HONOLULU (KHON2) — After being diagnosed with a potentially paralyzing neck condition, an Oregon man decided to cash out his retirement, buy a boat and sail to Hawaiʻi with his cat.
Oliver Widger, a 29-year-old former tire shop manager, bought a $50,000 sailboat, fixed it up and set sail toward the islands with his cat Phoenix.
For Widger, his diagnosis showed him that there’s way more to life than working 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. everyday.
“You know, you work these like, 60, 65 hour weeks and you can even have a good job and work in these crazy hours and you’re still not making, you know, can be making $150,000 a year and you still feel like you’re just making ends meet,” the new sailor said. “I think people are just tired of that and working really hard for nothing and want a way out.”
His journey has gone viral on TikTok, leading him to have a million followers on the video-based social media site, as well as on Instagram. His followers are helping him fund his nautical voyage.