A Year Of Travel Planning . . . And A Whole New Lifestyle
Posted on Mar 15, 2012 | 43 comments
8 months.
This is all that separates us from a lifetime of travel.
We just have to stick to what we've learned, sell our condo, and then it's off to Mexico - and everywhere else.
Recently I was putting together a list of blog archives from the past year and I realized just how much has changed for us since we started planning this adventure.
A year ago there wasn't one person following this blog. We knew nobody in the travel community. We had about $50,000 in debt. We thought we were going to go live in Sweden and Australia. We had no idea how to make money online or even travel the world. We were scrambling in every direction. We had a condo with a basement that was full of crap. We had too many bills. We were overworked. And - in general - we were exhausted.
The process of planning for travel has changed us completely. Everything is different. The way we think. The way we act. The way we plan on traveling. And we never saw it coming.
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I started this site back in late January 2011. I had never blogged or written before, but I figured I would give it a shot. Both Heidi and I knew we wanted to travel, but we really weren't sure how to do it. We just knew we were done with working 9-5 gigs and we wanted to spend more time with our kids.
I'm going to break down all of our changes in a bit, but first I want to show you some things I learned from the archives.
- I almost gave up 3 times. Looking back, I can see posts where my frustration with doubt and fear almost made me cash it in. I'll admit, things seem pretty easy for us now, but they weren't. Not giving up was the right call.
- We changed our plans about 5 times. First we wanted to go to all the best places in the world, then we wanted to cycle to Argentina, and at one point we even wanted to go straight around the world without flying. Now, all we want to do is travel. It's OK to change your plans, just don't change your goals.
- Doing is everything. Doing is what makes change happen. The blog, the debt, the doubt - they didn't just take care of themselves. You do, and when you stumble, you get up and do again. And again. And again. Doing has been the difference.
There is no manual for this thing. There are no rules. You just keep going and changing and going and changing. And if you keep at it eventually, you'll find yourself in the place you want to be.
What Life Was Like For Wannabe Travelers A Year Ago
Travel: We would talk about travel constantly. We would sit around the dinner table and tell the kids about our "trip around the world" and all the places we were going to go. We would lay out routes. We would plan everything and search for travel gear on the web. We would imagine walking the streets of Paris. We wanted everything.
Work: I would work constantly. I would go to work til 6, and start blogging at around 8:30. Most nights I wouldn't stop until 2 AM. Then I would get up at 6 and get the kids ready for school. Plus, I was going to school part-time and Heidi works a full-time job as well. We were strapped, but I didn't see any other way in doing things. I thought the blog was the key to making money and starting a career around travel that would give us a chance to travel forever. Working my ass off was how I would make it happen.
Doubt: We had so many doubts and questions. I remember I would often try and convince Heidi that we needed more money and we weren't thinking realistically. I was convinced we needed to secure a stream of income before we left. I also thought it was stupid to give up on what were becoming solid careers. I would say things like: "Why not wait 5 years?" and "What happens when the money runs out?" Heidi had doubts as well, but I was the ringleader on this one.
Savings: Oh man - we saved so hard. We saved ever bit of money we had. We sold everything and we were so focused on simplicity. We were cheap, frugal, stingy. The problem was we were still carrying debt and some expenses. As hard as we tried, the savings just didn't add up.
Life: What was life like a year ago? Busy. Exciting. Overwhelming. Chaotic. Frustrating. Exhausting. Unsure. New. We knew what we wanted, but we had no idea how to get there. We spun our wheels. We went back and forth. Things were uneasy.
What Life Is Like Now For Soon To Be Travelers
Travel: Actually, travel has become less and less of a topic around the dinner table. We're more realistic about it now. Our plans are to head to Mexico and see what happens. It really doesn't matter where we go, as long as we make sure we go. The greatest thing about long-term travel is the freedom it offers. I was chatting with a friend about how we might drive to Panama and take a cruise from there to Europe.
"But what about the car? What will you do with the car?"
"Hmmm . . . Give it away I guess. Or just leave it."
"What?!?!? (thinking pause) That's awesome!"
