Leaving Soon!

OMG, we are leaving for our “next chapter” soon. After a year of planning, the time has finally come! (picture) The house is up for lease, the boxes are packed, and the clothes are being sorted. It’s a little surreal to think we will be traveling for 14+ months. Over the past six months, Jack and I have been focused on our lists. His is more paperwork and a myriad of details that need to be taken care of—phones, medical, insurance, bills, cars, and household stuff. My list was more about planning the trip and PACKING BOXES—yes, so many boxes. (picture) It turns out that after 25+ pack-outs, I’m pretty good at it. It is incredible how much stuff we have. And I’ve given a lot away. When you think about it, we spend our life wanting stuff, collecting stuff, and trying to get rid of stuff. Thank God for the internet. I remember when I first started traveling internationally – 35 years ago— I had to do all the planning and reservations by phone. Imagine that—calling every airline, pricing out flights, keeping track of it all, then calling back to book. And HOTELS? I’d often just show up with the kids at the local tourist office in a train station and book an available room. (And finding one room to fit me and three kids was darn hard!) With Google, it’s easy to plan everything, but of course, I left some time for serendipitous travel. We are doing what most people dream of—extended travel. But after packing all those boxes and many a sleepless night with an aching back, I’m ready for some relaxation on the QM2!

Muscat, Oman

Dubai, UAE