I'm a social anthropologist sailing from Spain to Australia, and this is my midlife crisis
In November 2024 I completed my PhD on the pursuit of happiness in the outdoors and set sail across the Atlantic ocean on my 34ft sailboat. This is my story.
The pursuit of hope in an unhinged world
What if there was a different way to live? One that’s not built around status, hustling, and grinding, but around community, sharing, mutual aid, and harmony with the ecosystem?
A few days ago I spoke with a friend who has been following me for a while. “I still don’t know what your project is” he said. So here we go:
This journey, which I jokingly refer to as my midlife crisis, is the result of eight years of anthropology research into the good life, and specifically, the way that the natural world has been seen as a source of joy and meaning. Above all, it was a project that was born out of concern with the kind of future that is emerging at the moment.
Why is it so hard for us to make the changes that we know we need to make? For me, a big reason is that we perceive these changes as a sacrifice: both of comfort and of our dreams. But what if living a life in harmony with Earth can be a gift rather than a hassle?
So I’ve set out to test the insights that came out of my research into environmental philosophy and eco-anarchist theory, using myself as a guinea pig. The thought is: if I can make it work, so can others.
Through this journey I learn from the everyday challenges of sailing, and the people and places I meet along the way. Experimenting with worldviews and philosophies that see the world as alive, I’m letting the universe nudge and guide me in the right direction while I explore life’s big mysteries at a moment of planetary emergency and spiritual resurgence across science, politics, and everyday life.
If you are as curious as me about how we might get ourself out of this mess that we’ve created, and how we can find a path back to meaning and purpose I invite you to tag along—online or IRL, and to support my rogue ethnographic project!
Here, I will share reflections on the challenges I’m facing, the lessons I’m learning, and how you might apply them in your own life to navigate adversity and turn your dream future into your reality.
Together we can build a kinder, better, and happier future!
Peace out, T ✌️
By subscribing to this newsletter you will get:
In-depth updates from my journey every two weeks
Reflections on how to turn grief, pain, and challenges into opportunities
Philosophical reflections on meaning and purpose
In addition, paid subscribers get:
A copy of the e-book on the anthropology of happiness I’m currently writing
Your name mentioned in the acknowledgements of the book
Priority access to my crew list if you want to sail with me
For my biggest supporters: A postcard from somewhere in the world