It doesn't matter. I don't get caught up on the little details anymore. We make sure we have money, legal stuff (passports, documents, insurance), and that's about it. We don't need guidebooks anymore. There are hundreds of experienced travelers out there who will give us great travel advice in about 30 seconds, and we didn't know any of them last year.
The focus now is on enjoying the places and enjoying the work. We hardly ever think of travel planning anymore.
How often do you think about waking up and going to work? Or where you're going to sleep?
It's a travel lifestyle. Once you get used to it, it's just like getting the paper or walking the dog. It's easy.
Work: I worked like an idiot before. I was obsessed. I worked hard and stupid. Every little thing I did was the most important thing in the world. Not good.
Now, work is easy. I wake up everyday at around 4:30/5:00. I grab a coffee. I write for 2 hours if I'm lucky and the kids sleep. As soon as I hear the kids, I shut the laptop until the evening. At night I do emails, social media, reading, etc... I try to go to bed early 7 days a week.
It was a hard adjustment. At first, I hated the idea of getting up early, but it has made a huge difference.
It makes sense to wake up early and do your work. Your mind is fresh, you get the import stuff out of the way, and it really clears up the rest of your day. Why carry the pressure to get something done around with you all day? What used to take me 6 hours to complete, now takes me 2. I'm just working smarter.
Wake up. Knock it out. Enjoy the day.
Doubt: Any doubts we had are gone. It's weird, but they're just gone.
I feel as comfortable with the idea of traveling the world and working from a laptop as I do with brushing my teeth. It's a great feeling.
I think the change for us came with education. The more you know, the less likely you are to feel insecure about it. Our education came mostly via travelers on the web. Meeting so many great people that travel has made a huge difference for us. When in doubt, we have knowledge sources we can ask for help. Building a strong network of travelers was a big help for us.
And killing our debt helped calm our nerves as well. If the money runs out, it helps to know we won't have anybody hunting us down!
Savings: Saving is easy now. The debt was killing us. We made an effort to knock out the debt and we did it. Now it actually feels like we're making money. We can actually see our savings adding up each month. We can grasp the idea of traveling on a budget with the savings we now have.
We also cut some big expenses. Cell phone data plans. Cable TV. And all those tiny monthly subscriptions we had - they're all gone. Didn't need them, and don't want them back.
I don't recommend anyone attempt this lifestyle while holding debt. It doesn't work. It pulls against you. It holds you down.
You'll never know what you're really capable of unless you clear that debt from your life.
Life: What's life like now? Calm. Consistent. Exciting. Fulfilling. Hopeful. Secure. Clear. Life is so different than it was a year ago. We have made so many changes and they're working for us. We just kept tweaking until we started getting things right, and now we're going to tweak some more. You never stop tweaking things. Never.
The Big 3
One year can make a huge difference. For us, the change came down to working on 3 big things in our lives.
1) Changing The Way We Do Things. Waking up early. Cutting the cable TV. Getting rid of the phones. Living Simple. Really making family the priority. All of these changes have made a huge impact on our lives.
2) Killing Our Debt. It doesn't matter which debt guru you follow. Find someone you like and listen to them - then pay off your debt.
3) Surrounding Ourselves With Travel. Educating ourselves on travel and meeting other travelers has secured us. We now know what the world is like. We know how to travel. We're all set.
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Our lives are completely different now. Everything seems easier and less rushed. Everything has its place. We're working smarter, living with more purpose, and staying away from the noise in life. No more worrying about bills, deadlines, and having to get this and that done. I read so much more now. I exercise. I have much more time with the family. We are all just more aware of what we really want, and we have so much more knowledge on how to make it happen.
Knowing we are going to be able to travel the world is great. We're all excited about that. But knowing how much we've changed and how simpler and easy life has become for us is even greater. We never saw it coming.
The change has been the real adventure.
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Standing on my chair cheering!! You did it. You're already gone...
I'm sharing this with our Dream Intensive class!
Jenn Miller recently posted..What’s Your Dream?
Sit down Jennifer! Don't you know .00000126% of people die by means of cheering and falling off chairs every year in the US! Risk Takers - geez!
We're gone for good.
Thanks!
