Storm Before the Calm

Wow!  We are down to single digits, 9 days before we depart.  Its quite interesting that the weather is nicely coinciding with the countdown to departure, for example it was 9 degrees this morning.  9 degrees-9 days NEAT!

Things have been a whirlwind lately.  I have been working on everything from setting up a bank account that does not charge ATM fees ANYWHERE...for any bank, to opening a new credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees, to ensuring our auto-pay is working for our bill payments.  I have also been trying to figure out all of the items I need to jam into a backpack for 4 months, as well as helping to plan, prep and host a Bon Voyage party last weekend.  This is all outside of a full time job and everyday tasks that don't stop just cause you are planning a world trip.  Needless to say, it has been hectic. 

In this time it has become evident to my wife and I that we haven't even been able to begin to get excited for the trip because we are so focused on the trip and all the preparations.  All of things we have been doing to prepare for this adventure have taken center stage and the grandeur and excitement have been pushed to the background.  We are hoping that next week will allow us to begin our transition, wrap things up and really begin to get excited for our journey.  I mean tomorrow is our last of work...FOR FOUR MONTHS!  Hopefully that will begin to sink in soon.

I had an introspective moment tonight as I walked out of the office into the bitter cold on this, my last work night for FOUR MONTHS.   I looked up and saw the moon.  For a moment I was unsure about all I was leaving behind.  I was questioning the decision to pick up and leave all of our friends and family.  I was also curious if it was smart professionally to leave a good job and chance being without on our return?  I was overwhelmingly unsure!
The feeling quickly passed, and I suddenly became incredibly happy.  I realized just how amazing it will be and how lucky I am to see that same moon in so many amazing places around the world as we live OUR dream for the next 4 months.

Here is to having the world as my design studio, if only for a short period of time!

Flights are Booked and The Word is Out!!!

Thursday night we spent an hour on the phone with our rep at Airtreks and made, quite possibly, the most important purchase of out trip. We booked all but one of our flights for our 4 month sojourn around the world!! A huge step for us, but still loads more to do.

In addition I broke the news to my company on Friday! Our world adventure is now public knowledge! I was incredibly nervous to tell them as I had no idea how the news would be received. Would they be mad, would they be glad, would they be bummed out, or would they tell me to pack up and head out? All possibilities that I tried to mentally prepare for. I was also a bit bummed about the timing due to some great projects that will just begin to ramp up after the first of the year. However, as the old adage states...there will always be a million reasons not to do something.

Anywho, I met with my boss in the morning and told him about our plans, and my last day being January 25th. He was genuinely happy for me! He was envious of the experience that our around the world trip is sure to bring! The icing on the cake...he spoke very highly of potential of continuing to work there after we returned from the trip! Truly a great gift to work at a place that would even entertain the possibility of a position in the future. In the event of the trip lasting longer than 4 months or something else happening the company would obviously do what they need to do keep on going.

I couldn't have asked for it to go better!

2013 will surely be an amazing year! Lots of excitement, adventure and changes!

Champagne to Celebrate Our Flights!