The options for travel seem to be endless and dreams don’t seem so far off!

For years I have been dreaming about traveling abroad.  After coming out of an extremely difficult season of my life, it is now time to pursue that dream.  I even sold my car and embraced minimalism in an effort to save money for trips.  Not exactly sure where I want to go or what I want to do while I am there, I went on search for a plan. 

I love Twitter!  Twitter has opened the world of real travel to me and has introduced me to numerous bloggers on the subject of travel.  There are blogs that alert me about the deals in the tourism industry.  Although I appreciate the information I have gained, those who are living “outside the box” intrigue me.  I have discovered that there are actually people who have decided to live nomadically, taking their businesses on the road and selling it all to travel full time.  One of my favorite bloggers on this subject is the Soultravelers3.  This family sold it all, moved to Europe and purchased a motor home to live nomadically for the past five years.  I also enjoy Vagabonish and Rolf Potts Vagabonding.  These bloggers have opened my eyes to the possibility of traveling frugally.  I am learning about Hostels and joined Couch Surfing, an organization that links fellow travelers all over the world that open up there homes and offer a couch to crash on.  I have a friend who traveled throughout Germany using Couch Surfing.  How fun is that?  I now understand that travel does not have to be expensive.

Still, in the vastness of our world…. where do I start?  My husband and I are about two years away from having the freedom for extended travel.  True to my nature, I want to take off now!  So, I keep watching twitter for inspiration. 

I received a Direct Message from @Real_Gap.  They happened to respond to a comment I made about checking out Argentina.  I love Twitter!  Real Gap for Grown Ups opened up another intriguing option.  What about volunteering, learning a skill or even work while living abroad?  I have taken short-term mission trips in the past.  Taking extended time off for “holiday” or taking a career gap seems so foreign to most Americans.  This organization offers opportunity for people to take a career gap, for as little as two weeks and up to a whole year.  I spent the day reading about all their trip options and am excited about possibly going to Costa Rica to learn Spanish, cooking and Latin Dancing.  I could go for two or four weeks and be immersed in their culture.  This could be a “quick fix” for my wanderlust.

Do you have wanderlust?  Do you think travel abroad is impossibly expensive?  Is time an obstacle for you?  I would love to open a discussion with fellow travelers…. we can all learn from each other!  The options for travel seem to be endless and dreams don’t seem so far off!

Travel Costa Rica, couch surfing, dreams, gap years, hostels, living abroad, nomadic lifestyle, Real Gap for Grown ups, Soultravelers3, Tiffany Eckhadt, travel options, twitter, Vagabonding, Vagabondish, wanderlust

Why Wait?  Maintaining “Stuff”?

I do my clearest thinking from the back of my hubby’s Harley.  A couple days ago we took a ride to Dayton to show one of our rentals.  It hit me…an epiphany!  Finally my journey of the last year has brought me to a crossroads, where two roads converged.

I’ve been trying hard to listen to God, look for signs and just wait for the perfect job.  I hoped it would be in travel and involve writing.  These are two natural passions of mine.  Yet, nothing was coming to me.  Not for a lack of trying either!  No matter how much I strive for and put myself in “jobs” that weren’t really suited for me, I felt a nudge to wait. 

In the meantime, I have used my time following some of the most fascinating people who are living out my dream.  One family in particular has really inspired me.  The Soultravelers3 are a “Digital Nomadic Family”.  I love their blog on this awesome adventure they are on traveling Europe for the past five years.  Reading his blog post How to do Extended Travel and Mini-retirements,Da Vinci quotes Ralph Potts, “travel does not really costs that much, maintaining stuff does.”  I can not get that statement off my mind.

Jeff and I have been discussing our plans after children.  In our minds, we have two years left.  Our daughter graduates this year.  Our son is due to graduate in two years.  After he graduates, we have been toying with the idea of Jeff applying for a travel radiology job that would allow us to experience a new place every six months or so. 

What hit me hard the other day was the question…why wait?  Two separate ideas came to me.  One…why not start selling the “stuff” we have to maintain, mainly my car.  Two…why not allow our son to do the digital academy for the remaining two years of high school?  I wouldn’t say my hubby was blind sided by this epiphany.  He is all for it!  We have previously home educated our children.  That isn’t a stretch.  Our son has actually been begging us to allow him to do the digital academy.  He would gain so much from traveling with us for two years and could take his lap top “school” with him as we travel. 

I am placing an ad on Craig’s list today for my car.  This step would have not even been considered a year ago.  In fact I held so tight to my big historic home on Scioto St. and my fast Honda with sun roof and heated leather seats.  To some extent I have neglected the most precious relationships with my children in an attempt to work and maintain these treasures.  Now after a journey that has been at times heartbreaking and excruciating, I can release the “stuff” and embrace a new adventure.  I am excited that a road to explore my passion for travel and a path once traveled with home education has converged into a “job” I can love.  The waiting is worth it!  A beautiful epiphany…travel world here I come!

Travel Craig's list, crossroads, digital acacemy, epiphany, Extended travel, jobs, listen to God, maintaining stuff, relationships, Soultravelers3, strive, Tiffany Eckhadt, travel, treasures, wait on God