Lol. Yes sir! Sitting immediately!! Did I tell you about the time I damaged my tailbone jumping off a 40ft cliff in Guatemala? Yeah... a year and a half later... it still hurts. I'm the .00000126% !! (Perhaps I should stage a sit in?!)
Jenn Miller recently posted..What’s Your Dream?
Oooh Jenn - nasty! I fractured my tailbone when I fell down some stairs years ago. It hurt for all those years until I lost 30kg!! Now pain free!! And I met a woman whose tailbone fractured DURING CHILDBIRTH!! It was 12 years later and she said it still ached if she spent too much time at the computer!!
Tracey - Life Changing Year recently posted..Part 3 – Chiang Mai one day tour – Elephants, white water rafting, hill tribes, butterflies and waterfalls!
Our family is now where you were one year ago. I am truly looking forward to being where you are now! I am blessed enough to be working with Jenn Miller (edventureproject) and Nancy Vogel (familyonbikes) in their Dream Big Dreams Program, and I am am loving it! I am excited for your family and glad that you've found peace and calm!
Thanks Ashley. You're in good hands with those two!
Just remember that there are many ways to do this. If you keep at it you will develop the confidence and knowledge to make it easier. The beginning is the hardest. Be flexible, but don't quit. All the best! Feel free to email about anything.
Wow - I can relate to so much in this post (where you were not where you are). It's so interesting to read about how your thinking changed over time, but I also love that you talked about how you almost quit three times. There are moments I think where it is harder to go after your dreams then not to. The moments where everything feels like it is failing and I just love when people post that they had those moments because it makes you realize everyone has felt that way at some time or other and that you just need to keep moving forward. Great post and congrats on all the changes you made.
Kate recently posted..What is your very first memory of wanting to travel?
My mouse was hovering over the Facebook page and I almost deleted it. At points I was done. But it wasn't the blog or the travels, it was me. It's usually me.
Once I got past that it got easier.
Thanks KAte!
Great article (again!)..8 months from now our family will probably be in another country too (on the other side of the world!...we're still waiting to hear definitively). While our circumstances our different, I share your excitement and I understand about the changes. Funny how little changes turn into big changes..like little steps into long trips! I've kinda got a sense of calm too...maybe it's the nice spring weather or the 'lull' until things really get moving (visas etc.). Really looking forward to following your blog
Thanks Joanna! Glad you've got that sense of calm. It will work out, and if it doesn't, keep your eye open for a new option.
Thanks for following and we're hoping the best for you here.
Yay!! Only 8 months!! That's so exciting!!! I remember you used to talk about how you were "planning" to travel and then one day you set a date and you've written differently ever since!! Can't wait until you guys get on the road and get to live this lifestyle!
Tracey - Life Changing Year recently posted..Part 3 – Chiang Mai one day tour – Elephants, white water rafting, hill tribes, butterflies and waterfalls!
Thanks Tracey!
Weird right? It totally changed. Everything has changed. Very strange. It's like I became somebody else!
Hey, Is Chang Mai as good as everyone says?
So Heidi got a new husband and she didn't have to get rid of the old one!! lol. We loved Chiang Mai. Very laid back, our accommodation was nice for $46 per night (our budget is $70), lots of western food available - not great for the waistline but was good for us to have a change from eating Asian (Gert didn't - he loves rice!). We should have visited more things but we were catching up the blog and resting before our 3 day bus and boat journey to Laos. I did notice about a billion mosquitos I must say so take your DEET repellent!! One of our best days was when we fed the fish! It was 10 baht for a big bag of food and the fish were huge!! We spent about 2 hours there on 2 separate days. The pigeons were all over us too - a really simple thing but it was really fun! Oh and the Sunday night market - you HAVE to go there - we were unable to get through it all it was so huge!! Hope this helps!
Tracey - Life Changing Year recently posted..Chiang Mai one day tour – Elephants, white water rafting, hill tribes, butterflies and waterfalls!
Dream come true. Congratulations!
Thanks! I might not go that far yet, but it sure is happening. I kind of have the feeling that no matter what we do it will work out. That probably sounds naive and arrogant, but that's sort of how things are becoming.
Loved your story about the flight from mexico the other day!
