ok, my turn finally.
2022 meant ibiza was 'back' properly. you all know the deal, the clubs opened at the end of april and closed in the middle of october and the island unsurprisingly has had a record season after two years with no real nightlife. everyone wanted to have their bit of ibiza fun this year and the island was busy all season.
for me personally, it's been a very positive year, but with some important changes. as you might remember, I properly launched my hiking company balearic outdoor adventures last year and last winter I took the hiking guide course and this summer I got my activity license too. so I knew I wanted to pursue this venture further. at the same time at spotlight we knew clubbing would finally be back properly. but before the season started I got a job offer to which I simply couldn't say no to...
as most of you know, I've been working for pacha since the end of april. it was actually the second time they've approached me, we once had a conversation about five years ago, but back then I was simply too happy working at spotlight and politely declined the offer. this year the situation was different, after ten full years with ibiza spotlight I was ready for something new and me wanting to do both the hikes as well as a second job also played a big role in this decision. the day I called
@james to let him know my spotlight time is over was a tough one, but they understood and the split was totally amicable. I often see the spotlight guys and I know that most of the spotlight team will be friends for life. same goes for some of the members on here, so even if I'm not as active as I used to be, I'm still around
combining pacha work and balearic outdoor adventures meant pretty much no days off until the end of november. but I knew from the start that this would be how my summer would look and so I went for it. hike-office-hike-office-bed-office-hike-office-bed-hike-office-hike-office-bed-office-hike-office-bed etc for months nonstop. but everything went really well and I made it to winter in one piece! obviously it also meant I didn't get to go out a lot this summer. my wife and I counted at the end of october and I think I made it into a club at nighttime about 12 times this summer. I used to get to that number in about 3 weeks in my best spotlight years!! but hey, there's a time for everyting isn't it? now it's about quality rather than quantity. less is more and I'm truly happy with how my life has changed. looking back covid was indeed a bit of a blessing in disguise, I always knew I wanted to launch an outdoor activities venture and the whole covid break actually gave me the time to do it.
what else? both the wife and me are healthy, finances are better again (they ought to be, I've never worked as much as I did this year) and not having the economical fear is a big weight off our shoulders. we're even able to finally go on some holidays again so I'm honestly super happy. I'm also continuing my education further this winter and doing the second course within the mountaineering world, which means that if all goes well, at the end of the winter I'll be a proper mountain leader (so could then also take people up some peaks of the pyrenees in winter and such). my wife has also changed jobs in the middle of the summer and is very happy with the change as well.
resuming, the bloody covid nightmare is finally over and life is good again.
two things...
one - I wish you all the best for 2023. I truly hope you all stay healthy and find happiness in what you do in life (if not: change...it's never too late).
two - to everyone that's supported me in the last two years by coming on a hike, thank you. it genuinely means the world to me.
happy new year!