It’s funny to read stuff written by older and much wiser people about what they wish they would have done when they were younger.
Most seem to regret that they spent too much. Probably didn’t save as much as they could, or gotten in on retirement accounts as early as they should have. Some look back wistfully to college years and yearn for the simplicity of life and expenses, to days when diets of ramen noodles and generic soda where enjoyable. A life without all the trappings of their newfound life, no house payment, no kids, no car payments, etc.
However, I’m young. And I think it sucks. Well, sort of… In a way, it does, because I listen to the people who urge the younger generations to save earlier, to not spend so much, to not get so stuck in a life I may end up not liking so that I can change it without too much trouble. But it sucks, because my funds are extremely limited, though my desire to do things and experience things is all but limited.
For one, racing is expensive. High performance driving events aren’t cheap in and of themselves, but compounded with the fact that the nearest track to where I live is a good five plus hours away just plain sucks. I’m super excited for September to come and for my Miata and I to hit the track for the very first time, but I’m worried that it’s going to be so much fun that it’s all I’m going to want to do… Autocross is great, but tracks are more appealing to me, honestly. I think I might do better. But it’s expensive, and it’s not something I can do all the time, no matter how much I like it.
Travel’s tough. Period.
For the rest of the events I want to do… Careful planning has to go into them. Then again, I really can’t plan too much. My husband’s in the military, so at any time really they can send him somewhere, despite any plans we may have had. I was so happy that our trip to Myrtle Beach went off without a hitch…. It was a blast, I just wish it could have been longer. Then again, it also got me hooked on traveling for car events… The people were great, the event was great and the location was great. I got home after Myrtle Beach and immediately planned our trip to Eureka Springs for another Miata event, which was also a blast back in June.
Big dreams are expensive.
Everyone says to dream big, but nobody ever bothers to tell you how expensive big dreams can be. My current dilemma is how much I’m upset about the Miatas at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca event. It was held for the first time in 2009, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Miata. Well, it was such a fun and successful event, that they’re already planning on having it again next year, in 2010.
Since I’ve really been into my Miata, modding her and racing, it has been a huge dream of mine to take her to Laguna Seca and drive on the track… Not only is it a great track and would I get to drive one of the most gut-wrenching corners in the world, MRLS’ famous corkscrew, but it’s Mazda’s track… The very company that gave life to my precious baby.
And this very event would give me a chance to drive that track. With my car. I cannot even begin to tell you how upset I am over the fact that this opportunity is so close, yet seems impossibly far away…
For one, I’m not sure of the exact dates. It was in March, so it would probably be in March again, and I’ve got school. (This past year it was during Spring Break, when we were in Myrtle Beach on the opposite coast.) The bigger problem is the cost. I’m not sure how much the event is, how much the track day is, how much lodging in California is, etc.
Then there’s the 2,000 miles in between me and my asphalt-covered version of heaven. Sigh. Being young is fabulous, but being too broke to pick up for this possibly once-in-a-lifetime chance sucks hardcore. It’s each and every one of those miles that I curse, because if there was just half of them I’d be happily planning my first-ever visit to California. (Never mind I’ve wanted to go to California for YEARS but have yet to get the chance.)
Not much consolation.
Really, there isn’t anything I can say but that it sucks. I hear and read so many stories of people missing out on great opportunities, that I just don’t want to be that person. I don’t want to look back and say, “Gee, I had the chance to do something I really wanted to… But I didn’t. Man, was that dumb.”
However, in an effort to cheer me up a bit, I’m pestering my husband about us going to a Hot Import Nights event. While it isn’t entirely my scene, from the skewed perception I get via pictures anyhow, neither of us have been to one and HIN is a big name in the import scene as a whole. It’s a mere five hours away, in Dallas, this October. Perhaps not my ideal solution or my first choice for something to go to, but I’ll take what I can get at this point… A trip like this won’t cost much at all, to be honest.
Think positive, I suppose it doesn’t hurt.
And while it may not be the greatest, at least I can say I’ve been to HIN. I’m sure not everyone can say that, and I’m also sure I’ll at least see one or two cars that I like. While you see some pictures of the cars that show up, I know there are probably plenty that you never do see… And at least a couple of them have to be my sort of style.
No, it won’t ever make me feel less awful about being so close to the chance to go out to MRLS, but it gives me something else to look forward to to take the edge off. I can still plan for the event as much as I can, and hope that some extra puzzle pieces fall into place before the event happens and maybe I’ll catch a lucky break. I just can’t write it off entirely… Just in case. One really never knows.
In the end, all I know after I graduate and get done with school, there are a few things I’m doing:
1. Turbo’ing the Miata, if she isn’t already turbo’d.
2. Developing a plan to pay off all student loans in five to seven years. (Married, living on hubby’s salary like we are now, mine paying for the fun stuff.)
3. Planning that awesome car-oriented tour of Europe… Including, but certainly not limited to: Driving the Nurburgring, taking the ‘Ring taxi, seeing part of the 24 Hours of Le Mans live, seeing the Porsche factory & museum in Stuttgart, possibly going back to England and visiting Silverstone and hopefully seeing Ferrari’s factory in Italy.
Until then, though, I’ll continue to agree with those that say, “youth is wasted on the young.” It feels so true sometimes.
No related posts.
And sports cars are wasted on the old!
You bet!!