Young Retirees Club

Life is tedious. You've been working a temp data entry job at Management Consulting Incorporated but "temporary" won't be over soon enough. As you enter the office on this particular day you are overcome with the reality that this place is literally the first level of hell. <br><br><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/4530e30d6a57a8ffe7e3bf4f5ad9b402/82fab43b824c087a-59/s500x750/a8f56e58f5c33842eaefd82cf0250688ffcf661f.jpg"><br><br>I mean look at it. You can't survive here much longer. This place is sucking your soul, drip by drip. You only have one option at this point. [[pull a Ferris Bueller and take the day off]]

No one you work with has seen you yet, thank god. You run to the elevator and succeed in escaping to the lobby. <br><br><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/8f1ace2ea8995f12afccc4ed546c88b2/326cb8ba5ea12dc0-9c/s1280x1920/55865509fc5fae11247ef9a07f354cf88abc690a.jpg"><br><br> [[get the hell out of here]]

Do you... <br><br><img src="http://www.ldcpaving.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/pavement-maintenance-corporate-office-parks.jpg"><br><br> [[head home]] [[drive with no destination in mind]]

You pull up to home and breathe a sigh of relief. You're exhausted from doing nothing. The minute you step in the door you realize you want nothing more than to settle in with a refreshing bag of chips while you surf the web. You of course go to your favorite web-site of all time, YoungRetireesClub.com and come across a captivating rabbit hole... <br><br><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/Xbaqg3KwpxHjO" width="480" height="365" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p></p><br><br> [[fall down an Internet rabbit hole]]

The open road! You <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UaJAnnipkY">dance while you drive in your car</a> feeling more alive than you have in years. You're unstoppable. As you cruise you notice a huge plane to your left, signaling you inadvertantly drove yourself to the airport. <br><br><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/ca7ae8e31b0bf5a01c666d9eeaa39412/d7f95e428fdcb02d-3e/s1280x1920/6ba7e50034845bb4cdefcf35404c5f5f0a3c5c05.jpg"><br><br> Suddenly you remember your friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kehecker/">Katrina</a>, a flight attendant and pilot in training, has been offering you a free ride for years and you've always been too afraid to take her up on it... but fear isn't stopping you now! [[to the airport!]]

Whoops. Though you had a rollicking good time exploring the Internet and learned much about the mysteries of the Universe and your future, the sun has long since set and it's getting close to 3am. Time to go to bed? ... and... go to work tomorrow? Perhaps, but then again, this day has truly been rejuvinating and you're feeling inspired to think outside of the box. Maybe next time. <br><br><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/3o6gb2Oy0bdNpdxNfO" width="480" height="270" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p></p> [[Office ]]

Katrina is stoked to see you!!<br> "What's the occasion?" she asks.<br>You respond along the lines, "Just felt like I should live a little... is that ride you offered still on the table?"<br>"Dude! Of course! I'm supposed to work a flight to Maui tonight, you're welcome to deadhead with me... but since you're already skipping school I wouldn't mind getting someone to cover my shift and we can head in my cessna somewhere like, I don't know, Detroit." <br><br><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/6216aab463af8a6986aeb72600a37ab4/ea3f166e33b5d98c-4a/s400x600/bb9806799d9196a82d2ee53be4511f27575087ff.png"><br><br> [[deadhead to Maui]] [[cessna to Detroit]]

"Maui!? Uh, duh!," you say.<br>"Alright let's do this."<br> It's luckily a slow day and you have no problem joining Katrina on her flight.<br><br><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/ab008cd387e074de5736c8bb5b42e0f1/ea3f166e33b5d98c-da/s1280x1920/6901d2e1b0abc43ee4ae131b8b01ac320b122a2e.png"><br><br>The flight is smooth, celebration is literally in the air. Fellow passengers are already wearing their aloha shirts and Hawaiian flowers. The mood is kind of like this scene from "A Very Brady Sequel" <br><br><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6Tjcx6B5lbA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> [[come in for safe landing]]

