We have been thinking and dreaming of this adventure for a long time. Not actually planning it, but letting it percolate in the back of our minds. Now we have finally seized the day, rented out the house and are setting out in a few months.
Both of our other "big moves" - from Oakland to Perth, and then 6 years later back to Oakland from Perth, were conceived of and executed in less than 5 weeks. So this luxurious 3 months of planning time may just prove to be anxiety-inducing!
The hankering for a stepping-off-the-treadmill adventure probably started for me with a Year 7 trip with my parents and brother for their long service leave. We missed a term of school, and travelled around Europe, and no chasms opened up to swallow me socially or academically on our return. I tested the theory again as an exchange student at 17 and despite some unsavory shenanigans by the long distance boyfriend, that year away enriched and inspired me way more than the loss of what I missed at home. And various other adventures that I won't bore you with.
Josh had many seat-of-the-pants hippy road trips to Mexico as a kid (he will write a book about it one day, I am sure!) that provide a back drop to this current undertaking.
So here we are, taking the road less travelled, with our kids as co-conspirators. No real plans, but plenty of ideas. Hoping the wind will blow us in some exciting directions. Inspirational, you say? Talk to us in 6 months when the glow of JFDI has worn off (I know that looks like JEDI, but it isn't*) and the stark reality of "homeschooling" has set in.
*see here for definition!