Yet here I am, excited, anxious, and hopeful that our latest plans will become a reality in just three short years. It may seem like a long way off, but we have so much to accomplish in that time, that I think it will keep us all very busy and very focused.
Here's the plan................TRAVEL THE WORLD, LIVE IN DISTANT PLACES AND LEARN.
For how long? I don't yet know. At least two years........but after that I am not sure. Perhaps by the time we get started, we will have a better idea of how we will finish.
Where will we go? I have no idea.......well, I have ideas, but they include more destinations than I could possibly see in 5 years of travel. I am actually hoping we can stay for long durations in some of these places, so we can develop an appreciation of the cultures and lifestyles. So far, at the top of my short list is China, Europe, North America, Central America and South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa.
What about the kids? Oh, they can come too! That will be half the fun. I am gearing up for a period of "roadschooling". By the time we leave, our girls should be 10 and 11 years old. They are already great travelers and they are one of the main motivations for our decision to travel the world.
I feel that our small Central Valley community is a bit too isolated from the outside world. Life is all about TV shows, video games, teen idols, texting, shopping and being popular. Maybe that's what life is about in other places too, but I am ready to take my girls to a whole new level of awareness. I want them to be able to feel an appreciation for history, nature, culture, art, and how they all relate to each other. In a traditional school setting, they will read about those things in books. But in a worldwide setting, they will be able to see and touch and experience those things first hand. I think that if they can get a concept of the "big picture", then they can more adequately prioritize all those other activities that make up teen life. I want my daughters to have a unique, exceptional and educational experience that will surpass the local junior high school on just about every level.
For me, the benefits are obvious. Who wouldn't love to travel the world? Oh, I know that most people are happily tied into pursuing the "American Dream". The definition of "home" is a fixed location with a mortgage, two nice cars and good schools for the kids. It's Christmas at Grandma's house, traditions that cannot be missed, and a formula that's worked for generations.
Well, I am willing to mix up the definition of "home". I think it's where my family is and how we grow together. It's not about the property, the house, the cars, the furnishings. It's not us getting together for a couple of hours in the evenings and on weekends to watch TV, finish homework, eat a quick meal, and do chores. I want to actually share the fun time and the learning time with my girls and my husband. I don't want to be tied to old traditions. I want to experience different ones in different cultures. I want to make new friends, develop new talents and expand my horizons.
And in case you were wondering, "no" I didn't just win the lottery. We are not rich and will not be jet-setting from continent to continent staying in posh resorts. In fact, that would pretty much defeat the whole purpose of what I hope to achieve. I have followed the journeys of other families who have undertaken similar adventures and I believe it can be done for less than the cost of living a traditional life here in America. So many of the routine expenses will be gone. I plan to do this all the way, selling the cars and most of our possessions. We already sold our home and it feels so good to not be tied down. But, I'll get more into the planning stages in future posts.
Consider this post "the big announcement".
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