"Well, I've never been to Detroit," you ponder.<br>"Dude, let's do it!"<br>"You sure you don't mind taking off?"<br>"I love taking off," Katrina smiles.<br>"No, I know, I mean-"<br>"It's the spirit of the day! Let's go on an adventure!"<br><br>You and Katrina are given the clear for take-off as soon as the sun sets. Katrina is a skilled pilot and your nerves calm after you're finally in the air. You can see Disneyland from up here!<br><br> <img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/e3938d4894c5f883641a0adc7a435d24/ea3f166e33b5d98c-bb/s1280x1920/32156fca8141b0304d6f607e07ca99d7108c77a5.png"><br><br>After some altitude cruising Katrina casually adds, "It's a longer trip than I usually take in this plane so it might be a good idea to stop for gas, up to you though." [[stop for gas]] [[wing it]]

Katrina takes you in for a landing, somewhere around Kansas, you're guessing.<br><br><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/ffb70723aa9200f0ebb5297b245c70b6/ea3f166e33b5d98c-2c/s1280x1920/121838e34966f12c143e836349e7ee69b47fa782.png"><br><br>She's a pro, and clearly knows her way around the plane as she refuels.<br>"Do you think I completely ruined my life forever because I basically just got myself fired from the job I hate?"<br>"No, not at all," she says.<br>"How do you figure that?"<br>"It took me a while to figure out what I love, but once I found my flight attendant job the rest was easy. Getting my pilot's license has never felt like work because flying makes my heart sing. Maybe just stay open to falling in love with something unexpected."<br>"That's reasonable, I suppose."<br>"So what do you say, onward to Detroit? My friend is having a party we can stop by." [[Detroit]]

"If we don't stop are we going to crash?" you ask, nervously.<br>"No, no. We should be fine. Planes use 40% of their fuel just to take off so sometimes stopping to re-fuel on a flight like this doesn't make a big difference. We should have plenty of room to coast to our destination."<br>Katrina is confident so you try to relax. You look down below, the view is beautiful.<br><br> <iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/AUYRge2cgBnEs" width="480" height="320" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><br><br>You consider what Katrina said about the plane needing 40% of it's fuel to take off. Maybe a lot of endeavors in life are like that-- requiring a lot of energy to get off the ground. Oh well, you don't have to worry about what you'll do with the rest of your life this very moment, when your next stop is-- [[Detroit]]

You land safely in Detroit, and find it crazy to think that mere hours ago you were in a completely different place. Life can move pretty fast sometimes. <br><br><img src="https://www.visittheusa.com/sites/default/files/styles/hero_m_1300x700/public/images/hero_media_image/2018-06/fce72992a472cc5ea0bca7d3acaf3e9a.jpeg?itok=zUhSCAeM"><br><br>You didn't really think this far ahead though. You had no plans for Detroit. You've been conditioned to love plans, and going with the flow of the moment feels radically different in a mostly good but still uncomfortable way.<br><br>"So my friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shiva_honey/">Shiva Honey</a> is the High Priestess of the Satanic Temple and they're having an unveiling of their Baphomet statue tonight. Wanna join?" [[Satanic Temple]] [[No]]

You're definitely not in Kansas anymore. You quickly learn that <a href="https://thesatanictemple.com/">The Satanic Temple</a> is more of an activist group that trolls people in the name of religious freedom rather than some kind of "Eyes Wide Shut" situation. Everyone here is super nice, and everyone at the party does something for their community. You meet a girl who works for a suicide hotline. You meet someone else who runs an organization that collects essentials for the homeless population. Turns out Satanists are pretty enlightened.<br><br>The party gets into full swing when you see Shiva on her throne, alongside <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucien_Greaves">Lucien Greaves</a>.<br><br> <img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/eb34472fd1d60d633b55a2a0c965a33a/f227e23986e28bd0-1e/s1280x1920/d81c48e5755752be4f791e240379869d9ef2ba7d.jpg"><br><br>Katrina introduces you to Shiva.<br>"Thank you for coming!" Shiva says.<br>"Thank you for having me."<br>"Help yourself to anything! We have plenty of snacks and drinks. And we're about to start our black mass ritual. Would you like to join us?"<br> [[black mass ritual]] [[eat hummus]]

