“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” St. Augustine
Life and Travel
Jack and I have always sought adventure. Jack’s career in the U.S. Navy took him to many far-off and sometimes–not so exotic– places. Stationed on aircraft carriers, Jack would deploy for 6+ months at a time, and his itinerary was always planned by Uncle Sam–the continents, countries, ports of call, and his length of stay. I have traveled on the edge many times, meeting Jack in far-off ports of call with 3 and 4 small children in tow, planning everything, and even arriving in countries with no idea where to stay or what may come next. I had to get out of my comfort zone when I set out alone with our 8, 4, and 2-year-old to Europe traveling by plane, train, bus, and ferry to 13 countries on 3 continents meeting Jack in most of his ports! What an adventure and education; they were able to see history come alive and experience other cultures, not to mention they were also experiencing the edge of their comfort zone. As Jack’s Naval career progressed, we were blessed to live in Italy and London where we traveled like a local to smaller towns and villages and immersed ourselves in the hidden gems most tourists never find.
Post Navy Adventure
After the Navy, we settled into a typical American lifestyle–corporate work and family, but we couldn’t remain stationary for long. With my Humanities and British Lit background, I wanted to explore all the history and culture Europe had to offer. Summers found us traveling back to a few familiar and much-loved areas of Europe. I would head over for 3-4 weeks, and Jack would meet me for 2 in the middle. Each summer, my length of stay would be extended–1 month soon became 3. Now that Jack has retired after three full careers, we are expanding our horizons, getting out of our comfort zone, and thinking bigger. We are renting the house and planning a year (or maybe more) of slow travel – heading off the beaten path and finding comfort in a few familiar places and roaming this wonderful planet beginning with 14-16 months of slow travel through Europe, the Middle East, and South Africa. Our goal is to slow down and enjoy the journey– not rush into “seeing the sights” but to explore smaller villages and towns, leaving time for serendipity. Our hope for you, the reader, is to expand your horizons to the edge of your envelope and get the most out of your travel experience.
