Burned out by corporate America, 29-year-old Oliver Widger cashed out his 401k and charted a new course: a solo sailing trip from Oregon to Hawaii with his cat, Phoenix. Follow Widger’s inspiring journey as he proves it’s possible to escape the 9-to-5 grind and pursue a life of adventure on the open seas. This bold move to leave corporate America and embrace a nomadic life at sea has gained him over 1 million followers documenting his journey online.
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Oliver Widger gave up on his corporate job to chase a life of leisure on the open seas
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The 29-year-old set sail from the Oregon coast and is headed to Hawaii for his first stop
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His only passenger is his cat Phoenix
An Oregon resident is giving up his life on land and setting sail across the globe, after becoming drained by his job in corporate America.
Oliver Widger, who has amassed one million followers on Instagram since he began documenting his journey online, spoke exclusively to the Associated Press via Zoom on Wednesday, May 14, about what inspired his decision to quit his job with “no money, no plan” and $10,000 of debt. It seemingly started four years ago, when he was diagnosed with a syndrome that carried a risk of paralysis.
“The world kind of sucks and, like, I don’t think I’m alone in how I felt with my work,” the 29-year-old said. “You can be making $150,000 a year and you still feel like you’re just making ends meet, you know what I mean? And I think people are just tired of that and working really hard for nothing and want a way out.”
Sailing With Phoenix/Instagram
Oliver Widger on a boat.
Widger cashed in his 401K and bought a boat. He is currently en route to Hawaii — his only passenger being his cat Phoenix whom he found in a dumpster about seven years ago.
“I work a corporate job at a tire shop. I absolutely hate this life,” he previously said in a selfie video from his car. “I’m gonna buy a sailboat and I’m going to sail around the world for the rest of my life until I die.”
During his interview, Widger admitted he had some close calls while out on the open water.
“A huge wave came and it slammed shut,” he said of getting locked in his boat’s engine compartment while at sea.
Widger said he was fortunate enough to have a wrench with him that allowed him to escape, however, he called the moment “the second scariest thing in my life.”
“On April 30th, 2025, at 8:00am, I left Warrenton Marina on the Oregon Coast,” he captioned an Instagram post that same day. A photo showed him standing solo on his boat with the sun setting behind him.
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Oliver Widger on a boat.
“Ahead of me is the journey of a lifetime. Over two thousand miles of open ocean. No land. No help. Just wind, waves, and a boat I prepared with my own two hands. and of course, my first mate Phoenix,” he continued.
Widger wrote he was optimistic to “find pieces of myself I never knew were missing,” adding, “I’ve already won because I found the courage to try.”
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His journey to Hawaii has inspired others, with friends planning a welcome party for his arrival.
“I’ve worked so hard for so long and I’m just gonna snorkel for like 30 days and just look at fish,” he said in his interview of his plans when he arrives in Hawaii. After that, it will be the French Polynesia before he continues on.
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