The next step

We did it. We took the next step in our trips around the world. I say trips, because some people take one trip that circles the globe and our trips will go from here to there and back and then go in the other direction and back. Not exactly the around the world as some see it.

Our decision to sell our house, put everything in storage and take this year of our lives to travel has gone better than we had ever dreamt it would. The homes we have been able to stay (house sit) in have been so great, as are our friends who have allowed us to crash at their home in between.

We have felt so supported by our family, friends and teachers. I couldn’t have asked for more positive experience with everyone. I feel so blessed and continue to try to not take anyone or anything for granted.

After our 2 months in Europe in June and July 2009. We were a bit more apprehensive to just take off again too soon. First of all, we need to hang out and work to earn enough for this second leg of the trip. We also found it extremely tiring to be on the road for 60 days straight. We have had some lengthy conversations since then about how we could make this a less taxing trip.

I will explain a bit about what I mean. On our last trip we left without much planning of the places we would be in. We only had the first week or so booked out of the 60 days. That means that every other day of the trip we were flying by the seat of our pants. We walked into counties like Albania, Croatia and Slovenia, without any planning as to what was there or where we would stay. It all worked out really well, but it was still a lot of work along the way.

This trip we will try to stay in each place a little longer and also we will try to pre-plan a bit more. Which should be easier this time, as we won’t be packing up 15 years worth of our lives while trying to plan this trip.

The trip plan is: Vancouver - Hawaii - New Zealand – Australia –Malaysia - Thailand –Laos - Cambodia – Vietnam – Japan – home. We will be away for three months.

We would also like to try to spend more time in each place, getting to know the local people, trying to build relationships with people we meet along the way. This may be a hard thing to do while in Asia. Many of the people we meet will not speak English and we certainly will not speak their language. Thankfully, this doesn’t intimidate us too much. Rather, we find it exhilarating. Though it is still work every step of the way.

The other physical work we plan on doing is trying to find work along the way. Not to earn money, but as a way to build relationships. As Dean is so good with, well…everything. We thought it would be cool to try to work by blessing people with helping them in any way they need help. Such as helping to repair a fence or help clean out a barn or help shear sheep. That way, Dean will have something to do and we won’t get bored by being in one place for too long and also we won’t feel we need to be running around the country trying to stay busy by seeing everything.

We also will be helping at an orphanage in Northern Thailand. I met a woman at a mission conference in New York and she has invited us to come to see them. She is also going to find an apartment for us to stay in while we are there. It will be great to have a home base in central Asia to go from.

So now the work begins to find inexpensive places to stay. Our budget is so low it makes it hard work to find the best spot for the least amount of money. Our budget for three months is less than most families spend at Disney for 2 weeks. But that is also part of the fun for us. Getting the most out of life experiences without breaking the bank.

Once in a life time opportunity

Today, when I picked Miranda up from school I asked her if her teacher had mentioned anything about our trip. She said no, but then followed that up with a different topic.

She told me how the school is having an AG safety day in May and she really didn’t want to miss it. I told her if it was in May than we unfortunately would miss it this year. She sighed and said “but mom, they only have it once a year and I would really like to go to it”. So I asked her what they did at an AG safety day. “Well” she said “ they teach us all about crossing the street safely, and washing your hands really good. You know, stuff like that”! “Mmmm” I said. “ Well, we won’t be here, we will be riding an elephant in Thailand or something in May”.

“But mom…” Miranda wined, “this is a once in a lifetime experience, I will only get to do the AG safety day this year. I have been looking forward to this all year.”

Well, what do I say to that? She’s right. The AG safety day is a once in a lifetime experience for her. “I’ll see what I can do” I sighed.

Homeless by choice

Being homeless by choice is a weird state. We lived in the same place for the last 15 years and always during that time felt like we would live there till retirement or longer. We built the house from our own drawings and spent years working on it as a family. Then we decided we were ready to give it all up for another dearm.

We wondered how long it would take to feel displaced. How long would it take to feel like we just want our own space, our own stuff, our own house. We were not sure how long it might take to feel sad about what we gave up, if we would feel disconnected.

Turns out, not so much. I like not being tied to a particular place and being open to the possibilities it gives us. I am very much o.k. with packing up all our personal belongings and planting them somewhere else. We have been asked so often lately what we are doing next or when we will build our house and we very easily reply, ”we don’t know yet, we have no definite plans.”

We have learned to call the place we are in the moment “home”. We have embraced the closeness we have found in being together. We have learned that home is where we are.

It’s funny how one might think that they could never sell their biggest possession, pack their belongings and live in the moment. I never would have thought it was so possible or so much fun…

The journey is our goal…..

We want to see the world and know it more deeply, connect deeper with ourselves as individuals, as a family and with others and experience freedom, bliss and peace in new and profound ways with time to bask in it and breathe it all in and serve the Lord with every step.

No matter how far or how often we travel, we follow a thin line, leaving much of the world unseen, most people unmet, and many foods untasted.

We each travel along a small line. It isn’t even that important where your line goes, just what you make of it.

balance

What do I want out of life….

I want to live a life of balance. I watch the people around me and others that we meet and see how many aspects of their lives are out of balance. They seem to always be adjusting this way and that trying to find a place of happiness. I think that we are right now and for the last while been on a journey to find family, personal, social, work and spiritual balance in our life.

I am realizing that a change is one area will impact the other areas of my life. It even creates some excitement for life as I embrace and seek balance. It is a constant process of adjustment through reflection and planning.

There are many questions. Such as, am I enjoying my time here on earth, how can I discover my purpose, can I live by my values with pride and how can I make better choices. These are all things I need to think about.

Without taking time to reflect on if my life is in balance it is easy to think everything is fine. I think it is worth a bit of time and prayer.

contentment

I read this story today and thought it was so true...

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

“Not very long,” answered the Mexican.

“But then, why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more?” asked the American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

“I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. I have a full life.”

The American interrupted, “I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat.”

“And after that?” asked the Mexican.

“With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise.”

“How long would that take?” asked the Mexican.

“Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years,” replied the American.

“And after that?”

“Afterwards? Well my friend, that’s when it gets really interesting,” answered the American, laughing. “When your business gets really big, you can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!”

“Millions? Really? And after that?” asked the Mexican.

“After that you’ll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends.”

by M. Nolan

Moved in....

We have had an amazingly busy month again. I think we will have some time now to settle as we are in our new house ( house sitting) till April. We are still using someone elses' "stuff" but we are settled. The problem with being settled and having time to think is that I still think about travel and where we could go next. I try with all my might to think of the things I need to do right now, like taxes, cleaning, making supper.....you know the regular things. But my thoughts always go to what is next, where should we go, who will we meet next.


I am reading the Shack by WM Paul Young for the second time. I like this book and ever since I read it have wanted to read it again. It puts such a different perspective on our journeys in life and how we experience God through them and how we heal in different ways. I read a quote yesterday that I liked.

Growth means change and
change involves risk, stepping
from the known to the unknown.
-Author Unknown

Everyone's unknown looks so different and everyone's change is not the same. One person's risk may look completely opposite of another's.

I love how we are all so similar and yet so different.