Flashback or Fast-Forward Friday?

It was just about 1 year ago that Carolyn and I notified our jobs about our intent to travel the world for 6 months.

I remember the looks on the faces of my managers. It was that "are you serious?" look, jaw slightly dropped, eyebrows raised, lines across their forehead like you could see their brains churning the information and implications of my departure. They asked questions about why, how long, and was I certain? "Yes," I replied affirmatively. But once those answers were revealed and they knew nothing was going to prevent us from going, they changed their line of questioning to where will you go? And how long? And since when have you known? Is it all planned? How much does it cost? Are you afraid?

And after all was said and done, they wished me the best of luck and had a look of happiness for me. Because these people actually know the kind of person I am. I felt that they genuinely understood what this trip would mean to me. I knew that when I returned, they would continue to support my decision and help me if I ever really needed it.

So here I am today recalling the life changing decision to pursue the life of a temporary nomad. I remember how scared I was to take this road less traveled. But I also remember how liberating it was. I know we made the right decision.

As I read back some of the posts I started out with, I particularly zoned in on this post from Friday, December 9, 2016 while we were in the Atacama Desert in Chile. I pondered,

"Do we have the fortitude to withstand the test of time like the elements in the desert? Are our dreams as colorful as the sunset? Will we travel the earth like the wind-blown sand? Or will our passions dry-out in the desert heat?"

It's certainly not out of the question for us to take time off again in the future. In fact, I know for sure that we will make it happen again. Any children we have at that point will join us for the journey. It may not be as long as 6 months, more likely 3-4 months, but an extended period of time is necessary. We've seen so many other families do it, and despite the challenges it poses, the reward is immeasurable.

The trip whet our appetite for more. We survived all the obstacles in our path. The world's characters were our teachers. Our minds were the canvas for the brush strokes of experience to color our dreams. And we will continue to travel the Earth for as long as we can. (451)