Last Thursday, I was invited to have dinner with friends at an Uncle Duane's house. Yes, just Uncle Duane. My escort happens to be a lifelong friend of Uncle Duane - whom I had never heard of until I received the invitation. Apparently, it's a rare occasion that he's in town and he's renting a must-see house in Honolulu. So around 6:00pm we approached the house on top of Mount Tantalus - and I knew then that I was in for a spectacular evening.
It was an acre of land sitting near the top of the mountain. The property covered with fragrant native Hawaiian flowers and a humungous mountain apple tree bursting with thousands of tiny red treats. As we walked past the house towards the lanai, it's now obvious what the main attraction truly is. Nowhere else in O'ahu can someone have this view from their home other than here. It was a stunning uninterrupted view of all of southern O'ahu from Diamond Head to Ewa. A truly breathtaking view as we watched the sun set over the city and the sparkling lights began their evening dance.
What was equally amazing was Uncle Duane himself! It's more common now to meet people who travel the remote corners of the world and even take year long sabbaticals to travel at their heart's delight - what I like to call Eat, Pray, Love Syndrome - but I personally had never met such a person until now. Uncle Duane has been roaming the world 365 days a year continent by continent, country by country and city by city for more than a decade and never visiting the same destination twice...#ThisDivaIsImpressed - and slightly jealous. Ok...a lot jealous!
At around 40 years old, Uncle Duane had an epiphany. He realized that he wanted to spend his life enjoying life and all the things that brought him happiness :: seeing the world, meeting people and simplicity. He spends three months in each city before moving on to the next - renting homes like these through the internet at an unbelievable bargain. He could easily start the year in Pokhara, Nepal and end it in Fortaleza, Brazil - taking with him nothing, but a carry-on sized suitcase that fits everything he owns.
Remarkable. Astounding. Here is a man who has taken the ultimate risk of leaving comfort and convenience behind to literally experience every inch of this beautiful planet. It made me stop and think, "would I ever have the guts or money to do that?" I wish I did. And someday I wish I do. But for now, I'll take this time to explore this new place I call home and appreciate this view that so few people have the privilege to experience.
A hui hou!