Thanks for this great summary Justin! Indeed amazing to see how life can change in one year if you just go for it! Congratulations to you and Heidi for this achievement.
This post is an encouragement for those who still fear of taking these steps towards a travel lifestyle.
I didn't know you were an early riser, wow. I tried that a couple of times, but earlier than 6am is still not my habit. But hey, many of my friends are in the States, that's why I am staying up late to chat with them LOL!
Emiel recently posted..Five children, a wheelchair and a serious case of wanderlust
Thanks Emiel!
I was never an early riser! But with two younger kids, when does one have time to right and get things done. Only the middle of the night! So I had to make the change. Actually, it has been great. I don't think I'll ever go back to working late nights again. My brain just works better when it's fresh.
YAY! So wonderful to look back and see how far you've come. This is especially relevant to me as it was nearly one year ago (6 more days) that we arrived into the southernmost city of the world - Ushuaia. It had taken us nearly three years and we had pedaled 17,300 miles. That day was incredible and we've come so far since then.
You totally hit the nail on the head here: I kind of have the feeling that no matter what we do it will work out. It will. Oh yes, it will.
You have to change right? Go with what it gives you and make the adjustments.
Thanks Nancy!
I always agree on Living Life with Simplicity. It's stress free, calm , secure and peaceful. It's a great testimony of a paradigm shift. I could personally relate with the experience of hard work but still it's not enough. Savings are less, Debts are High. But if you have the persistence to give up unnecessary expenses then you can breathe with the financial issues. Thank you for sharing, this is indeed Inspiring!
Lyka Ricks recently posted..Why do addicts relapse?
Yeah, you're right. IT takes a lot more tan hard work. It takes smart work! You really have to take the time to learn what works best for you and put it all into play.
Thanks Lyka!
It has been a pleasure reading this post and realise how are life changes day by day and that we can get even what has seemed to be so hard to reach as you did with this blog! Congratuilation to you and your brave family!
Goody recently posted..Save Money on Food While in Europe
Thanks for that! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Love this. We are right at the beginning too! Funny, it's hard not to want things to just change immediately. I love reading about your process. I always thought what would be awesome (and so helpful for people like me) would be to set up a web cam where we can see how things were unfolding as you were making big transitions, those millions of mini decisions that were being made to get to where you are today! I know blogging is doing that but I'm a visual person! One example: how did you declutter and get rid of stuff? Did you take the time and effort to sell most things? Donate? How is life in the middle of it all?
Thanks for writing this Justin!! And thanks Jenn and Nancy for pointing me in this direction!
Thanks Jill! It is very hard in the beginning. Very hard!
It doesn't matter if you sell your stuff, donate it, or take it to the curb. It doesn't matter if you hold on to it. All that matters is if you feel something is helping you get to your goal or not. You have to very be very honest about that. I love TV, Movies, Whiskey and Sports. But all were making it very hard for me to reach my goals. So, I essentially gave them up. I just didn't have enough time for them.
I always use this example of a cup. Our cup only has so much room. You can only fill it with so much and then it overflows. You have to make sure that what your putting in your cup is good for you and your goals.
All the best Jill. There are 3 posts below that may help you out when it comes to getting rid of stuff. Any questions, please ask!
http://www.greatfamilyescape.com/getting-rid-of-it-all/
http://www.greatfamilyescape.com/getting-simple-the-first-step-for-an-adventurous-lifestyle/
http://www.greatfamilyescape.com/what-your-kids-can-teach-you-about-simple-living/
Wow. Powerful post. I'm sending this out to everybody. Well, not everybody, but especially the young'uns. I applaud your courage. I'm setting out in the same situation with some of the same concerns. The drive for me is that there has never been a more perfect time for me to do this. I just had a knee operation. Most of my debt is gone. The kids are on their own and I'm a photographer working for myself. I'm due to hit the road this summer heading into Mexico and Central America, but it really starts next year when I fully leave and head to South America. That's the plan right now anyway. Its good to see someone else has already blazed a trail. You make it easier on the rest of us. For that, you have my thanks.
Terrell Neasley recently posted..On the Portraiture
No time like now Terrell.
