Introduction to Our Journey

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” -Helen Keller

A while back my husband and I decided that we needed a change.  We both had been doing well in our careers, were financially successful, and had recently bought a home that we absolutely love.  But deep within both of us was a longing for something more.  Justin spent the first decade of his adult life as a minor league baseball player, living for the season, traveling and working in the off-season.   I have always had a keen sense of adventure and restlessness.

Justin Pitching for the “Wooster” Tornadoes

My mom always talked longingly about wanting to travel more and I think a part of me internalized that dream.  She went with me on my first trip outside the country, a high school trip to Greece, Italy, Spain, and France, that ignited my obsession with seeing the world beyond my own door.   One of the greatest things each of us has done in our lives were the times we each spent teaching English abroad.  Justin taught in Thailand before I met him and I taught in South Korea in 2009.  We like to joke that he drove me out of the country, but really he inspired me to take a chance and change my life.

Heather running the Sage Rat Run Half Marathon

I understand why we settled down, cultivated our careers, and began living for our bonuses, retirement accounts, shorter trips here and there, and of course our beautiful home.  We have friends and family that we love to spend our time with and our extra money has funded our second obsession, fitness and athletics.  But as many half marathons, obstacle courses, full marathons and Ironmen (Justin, not me), as we could muster our bodies to handle, it always came back to the fact that we were searching for something to take our minds off of the day to day that wasn’t fulfilling us.

That’s why we decided to make a change.  We started talking about it tentatively at first, and then more boldly.  When we told my parents our plan, I don’t think they quite believed it was going to happen. My mom is super excited for us to travel, but I know she worries too.  My dad is getting a new passport.  This trip, this ‘gap year’, is now a reality.  It is a third person living in our house with us. It fills my mind most days and I couldn’t make it leave me alone even if I wanted to.

My mom and I on the plane to Hawaii

Now that this reality is no longer a thought, but an entity, I am excited, anxious, giddy, and cautious all at once.  I want to see where this can take us, anxious to get it all right, giddy at the prospect of all the unclaimed adventures that are waiting, and cautious that I might blink and miss something in this incredible opportunity.

Thank you for joining us and I hope you enjoy watching our adventure as much as I’m sure we will enjoy embarking on it.

Heather