You enter a new room and someone wearing a pair of satry pants complete with hooves marks your forehead with some kind of ash. You roll with it, you've come this far.<br><br>Shiva stands up on a stage, and looks out at the crowd.<br>"Thank you! We are gathered here today to celebrate our freedom to be ourselves! And before we get started I want to give a reminder that all proceeds from tonight's event go to women's reproductive rights campaign! So be sure to check out the merch table!"<br><br><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/fe28b01417696d37baa00cce10e235eb/bdf19161b4897336-4d/s1280x1920/f8980719fd85b7250f78b89f821f5a38fb672a4f.png"><br><br>Shiva goes on, "Tonight we celebrate our tenets! One should strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason. The struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions. One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone. People are fallible. If one makes a mistake, one should do one's best to rectify it and resolve any harm that might have been caused. Every tenet is a guiding principle designed to inspire nobility in action and thought. The spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word!"<br>"Hail Satan!"<br><br>The event is lively and spirited, and after it's done everyone shuffles out of the room. You leave feeling somewhat inspired yourself, at least more open to the fact that your preconcieved notions about people have been wrong, and a feeling that the things you've feared the most have also been the spaces you've grown the most.<br><br> [[eat hummus]] [[dance]]

The snack table is a little more relaxed, and the food is great. This isn't any ordinary hummus. This is sacrificial beet red hummus. Yum. <br><br><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/a204f41c75658a06b5b1050493e5095b/6217d7107c1375f5-fe/s1280x1920/c09f14bb40a34c53c6364ec40605be2a4ccde55a.png"><br><br> Some weirdo girl approaches you and introduces herself as "Kaisa". She asks a little about you, and then pulls out a tarot deck.<br>"Want a reading?" she offers, "I'm trying to get more practice." [[get a tarot reading]] [[dance]]

Hawaii is the best. You and Katrina have a lovely three day vacation on the island while she has her layover. Drinks by the pool, swimming in the ocean alongside turtles, and the aloha spirit of the island completely rejuvinate you. <br><br><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/37Rg149dIivJHsIUaR" width="480" height="236" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><br><br>The entire trip is perfect and goes by so quickly. If only you could stay longer... [[head home]]

"Totally dude," Katrina nods. "I get it, but they don't <i>actually</i> worship Satan."<br>"Oh yeah, it's not that," you say, "I'm just a little overwhelmed and feel like maybe I should have stayed home."<br>"Seriously, no worries! I just want you to have a good time. I can get you a stand-by flight back home if you want, but if you still want to join, Shiva will let us sleep at her place after the party."<br><br><iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/bEVKYB487Lqxy" width="480" height="264" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe> [[Satanic Temple]] [[head home]]

"What's your sign?" Kaisa asks [[Aries]] [[Taurus]] [[Gemini]] [[Cancer]] [[Leo]] [[Virgo]] [[Libra]] [[Scorpio]] [[Sagittarius]] [[Capricorn]] [[Aquarius]] [[Pisces]]

You dance the rest of the night away...<br><br> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bs-1HZrvg8s" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br><br> [[party's over]]

Katrina walks up to you, "Woah! I haven't seen you this whole time. Did you have fun?"<br>"Yeah, surprisingly."<br>"Surprisingly!? I'd never show you a bad time."<br>You smile. She's right.<br><br><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/189dae5095c4aeceedc0047b56ec0ed5/f227e23986e28bd0-32/s1280x1920/a16c5a4ed8c58e9f8a83f5bd7b453ae51f1dc061.jpg">You and Katrina say your goodbyes to the new friends you've met and walk up to Shiva to conclude your Detroit trip. [[fly home]]

Flying home you feel like a completely different person than you were when you left. This whirlwind adventure has left a significant impact on you. As you process you consider how much you learned about yourself, and decide when you get back home you'll start to make some new choices. Even if your future choices are smaller than the giant leap you just took, you know that following your heart and being open to the unexpected is a path that will lead you to more fulfillment and joy. It's good to be alive. <br><br><img src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/b70fe95d372c76e207707aff9a02b14c/ea3f166e33b5d98c-e1/s540x810/ea2688045ec3e905a3b4f59db3f33c5341588465.png">