During a recent sermon, our pastor preached about not living a life of “accumulating regrets.” At that moment, my husband and I glanced at each and we both knew what the other was thinking…let’s do it. Two Southwest tickets and four weeks later, we were sitting in Bar Louie in Chicago for one of the nationwide Meet, Plan, Go! events.
We had just taken the first step in planning our RTW family gap year.
There’s just something about being in a room packed full of travel junkies that is intoxicating. When my husband and I left the Meet Plan Go meeting, we were high as planes mid-flight. Unlike most “conferences,” there were no awkward conversations with strangers. You see, each participant’s name tag announced two important items of interest: the last place visited and the next on the list. Conversations flowed loosely and easily between people who’d just met. The intoxicant: Travel Talk.
“Wow, we really should have done this 15 years ago,” was my initial reaction after spending four glorious hours with people who had really done it. By “it,” I mean extended ’round the world travel (RTW). 16 years ago my life was so simple. I was mid-20’s, freshly divorced with a job and an apartment. That was it. No husband, no kids, no pets, no mortgage. Unfortunately, I drank the corporate Kool-aid and decided it wasn’t the right time for such an adventure.
Fast forward to present.
We’re a typical suburban family leading a typical suburban life. I’m now early 40’s with a 50-ish husband, three businesses between us, two middle-schoolers, a dog, a cat, and a big house. I now understand that the time is never “right.” However, the desire to experience the world is one that comes from the core of your soul. It’s either there, or it’s not. And here’s the kicker…if it’s there, it never goes away. Ever. All the stock options and vacation time and fancy kitchens won’t scratch that itch. Trust me.
Since leaving the Meet Plan Go meeting in October, we have put the wheels in motion for our RTW family sabbatical. The first step was getting our daughters on board. It’s hard enough for two people to agree on the particulars, much less four people. Although my husband and I might do it differently if it was just the two of us, it’s not just the two of us. Everyone’s vote counts. We’ve currently negotiated to start our five month tour in October 2013. One daughter insists on visiting London (Harry Potter world, anyone?), the other is interested in French Polynesia, my husband wants to explore New Zealand, and I want to return to SE Asia. We know it’s a LOT to cover in five short months, and we’re prepared to let the final version unfold along the way. Based on the wise counsel of RTW veterans, we’re opting to buy point to point tickets rather than RTW tickets. Flexibility is key.
We’re now arranging the pieces of the RTW puzzle. Remember paragraph four? It’s overwhelming as a whole, so we’re breaking it into small pieces and finding solutions for each piece.
RTW planning so far:
- Thanks to eBay and CraigsList, we are purging our excess stuff and preparing to rent out our house.
- We’ve sold one business, and have interim solutions in the works for the other two.
- We are fortunate to live in a school district that values these types of experiences. Between homeschooling resources and the girls’ teachers, we will ensure they are prepared for re-entry in the spring.
- Did I mention that one daughter is in the middle of orthodontic treatment? We have a solution for that, too. Our top-notch, well-traveled orthodontist has world wide professional connections. We’ll visit orthodontists as necessary along the way.
- Finally, our beloved pets. This is the most difficult detail of all–logistically and emotionally. We will place them temporarily with loving foster families. We’re still working on this one… (Update, August 2013: thanks to the Flanagans and Morhards, we now have temporary homes for Molly and Jingles!)
The bottom line:
For every challenge there is a work-around. It’s just a matter of identifying it. We all have a million and one reasons why the time isn’t right for a family gap year. However, I am writing this from the aisle seat of a LAN flight from Cusco to Lima, Peru. There’s nothing like hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu to remind you that so many of the world’s great experiences shouldn’t be postponed until your Golden Years.
You can always work, but can you always take a family sabbatical and travel around the world?
Ready to explore the world? Then check out THE PASSPORT PROJECT and THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL TRACKER to inspire and manage your wanderlust.
Interested in more epic adventures? Check out the following:
- Camping in Antarctica: Everything You Need to Know to Survive
- How to Save Thousands on Your Family’s Galapagos Adventure
- Ten Day Namibia Road Trip: Sand, Seals, and Safari
- How to Plan a Budget Vacation to the Luxurious Maldives
- How to Book an Amazing and Affordable South Africa Safari
- No Regrets: Bungee Jumping in Queenstown, New Zealand
- The Passport Project: A DIY Journey Around the World
Interested in more cultural adventures? Check out following:
- Three Tips for Ethically Visting Myanmar‘s Long-Neck Women
- How to Volunteer at Delhi’s Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Sikh Community Kitchen
- Burial, Cremation, and Reincarnation in Bali
- Learn to Meditate at Truc Lam, Da Lat, Vietnam’s Buddhist Monastery
- Family Travel Idea: Spend the Night with the Embera Puru Indians in Panama
- Don’t be Flashy! Guidelines for Luang Prabang’s Alms Giving Ceremony
- Cambodia‘s Genocide: What I Never Learned in School
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We just bought your book because the reviews reminded us of a family from Alabama we met on the upper Zambezi about 22 years ago. They were a family of four (Mom, Dad & two young teens) from Alabama who were in the middle of an RTW adventure. I’ve often wondered what happened to them. Would you happen to know?
Wow! How interesting! Could it have been Charles and Mary Welden? They are a family from our neighborhood who went RTW before we did, but that would’ve been more like 12-15 years ago. Thank you for buying our book. I can’t wait to hear your feedback. Enjoy the journey!
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[…] got my baton and took three twirling lessons just before leaving on our big RTW trip. I took it along so I could practice twirling while we were […]
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[…] and I first decided to go on a worldwide family adventure in October 2012, and the plan was to depart in the fall of 2013. So we had one year to put all the pieces together. […]
How exciting!!!! I can’t wait to read more about your journey! Safe travels and much love to you all!
Susanne, Eric, Jackson, and Lucy Anne
Thinking about you all and prayed for you all last night in our family time. Update when you get a chance. Dying to hear how the start of this AMAZING ADVENTURE is going.
love you, my friend-
The Rasmussen’s
So excited to live vicariously through you guys!! So excited for you. Our family will definitely be on the praying side of this journey. We love you guys!
I’m practically in tears as I read this on a flight to a set of boring meetings. I guess it’s now the G4s turn to live vicariously through you. So glad we “met” when we were in Thailand. Raising a glass to a wonderful journey. Anthony
Thanks, Anthony! If it’s any consolation, you should feel proud of G4s part in making this happen. Seriously, it was only because of trailblazing families like yours that convinced us that we weren’t crazy for wanting to do this. I hope we can be that same sort of influence for some other poor family caught up in the suburban grind.
Kellie, your family will be the poster family for the Journey Class. My family will keep you all in your prayers. We admire your adventurous spirit and will live vicariously through you. Praying for a safe and wonderful experience. God Speed!! The Knights
Thanks, Stephanie! We’ll take all the prayers we can get. 🙂
I think it is so great you all are carrying out your dream! That takes faith, courage, ambition and energy! Good for you for taking advantage of the moment. We will enjoy getting to follow your journey and wish you the best. If we can help in any way, we are here-just let us know. We will definitely keep you in our prayers for happy, safe,meaningful travel. Take care! Cynthia
Thank you, Cynthia. We’re counting on you to keep us on top of the Journey Class prayer list!