Preparing an application for "The Best Job in the World"

Children are observant.

Children see adults do stupid or foolhardy things, sometimes.

Children are impressionable.

When I was an observant, impressionable child, I saw a big group of adults doing something foolhardy. Of course, I wanted to try it, too.

Time went by and I neither had nor made the opportunity to do it. For whatever reason, I didn't have the right motivation. The circumstances weren't right. They say that everything happens when it happens for a reason, right?

Then, Tourism Queensland came out with an absolutely brilliant destination awareness campaign, billed as "The Best Job in the World". They're looking for someone to be an Island Caretaker for the islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Responsibilities include feeding the fish, cleaning the pool, and collecting the mail. Sort of. The responsibilities also include exploring the reef and the islands and reporting back. Now that is my kind of job.

I don't want the job for me, though (OK, I do, but that's not the main reason). I want the job for my wife, Fawn. 2008 was a rough year and she could use the break. I decided to apply for her sake.

To apply, I needed to make and submit a video of no more than 60 seconds in length. For my video, I decided to do that foolhardy thing that I've always wanted to do.  Rest assured,  I took the necessary safety precautions and turned "foolhardy" into "adventurous".

I think it worked out pretty well.

I'm currently preparing the video for release.  I'll post it here as soon as it's available.