Photo of a lemur by photojenni via Flickr
A few of you diehard readers have been around since the very beginning of our little plan to sell everything we own to travel around the world, and we’ve loved sharing our triumphs and setbacks with you along the way. Most of you, though, joined us in progress or just pop in now and again to see what’s going on. Whichever way you hang out with us is fine. We just like having you around.
Now that we’ve sold our house and most of our possessions, we’re really all in for this crazy adventure. Before we could always back out, stay with our normal lives, and find a way to spend all that money we saved. But now, well…there’s no going back, is there?
Not that I’m scared, mind you (teeth chattering). Not at all. I mean, who wouldn’t be ready to jump right in to a life without a tether, with only a few worldly possessions and no regular income? Oh, and did I mention the language barrier?
In times like these, it makes me feel better to look back on what we’ve accomplished so I don’t get too freaked out about what’s in front of us. It’s okay to be a little scared of something you really want, isn’t it?
Please indulge my little trip down memory lane. You may have missed one of these posts or have a new insight to add to them now that some time has passed. Even if you don’t comment, it will be nice just to know you’re holding my virtual hand as I breathe into a paper bag to keep from passing out.
- How we started redesigning our lives before we knew the term “lifestyle design:” How to get ready for a trip around the world (the long way)
- How we got started on this crazy adventure: The Married with Luggage Story
- Warren tells his boss we are leaving and doesn’t get fired: The Secret is Out
- We tell the moms and they don’t freak out: Telling the Family: Moms First
- We spend a lot of time getting rid of crap: How to declutter your house (a month-long series)
- Did I mention we’ve saved a TON of money?: Read the money series here or sign up for the newsletter and get the ebook
- And we’ve tried a few weird things: No ‘poo method, DIY haircuts, and giving up television
- Our one-year update on the status of things
- Now we’ve sold our house and plan to move in with a friend before our departure date on October 1
Have you ever been a little bit scared of accomplishing a big goal? Why do you think we get freaked out by this?
About Betsy
I always get that way before I do something special like travel or move or try a new direction. A mixture of fear, anticipation and excitement. I think it is the in between time from one change to another. Once I get going it all fades away to calm excitement. I love that you are doing this. I look forward to living vicariously through your eyes.
We have sold our house and I have no idea where we are going or what we are doing so I’m going to go freak out now. We are trying to figure out the next step in our lives by choice. (Nothing bad happened we are just ready for change.)
I can completely identify with the fear. I felt it before my first big trip-to Madagascar (including the bush!). I also felt it both times before we moved to France. It’s that “What have I done?” moment. It lasts for a while and then subsides and then returns when you get caught in the rain, or catch a nice little traveler’s tummy bug.
A friend of mine who I met in Madagascar later told me she was having trouble settling into live in Western Africa when she was in the Peace Corps-she just hated it, she said. Luckily, I was there when she was getting used to Madagascar-she hated that too at first. Travel is an adventure, that’s why you go right?
Junebug, we can’t freak out at the same time! Who will mind the store?
I think you are right about it being that weird “in between” time that causes all the anxiety. How are you planning to make the choice about your next step? Do you have a logical plan, or are you going with your gut? If you are like us, one of you is the logical one and the other is the gut one. Somehow it all works out.
Your fear will melt away soon enough once your adventure is in full swing. It takes a ton of courage to do something that most people wish they could do but are too afraid to make the leap. I will check back often to see how things progress. Good luck!
Thanks for the reassurance, Luggage Man and Simple in France. I know the feeling will pass and the adventure will be grand, but in the midst of all this moving and letting go I’m having a mini meltdown.
Deep breaths, deep breaths…
Hi Betsy
In answer to your question I think we get freaked out for fear of the unknown when trying anything that is new. But it seems to me you are both well prepared, you have each other, and if you find it’s not for you after all, well then I guess you’ll come on home and do something different. I’ve been reading and re-reading some of your links, thanks for sharing them all in one easy read, and I have to say if you are ever in Australia, more specifically South Australia (let’s face it, it’s just a hop skip and a jump from South America he he!) call in and say hi!
Cheers
Judy
Hi, Judy. We’ll eventually make it to Australia, and part of our goal is to meet some of our readers in our travels. So don’t be surprised if we write to tell you we’re on our way!
We are a bit behind you, having just decided recently to sell our home and most of the stuff in it then setting up a small homebase in a condo so that we can travel half the year then come back and enjoy the Seattle-area summer weather. I’m still in semi-panic mode-our house should have an offer on it this week, I have a massive pile of “stuff” to get rid of before the house closes, and then we need to find a place to live and move in by the end of summer when we will head to Asia for about six months. OMG this is totally scary! What if we made the wrong decision? What if all of our plans fall through? What if our friends think we are insane because we are throwing away the “good life” to become part time vagabonds? Anyway, I keep reading your blog and keep being inspired by your bravery and keep finding lots of great advice and inspiration in your blog posts, so please, keep going on your journey so you can keep inspiring all of your readers!
April, there is nothing like a deadline to get things done. I admire your spunk! Your friends will probably think you’re crazy, so be prepared for that. It may be the wrong decision, and things may fall through, and yadda, yadda, yadda. You just don’t know, but inaction is a decision, too. In my way of thinking, better to take the leap, try it out, and possibly love it or have it springboard you to something that you do love. The alternative is more of the same, which you obviously don’t want (I’ve been peeking at your blog).
I have never met anyone who has done this and regretted it. Never. And over the last 18 months we’ve met a lot of people from various walks of life who took the plunge.
Hope that makes you feel better - and good luck on selling your house. The Seattle market is definitely picking up.
(and thanks for writing in - by trying to make you feel better I feel better myself!)