Hit the Road!

Posted by meli on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 in family, going green and simple living, kids, marriage, military/retirement, travel | 8 comments

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do then by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bow lines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sail.

Explore. Dream. Discover.
~Mark Twain



You've all been waited with bated breath to hear a whisper of our plans, right?
Ok, you probably have lives to lead and have since forgotten, but your interest is at least peaked again, right?

There are many dreams that we have shifted to the fore front. Putting focus on. Spinning and churning for ways to turn them into reality. The biggest has to be what the photo above depicts. Can anyone make it out?

Think about it a while.

There isn't much that I am going to miss about military life. Not much at all! There is one thing, though. One thing that would tug at my heart every time I thought about it. So many people in the military complain about this one little thing that I'll miss dearly. So many people getting ready to get out of the military rejoice in the fact they will no longer have to endure it.

The constant moving.

The desire to settle down somewhere, plant some roots, own a home ... it's just not appealing to neither Nick nor I. We've owned a house in the past. We didn't do it to put down roots and settle, we were knee deep in military life, with no end in sight, how settled could we possible get. We bought the house simply to save money. We paid much less for our mortgage payment each month then we would have had to shell out in rent each month for a similar place. It was a good idea at the time. But, it didn't end well (military was moving us, but the market was too slow and sketchy to sell, so we rented it out when we left. made a very bad decision going with the management company that we did, and in the end the house ended up being foreclosed. that's the jist). We really came to love that house. Together, Nick and I did so much work to the house. We had no idea what we were doing. As much as he wishes he were, Nick isn't very handy, and I've never been exposed to such things, so we were literally learning each step of the way. That made it all the more fun. So many memories wrapped up in that house. And then it was gone, with nothing but long term bad credit to show for it. It was a painful situation. One I don't ever want to find myself in the middle of again. I don't like saying never, but I don't see myself owning another home. I don't have the desire to, honestly. Of course, things change, but that's how I feel right now. Nick does as well. I could see possibly owning land one day, and building some little tiny cottage or yurt on it... so I guess I would technically "own a home" ... but don't get technical with me! lol.

I'm a born tumbleweed. Always moving. I get restless being in one spot for too long. There is a great big world out there, and I want to explore and play in every crevice of it.

I've always had the travel bug, though I pushed it to the back, like a lot of people, and was resigned to the fact that it was a 'retirement dream". After our kids are grown and gone, and after we're done working the majority of our lives away, then and only then will we travel. We'll see the world. We'll be free.

But... why wait? Why put off for tomorrow what we can do today?
I don't want my kids to be grown and gone. I want to experience this WITH them.
I don't want to work our lives away, making money to support an existence that isn't our dream, our goal.

What's the point of that?

Family is what is important to us. Experiencing life together. Not big houses, or new cars. Not fancy clothes (I admit, I do love clothes, but I'm happier thrifting for them!) or designer shoes. We couldn't care less about status. We're not interested in "keeping up with the jones'". Saving up and getting ahead is not something that we strive for. I mean, have a little savings is smart, but putting away big chunks of money for some far off "retirement" is just not of interest.

Carpe Diem... Cease the Day

We're taking hold of our lives and setting out to get as much out of them as we possibly can. Again, why put off for tomorrow what you can do today? We want to travel, well by gosh, we're going to do it! Not in 40 years... NOW! Ok, technically (there's that word again!) not now, we're still in the military, but once they set us loose, we're setting ourselves loose! Loose and free!

Details are being ironed out, but an rv or converted school/city bus is in our future. Full time travelers. First to explore this great big country that we've spent the last 13 years protecting. Taking as much time as we need. Years, even. And then we'll go beyond our borders. Central America has always called to me. Mexico, South America, I want to be immersed. Eventually, one day we hope to ditch the bus, hop a plane, and go explore the other side of the pond.

We're thinking a stop in Nevada straight away, to establish residency right out of military life. Homeschool laws are easy to follow there, perfect for travelers. Plus, we've enjoyed the no state tax thing for so long, why stop now? lol. After that stop, we'll head up to Washington to bunk for a while as we hunt down an RV or a bus... do whatever renovations we'll need (we definitely want some solar power and a veggie oil conversion, inspired by the Live Lightly Tour. Their wonderfully inspiring family is no longer on the tour, but they are back on the road. Their new travel blog hasn't launched yet; until it does, you can find them at Walk Slowly, Live Wildly). Not sure how long all of that will take, we're guessing a year or so, and then we're off. Dust in the wind. Ready to live, to laugh, to learn, to love ... and to visit as many of you as humanely possible!

The only thing that could stop us ... the government!
There are so many unknowns as far as Nicks medical retirement, it's a bit bothersome being so in the dark. Ok, more then a bit. Trying to roll with the punches. It doesn't help to get worked up over something we have no control over, right? Right! It's still annoying, though! lol. Worst case scenario ... I can see the VA telling him he has to stay within so many miles of his assigned Drs while we're receiving benefits. I don't like thinking about that scenario; talk about a kink ... we'll cross that bridge if we have to.

So, did you guess what that picture was up there?
Owen drew it.
Us in our RV/Bus
I love it!
The kids may be more excited than we are! lol.