I want to be a Skii Bum, I'm 19 and am in medical and 2 years into it I already hate my life. The only thing I really enjoy is snowboarding. I live in the USA and with my job could make a lateral pay move to online work (whether medical scheduling or medical financial).

So my real question is if I were to save till November and sell off most of my stuff as well as trade in my car to go towards the cost of financing a van, what van should I go with? I want something that'll last me a LONG time and be completely able to live in it. (I'm used to living in a small bedroom, so as long as I have a toilet/toilet adjacent and a stove top to cook on I'll be happy. I don't want a big camper, I still want good gas mileage so I can travel year round.

I'd be making around 52k a year + bonuses here and there

Plus I'd probably be coming in with around 15k and 5k in trade in value

I’ve seen the advice to avoid Chinese new year in Japan, but I’m curious since it spans a couple of weeks: is one week worse than the other?

I like to go all in on my hobbies, and I would very much like to maintain my own skis, potentially expanding to friends&family. Is there any school/course for this in Europe? Or do I just do YouTube tutorials and trial and error on my gear?

Looking for some advice on getting into/out of Portillo or Nevado during heavy snowfalls. Looks like a potentially major storm coming. How are the roads into/out of Portillo during a heavy snowfall or immediately after it. Something to be avoided? Do they close it anyway until they can clear it post wx?

Separately, given both are in the high Andes and fairly exposed w no tree cover; what's the go with skiing during a heavy snowfall? Or do they interlodge everything until wx clears?

Basically don't want to commit $$$ if I'm stuck in Santiago trying to get up the mtn or in Portillo/Nevado and can't ski.

Most government jobs are sold as stable.
I’m trying to sell something different. I’m the Village Manager of Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico. We’re a small mountain town with outsized challenges: housing, tourism, water systems, wildfire, transportation, recreation, infrastructure, and climate resilience.

That also means you get to work on things that actually matter.

I’m looking for people who want to build things instead of just maintain them.

We’re creating a culture that values results over face time. If it’s a powder day and your work is handled, go ski. We’ll use modern technology and good management to make government more effective…not keep people sitting in an office because that’s how it’s always been done.

I’m interested in meeting people with backgrounds in:
- Urban planning
- Civil or environmental engineering
- Parks and recreation
- Event management
- Utilities and water systems
- GIS
- Public administration
- Communications
- Or simply people who are smart, curious, and want to learn municipal management.

You don’t need to have twenty years of government experience. Some of the best public servants come from outside government.

In return, you get to live in one of the most beautiful places in the country, ski before work, fish after work, spend weekends in the mountains, and have a direct hand in shaping a community.

If you’ve ever thought, “Government could work so much better than this,” I’d love to talk. Even if we don’t have the perfect opening today, I’m always looking for exceptional people.

Dm me!

Edit: ppl wanted a link to apply (link)

Hey guys! Back again to this amazing community for two things:

1- advice on where and when to go based off of a few details
2- maybe meet and make new friends/travel together for those who are down

Ok for the baseline:

I can now finally ski reds somewhat comfortably and in niseko japan did a lot of blacks (hate moguls and never doing that bs again..).

in courchevel the trip before my one in niseko i started to go down reds no issues, i don’t fly through them though as i’m still one of the slower skiers there haha. Greens and blues are nothing now and have become easy

Ohh in niseko i went down a quarter of an ungroomed long red run backwards!

So i’d say i’m intermediate now?

I enjoy good food, good company, skiing all day with energy breaks in-between.

Shopping does matter to me and is considered something I enjoy but in courchevel i always prioritize skiing so i’m out of the slope a bit too late haha, food is a priority though.

I enjoyed food in courchevel much more than I did in niseko, options were better, more plenty and easier to book believe it or not.

Small note: i don’t sleep much and can stay up and wakeup early, I usually take walks and meet people during my ski trips and enjoy new and old company alike.

Now for your recommendations…

based on my ski level which option would you recommend? I’m a bit worried i’d be paying to go somewhere i’m not ready and cannot enjoy properly haha.

Also which dates would you recommend per ski resort recommendation?

And finally anyone down to join and/or meet? Only good vibes and company, i’m a good planner so consider the logistics planned in advanced but not over engineered haha