Why?

“Believe your dad when he says he wished he'd have done the same...maybe you should invite him along. As others have noted, you'll be burdened with other responsibilities (real or invented) soon enough. Live on the cheap and simple while you are young, vigorous and not in need of a full health plan like us aging geezers.

The best thing I ever did was to cut out of Middle America for a year and go to China. I was 40 and I should have done it a lot sooner. Broke when I got back, but so what? As the song goes, "They can't take that away from me."”

“I don't think that most people have enough nerve to follow their heart. After this school year is through I plan on following mine, too. I've put it off for too long already. I want to finish school, but I'm tired of being in a hurry about everything. I'll more than likely be ski bummin' next winter. :) I know I have big dreams...”

“Sounds like your dad & pastor care about you & want you to make good choices. They may not be as stupid as you think they are right now.

You may not agree with them, but at least listen to what they have to say. They have both been where you are now.”

“stikmon - that is exactly what I have been thinking - "the return of bacpac staring Mistress OTR errr I mean Master ... err whatever”

“I was a fluff brain when I was 18. I think it is good to wait awhile to go to more school. When you know how to put your shoulder to the wheel and work like a woman then go to school. You will kick all those fluffy brained 18 year olds butts.”

“I hate to get in an argument about religion but here goes, the Bible says to be aware of false prophets. I mean my pastor goes hiking with us and he would tell you to be your own man, Lord knows you are old enough to make your own decisions be they right or wrong. My father tried to teach me the right thing but I had to find out most things the hard way, by trial and error, mostly error! He is gone now and I wish I could ask his advice now and then.”

“Your young, you got your health, what do you want with a job?”

“even the trolls are on my side

the more i think about it, the more i find i disagree with my pastor, i agree, I should be doing what the lord wants for my life, and not what my pastor wants. I'm not deep into religion - but I prayed for guidance in my life, and when the time came to make the decision I prayed for help in making the choice - that day my english teacher had me read "the road less taken" by robert frost out loud to the class, and that made my final decision, in the eyes of the Lord. I'm not here to please my pastor - though i think my dad thinks differently, i'm here to be my own person, right now i don't need to be a contributing member of society, for now i'm myself, i dont' need a mortgage, college loans, a 50 hr work week... does any of that make sense?”