Where to begin?
When you start to ask questions you realize that there are more people out there that have or know someone who has done something similar. You are not alone!
Aside from the self-doubt, wondering if you are mad to give up a good life, needing to convince your partner that you aren’t mad, willingly fliping your children’s world upside down, letting go of your safety net to enable new opportunities… The heartbeat rises and you feel the pressure. It is daunting!! BUT it is also so exhilarating! Change is good. Reprioritisation is essential. Breathing to smell those roses unequivocal.
You read other blogs are reminded that there is a LOT of information out there. It is overwhelming. Break it down into bite sizes. Flip out when you need to and flip out hopefully not at the same time as your partner!
It is a luxury to have the option to experience this sort of adventure and this very option has taken us 5 years to mature. If you decide that this is what you want to do then comes the planning.
Whether a short stint or a long stint, the preparation when you are a family will be the same.
The bite sizes:
Budget. The budget is a tad different than when I backpacked 24 years ago. It’s the most important element of the trip and I flipped out. It’s the biggest hurdle to get over. The constant need to weight in the pros and cons of the adventure versus the cost. How much is needed? And ultimately how much are you ‘comfortable’ spending? For the time you want away, is it realistic? The budget is a very personal thing and will vary from one to the other. Remember that if this is what you want, a budget can be built. A first step has been taken. Woohoo! If taken, your next step will be to decide, once the budget is in place, on timing.
Time. When is the right time? Life’s eternal question. When the budget is coming together, is this still what I want? To go or not to go? How long for?
To start talking about the trip makes it become real. My partner has been a great sounding board. It helps to get over the panic moments and there will be many!
Route. Follow the warm season / which hemisphere? Passports. Expiration and how many pages left? Visas. What country needs an early application or even a letter of invitation (LOI)? Vaccinations. Yes, probably but which one and how many? What to pack? Banking? Access to funds on the road. Which network – Union Pay / Plus?? Kids. Yes, homeschooling but what and how? Given the option, sabbatical or quit your job? Storage of your belongings. Yes, but where? Website/blog. Yes, but how? And for us, the biggest question of all which will be decided along the way… Where do we end up?
Lots and lots to think about…