unfolded. Work pulled me to Seattle, those inevitable business meetings that keep the company humming along. But I made a conscious choice to turn it into something more personal, more nourishing for the soul. Instead of the usual urban hotel routine, I sought out a unique retreat: an Airbnb perched on the shores of Lake Cle Elum, near the small town of Roslyn. It was a decision that paid off in ways I hadn’t fully anticipated.

The drive from Seattle eastward through the Cascade Mountains was mesmerizing. Winding roads flanked by dense forests, crossing Snoqualmie Pass, and emerging into a landscape that felt worlds away from the flat expanses of Texas. Roslyn itself struck me as a place frozen in time. A quaint mining town with brick facades and a serene pace that invited slow exploration. I wandered into the bookstores, losing myself among shelves of sci-fi novels and forgotten classics. The gift shops held simple treasures, items that I imagined bringing joy to my kids, whose faces lit up in my mind as I picked out a few mementos. Since my wife works alongside me, she was there too, turning what could have been a solitary work stint into shared moments of discovery. We strolled the streets, sipping coffee in quiet cafes, and it all felt like a gentle reminder of our partnership as we near our 20-year anniversary.

The Airbnb was a sanctuary. Overlooking the lake, with views of sun-dappled water stretching toward pine-covered hills and distant peaks, it was the kind of place that quiets the mind. Mornings brought golden light filtering through the windows, and I’d sit on the deck, coffee in hand, watching the world awaken. One day, I hiked a nearby trail, clambering over boulders and fallen logs. Ancient trunks that whispered of the forest’s history. I paused to embrace a towering tree, gazing out at the lake below, feeling a profound connection to the natural world that mirrors my love for animals and my plans for that luxury permaculture farm on our Texas property.

That vista inspired me deeply. Amid the work calls and emails, I carved out time for my novel. My first, a sci-fi tale of exploration and wonder. The words came easily there, chapters unfolding as the lake’s calm seeped into my thoughts. Evenings were for unwinding, perhaps with a beeswax candle flickering nearby, its clean scent grounding me. Extending the trip beyond the business agenda turned it into a true respite, a vacation woven into necessity. We ventured further to Leavenworth, that Bavarian-inspired village with its alpine charm! Streets lined with pretzel shops and accordion melodies drifting on the breeze. It was whimsical, a contrast to the rugged trails, and it sparked ideas of returning with the family. I can already picture the kids splashing in the lake, hiking those paths, their laughter echoing in the mountains.

Washington State has left an imprint on me. It’s a reminder that stepping off the familiar path, choosing the lakeside haven over the city lights, can recharge the creative spirit. As I return to daily life, to leading the company and nurturing my family, these reflections fuel my ongoing journey. The novel progresses, the farm dreams take shape, and I’m reminded that life’s richest chapters are often the ones written in solitude, amid nature’s quiet grandeur.