Speaking of blazing a path. You're going to have to give me the details on Mexico and C. America. That's were we are going first. Can't wait!
Give it a go. What the worst that happens.
Thanks for the support!
Wow -- sounds like it has been quite the journey and it hasn't even begun! Glad you guys didn't give up. What a gift this will be for your family and children. Best wishes!
The Time-Crunched Traveler (Ellen) recently posted..The Weekly Worldview: Connecticut’s Wadsworth Falls
And wait til the year of travel is over, you will be even more calm and relaxed.
Yesterday there was a burst water main in my Dad's street, and he was going psycho that he couldn't take a shower. Panicky and frantic and getting me to call the water corp.
A 2 hour wait for water. No big deal. Chill. Go read a book, go for a run, take your mind off it. I've had to wait 3 days for a shower in Africa. Instead of yelling at the guy from the water corp on the phone, I was pleasant and thanked him for the information and the speed of repairing the burst main. I bet he didn't get that too much.
Ps. Love the statement "Wake up. Knock it out. Enjoy the day."
Also love that the itinerary is more open now. Best way to travel!
Ian [EagerExistence] recently posted..Who Needs Details? Keep an Open Itinerary
Thanks Ian!
No big deal. Things are kind of easy if we let them be easy.
Great story!
So exciting you guys! Sounds like the process of preparing for travel has been as much of a journey of self-discovery as the travel itself is bound to be! I'm sure the time will fly...
Andrea recently posted..Visa Runs – The Mandatory Vacation
Hi, I've seen your post(s) and website in Twitter, and I thought of putting your site in my Blogroll as I am also developing a family travel and homeschool site. I hope you don't mind, and hoping as well we could exchange experiences and ideas. Cheers!
Jun Lontok recently posted..Network Marketing
I am on the same journey, only ours starts in 12 days! Its very exciting and a little sad to leave this part of my life behind. 7 years in Sydney and I am a completely different person... one who is ready to travel as a lifestyle! We may be in the same parts of the world as you, so I hope we cross paths
YOU MUST BE BURSTING!
All the best Serena. I'll be watching. I love what you are doing.
That is so awesome for you guys. It is a great feeling to make that plan and execute it.
I think I am back in that panicked mode. I was there once and got out and have slipped back down into it again. Gotta start working on a plan and less planning on work.
Andrew recently posted..My Goofy 7 Super Shots
Thanks Andrew!
So you're feeling the travel lifestyle crunch! Keep staying creative. All the best! Let me know if I can help.
Hey Justin, you're on the home straight now. I've only been following along for a couple of months, but your story has already become one of my favourite blogs to check-in and read. I'm on a very similar journey, it will be great to see what becomes of both of us over the *next* 12 months.
Exciting times indeed!
Nate recently posted..My Home : The Most Isolated City in the World
Thanks Nate! Same goes for your blog and stories. Way up on my list!
I can't wait to start travel writing. I don't want to pull from the past. I want to get out and tell the stories. Cant wait!
For now, I have your blog to carry me thru!
It's funny, because we've been travelling for a while now, but only in Australia. Recently, the conversation has turned to, "let's continue travelling oversees". So we are sort of in the same boat as you, travelling but still getting ready to travel more widely. It's an exciting feeling.
Amy recently posted..Finally Reached Western Australia
Congratulations, Justin and family! I remember us being at this point a year ago, where we had already left emotionally but still had to maintain our daily responsibilities until our departure date in July. While our future had never been more uncertain, I recall having an incredible sense of peace that came from a rock-solid belief in our decision to fundamentally change our lifestyle for the better.
All the best as you prepare for final launch!
Great advice and congratulations! We're currently in the process of downsizing. I'm thinking of selling my car, but will probably start with my storage unit. It's scary, but somehow feels amazingly freeing to not focus on stuff anymore.
Mary @ Green Global Travel recently posted..DESTINATIONS: Meeting the Local Wildlife On Kangaroo Island, Australia
I just booked a one way ticket departing in May. Am finding it really hard to concrete at work. There is so much to do! Hoping to not be too exhausted when I eventually leave!
30Traveler recently posted..Top 10 Ways to Save Money in New Zealand: Travel Tips