ten years of my life. I've been fortunate to have the ability to travel around the world and experience many new and exciting things. During this time frame, I lived in four different states and traveled to over thirty countries.

My book starts out on a boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on our way to the Philippines. This is my opening chapter, then I go back in time to when this whole book got started, starting with me as a financial advisor for a large mutual fund. I take vacation time to backpack through Europe and fall in love with the whole adventure. I get back and quit my job.

From here, I take what I call a snowball ride that was amazing. I've worked on a hot-air balloon team (Arizona), a season at Yosemite National Park (California), one month on a shrimping boat and 4.5 months at an oyster farm (both in Alaska), a dinner cruise/excursions to other islands (Hawaii), sportfishing (Maui), and many other things to make this all possible.

As far as what I have seen and where I've been is concerned, it is amazing, and I'm so grateful for everything: Europe--seven countries and sixteen major cities, six weeks; Japan and Thailand, five weeks; a dude ranch in Mexico; so much of Yosemite National Park; six months in Alaska (all on the ocean); and moving to Maui solo with $800 in my pocket (Maui is a big part of this book. One month turned into ten years); and six months in South America / Central America. I crossed the Pacific on a boat in twenty-eight days and traveled through Southeast Asia solo in 1.5 months. The list goes on, and there is so much more to read about.

Take a Decade: A True Story is a book about adventure, opportunities, friendships, good times, and bad times. There is love and death, happiness and sadness, and most importantly, a lifetime of so many happy memories. It is a book of opportunity to each and every one who may read it. I did it, so can you!