{ the travel BUG }

I've got it bad. I want out of the office and out of work and to be on the ROAD for an ADVENTURE. Timing for this feeling isn't great as our busy race season just started and the NSS Tradeshow is about a month away. But we have been talking about our next trip (I know what you are all thinking - you travel all the time but trips for races, scouting for races, work, visiting family and weddings in the region just DON'T COUNT!)

This blog about a family of 4 who left their jobs, sold their house, etc. and who are traveling the world for over a year, hasn't helped me focus on work. I mean, if they can do it, we could too, right? Unfortunately, we didn't follow Tim Ferris's advice and build businesses that can be run by other people. Sure, we could hire people and train them and hope for the best but Gravity Play Sports is Will's baby - he's the guy behind the course design, permits, everything. Could he really leave it for a year in the hands of someone else? Plus, could I REALLY be gone for a YEAR? Away from my family & friends? I like to think I could but I don't know if I could do it.

The longest we've been away from home at one time is 3 1/2 weeks - when we did a road trip to Lake Powell, Zion National Park, Yosemite, etc. & back and we've spent 3 weeks in Mexico, 3 weeks rafting the Grand Canyon and 2 1/2 weeks in Costa Rica, etc. So to make the jump from 3 weeks AWAY at any given time to 52 weeks is a LOT of jumpin'.

We want to show Sam the world; we want her to grow up with a understanding of the global nature of all things - the environment, the economy, etc. and to help her develop a true sense of responsibility, empathy for those less fortunate in the world, and wanderlust! So, we've been talking about a trial run - wrap up post race season stuff in October; visit family; train someone to "oversee" our businesses and hire a house/dog sitter and spend the month of November in Australia or New Zealand (Will wants Australia- he used to live there and is dying to show ME all around that country but we've both never been to New Zealand so that could be a really fun, new adventure.) Sam would love either I'm sure (as long as there is a beach). That's our tentative plan but we need to get our act together soon if we are going to make it happen this year.

So, I ask all of YOU, what are your travel or road trip plans this summer or this year? I know there are some of you who haven't taken a vacation in years - waiting for the jobs to slow down or the kids to get older, retirement, etc....Time to get on the plane folks. Life is short! Carpe Diem! Share with ME your travel plans, goals or aspirations and I'll send my fav post a Pack ME pad and some other travel goodies!
Hi all ~ Yes, I think traveling/adventure can take many forms - it can be having a picnic in a park near your house; a family weekend camping trip a few hours away, a solo trip for a 40th birthday celebration, or a month long adventure with your family in a new place learning about a new culture. You are all right on with your plans/thoughts/ideas on this. Debbie - really like your advice about saving $ each month for that big trip. We all spend money on things that we don't need - what if we spend wisely over the course of the next year and save money for travel & adventure? What if we put a higher priority/value on that then on stuff we don't need from Target? Try it and let me know how it goes! ps - the winner of this post is Denise/dsmoms! Denise - email me your mailing address and I will get your travel bug prize package in the mail to you - LobotoME pack ME packing list, greenroom passport notebook, Kids road atlas & activities, receipt file, travel mouse doodle pad & more!

ps - a great post on how to travel the world with or without kids in 2008!

pps - my new suitcase from Pier 1.

"Time is not money. Time is the opportunity to live before you die."
(From "The Joy of Walking")