From the shores of academia to the vast expanse of the Pacific, Backpacker Yachties and Other Stories is the latest compelling installment in the series Adventures in International Living, Self-Discovery, and a Life of Meaning. This third book invites readers on an unforgettable journey that blends thrilling maritime adventure with deeply human introspection.

Many young people are eager for an overseas experience, and are searching for direction, but for various reasons, never get there. In a world of increasing global interdependence, the lasting benefits of international travel and cross-cultural service experiences are truly priceless.  

In book one, Jim learned about YMCA overseas volunteer opportunities when he was a college student working a summer job at Silver Bay YMCA on Lake George, New York. After graduating in 1982, he was soon off to Sri Lanka for a six-week internship with the Colombo YMCA, where he led outdoor recreation and life skills programs for disadvantaged youth. He ended up staying for six months.  

After Sri Lanka, and his subsequent postings with the YMCAs in Western Samoa and Fiji Islands, Jim was hooked on the thrill of international living. For the next eight years, he worked with voluntary organizations in developing countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region.  

In Book Two, the stories continue in the remote, lawless mountains along the Thai/Burma border where Jim is running a small, isolated hospital without electricity or running water. The hospital had been built by an opium warlord for his breakaway revolutionary army, and was staffed with undocumented workers from nine ethnic groups, each speaking a different language.  

Sailing the high seas of the Pacific on a shoestring budget Moving forward and written with lyrical prose and unflinching honesty, Backpacker Yachties and  Other Stories follows Jim, at the time a young man on the cusp of finishing his PhD, weary from years of transience and heartbreak. Longing for a stable life, he’s unexpectedly pulled back into the allure of adventure when his friend Eddie returns from a harrowing voyage and proposes a bold expedition across the South Pacific.

Joined by Hal—a kind-hearted but inexperienced sailor just released from prison—the trio embarks on a journey that tests their resilience, friendships, and inner strength. As Jim navigates open waters, both literal and emotional, he finds himself confronting old wounds, new love, and the enduring search for purpose.

Spanning over a decade of international travel, humanitarian work, friendships, breakaway trips, and the quiet revelations that come with solitude, Jim’s story is as much about the world as it is about the soul. It is a testament to the power of embracing uncertainty and to the richness of life’s fleeting, often unplanned moments.

Why This Book Matters

Backpacker Yachties and Other Stories ignites the adventurous spirit—especially among young people—encouraging them to step beyond national borders, mainstream tourist traps, material comforts, and conventional career paths. For those in search of deeper meaning, it offers the possibility of finding it much earlier in life, before decades are lost to routine.

It will resonate with anyone who has ever longed to travel or live abroad. Jim’s journey proves that fulfillment and discovery are accessible to anyone, regardless of background or budget, through curiosity, courage, and a willingness to engage with the world authentically.

This is also a story of giving back. Jim’s international humanitarian work is a powerful reminder that expanding one’s world through service often leads to the most profound personal growth.

Perhaps most inspiring is Jim’s resilience. As we learned in book one, Jim receiving an ileostomy was a turning point that restored his health and freedom. His story is a reminder that what feels like the end may just be the beginning. With humor, heart, and humility, Jim shows how embracing change and adapting with positivity can open new doors—and new adventures.

Backpacker Yachties and Other Stories is available now internationally at Amazon.

James Cameron Mielke (Jim) is originally from Buffalo, New York, and grew up as a pastor’s son. At age 19 he was fitted with an external pouch, following years of pain, depression and suffering with Crohn’s disease. The pain and misery were gone. Almost immediately after receiving the ‘bag,’ he felt strong and exhilarated and was catapulted into a whole new energized life. For the first time in years, he was free to enjoy all that life offers and that freedom continues now, 45 years later. 

Over the years, Jim has spoken to college students, members of voluntary organizations and other interested groups about world service work and other options for international experiences – just as someone spoke to him 45 years ago, when he was a summer employee at the YMCA.  

Jim has lived and worked in over 20 countries of the Asia-Pacific region. In that time, he completed his Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Public Health at the University of Hawaii. This was funded by a State of Hawaii academic award and a US Government grant administered by the East-West Center research institute in Honolulu, whose mission is to “promote better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue.