Todd and I have taken a few vacations abroad during our marriage, but a couple of years ago we began talking seriously about seeing the world while we still had our good health. Now it was time to stop talking and start walking. Put up or shut up. Like the Nike ad says, Just do it!
Why not go now? Just because we aren't "typical" retirement age? That's no compelling reason not to. Didn't we yearn to wake up in Paris or Pisa or Crete or Croatia, with no job to hurry off to, and the only agenda for the day being "taste something new"? That's compelling!
Not every couple is on the same page when it comes to travel. In fact, in most that we know, one half of the pair longs to tour far and wide while the other wants nothing more than to deepen their hometown roots. So Todd and I know we are lucky to both want to do this, at the same time, together.
Throughout the commotion of wrapping up our whole life and planning (loosely) the first leg of our tour, I've discovered these things:
- We have accumulated a lot of stuff.
- Books, when loaded into a box, are really heavy.
- It's emotionally taxing to pack away all your personal things, knowing it might be a long time before you see them again.
- It's even harder to select just a few items to take on a trip of unknown duration, especially when it all has to fit into a small carry-on. (More on this in another post.)
Also unexpected is the emotional roller coaster of paring down nearly 22 years of married life into a few boxes. Giving away books and furniture and clothes is easy; they are just things. But I didn't grasp just how much I adore my house, a darling 1925 Tudor, until I realized that soon somebody else will call it home.Exciting as it is to be taking the steps to fulfill this dream, it's not easy to walk away from life as I know it for unfamiliar everything.
But (deep breath) I'm truly looking forward to sharing new experiences with my husband. Hand-in-hand, with heartbeats racing, we'll begin our adventure in ten days.
I'll let you know how it turns out.
good luck in your new endeavors , how exciting!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, @Suzanne, and for the well-wishes. Todd says hi.
ReplyDeleteOh Gina I have always admired and looked up to you because I thought that I would be your exact replica as I grew older. And now reading this post, I now know and wish that i will follow your footsteps. Good luck Gina I hope that this adventure fulfills all your desires and hopes! By the way I hope you post a lot because I want to read all about it!!
ReplyDeleteWow! The time has come! I still can't believe it! So happy you have a blog--now we can all live abroad vicariously! You must keep us posted on all your awesome adventures. I will miss you, my friend, but can't wait to catch up when I come for a visit ;-o
ReplyDelete@Luci, thank you so much for your kind words! They mean more to me than you know. Enjoy being a mom, and live your dreams.
ReplyDelete@Susan, my dear friend, I shall look forward to catching up with you over colorful cocktails and with vibrant language every time you visit! Cheers.
ReplyDeleteWow! I am in awe of you and what you are doing! Way to grab life by the horns. I am completely jealous and I sure hope you keep us updated on social media of your adventures as I am now living vicariously through you!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the follow and comment, @Jennifer. So glad we are keeping in touch!
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