I keep starting and stopping and restarting this post.
I feel like today, the day we officially embark on our journey, should be marked with something significant.
But I’ve already said so much! I’ve talked extensively about the RV trip and why we’re going. I’ve made a map and a form and a video. I’ve done all the talking and planning, and the only thing left to do is do it.
These last few days of doing have been harder than I expected. Saying goodbye to Faiqa made me seriously question leaving for the first time. She is like a sister to me, and living close enough to hug her often will always be one of the greatest gifts of my lifetime. Every time I think about not having that I hurt in my chest, and I understand why people centuries ago decided that the heart is where love lives in our bodies.
This week I also felt real fear and doubt for the first time. For months now people have been asking if I was nervous and I told them honestly that I wasn’t. Maybe all the planning didn’t allow much room for nerves. Maybe I was too naive to realize how nervous I should be.
But now we are scared.
Now we are questioning.
Now, with nothing left to do but go, we are more aware than ever of everything we’re leaving behind and of how little we know about what we’re heading into.
But that’s not how I wanted to mark today. Today is supposed to be significant. But maybe the doing is just what’s left after you’ve decided months ago. Maybe it was the deciding that was significant after all.
On August 15, 2010, we decided to take a year off to travel as a family.
Today, June 1, 2011 – less than 10 months later – the only thing left to do is go.
Here we go…
Ah baby. I would take away the pain for you if I could but the pain is part of the gift as well. Sorry, but it is.
I love you.
Smart Nanna!
The fear of the unknown is part of it Britt, as we all love to be in control..but no one ever really is. Embrace the fear and uncertainty and keep your eyes on the prize..the freedom and time together! Life is short..live it to the fullest!!
We’ve been traveling the world as a family non-stop now for 5 years to 42 countries on 5 continents on 23 dollars a day per person. We’re RVing Spain at the moment ( just arrived from wintering in Asia) but maybe we’ll catch you in the fall when we do a USA roadtrip.
I remember our first day and how surreal it all felt, but soon you will get your “sea legs”, enjoying your life as an adventure and becoming your own heroes. You may not even want to stop as a year goes by so fast.
This adventure will change you…but I think you will all be very pleased with the new you! Have a ball!
Best of luck to y’all!
Safe travels to you all. Adventure awaits…
[...] My best friend Britt and her family are leaving for a year long RV trip today. And until today, it sounded like a fantastic idea. Jared, Britt, Devin and Emma? You will always have a home in the hearts of our family. Don’t forget that. Ever. [...]
Wish we’d done this at your ages, we waited till 50 and only RV’d 7 months. I never once thought of writing about the many adventures. I’ll tell you we did it with 3 dogs and 2 cats in a Pace Arrow 35 footer. With a full size car being towed. Have the time of your life. We got room to put you up here in Mchenry IL. Look it up on your atlas. 15 mins south of WI border.
Best wishes to y’all on this next chapter in your lives. Live large and stay strong. =)
Living close to Sarah is key to me living where I live now — just knowing I COULD see her whenever I want to, even if I don’t. But if I decided to do something as kickass as you’re off to do, one of the gifts of my life is that I know that she would be out there rooting for me all day every day, and that if anything happened and I needed her, she would do anything she could to help me. I’d never know if I’d see her show up on a highway somewhere.
This is going to be transformational and amazing, whatever it is. I’d be freaking out too! Rock it out, Miss Britt family! Cannot wait to hear your stories from the road, and hope you end up near DC so I can see you! xo.
Bon Voyage!
Yay! Adventure! I am so impressed with your large balls. Bring on the stories!
I often say the hardest part of our journey was making the decision to take it. Biking around the world with kids was the easy part – DECIDING to bike around the world with kids was harder than heck!
I think a lot of it is because we are raised to WANT a certain type of life. Our parents, our friends, our society – they all conspired together to raise us to value that big house in the suburbs, the 9 – 5 job, a couple of cars in the driveway and 2.4 kids. That’s what we SHOULD want, because that’s what we were raised to want.
But if we don’t want that? It’s almost as though we are slapping our parents and society in the face. It’s like we are turning our backs and walking away and saying, “I don’t care how much you loved me and supported me and nurtured me and taught me – I don’t want what you taught me.”
The funny thing is that all that crap is internal – it’s an internal battle we fight that nobody else even cares about. Everybody else is just as excited for you as you are.
Anyway, have the time of your life! And congrats for finally making it out of the driveway!
Nancy
Off you go on your great, big, sparkling adventure. It is exciting. It is glorious. You will see things many people will never get to see in their lifetime. Kerouac said this in ‘On The Road’ (Ch.7) “The air was soft, the stars so fine, the promise of every cobbled alley so great, that I thought I was in a dream.”
You’re going to be living your dream. How wonderful. Bonne chance.
Good luck!
I am sure everything will go well.
Once you have been on the road for a while you will be used to it, you will be happy with it and if you ever want to stop and settle down again, you can.
Have fun with this, it isn’t the end of the world if you don’t like being on the road, just go home!
Best wishes, safe travels, have lots of adventures and a wonderful time.
I’ve been reading about this journey for the better part of a year. And yesterday it just seemed to get real. Perhaps it was the video tour of the RV. Or the Orlando Sentinel article about you and your family. Or the fact that a common friend between us had to say goodbye and will miss you terribly.
I am so proud of you all for stepping outside the box (well, in one, actually!) and following this dream. I wish you the best and safest of travels. And I hope to see you in about a month or so.
Best wishes for a great trip! And BIG congratulations on making such a momentous decision, making it happen and now, seeing it through. That says remarkable things about you and your family. Enjoy it and make as many fantastic memories as possible. Thanks for taking us along with you. I’m looking forward to it!
Much love to you and yours…
I have always admired the fact that you have to guts to do what I’ve always dreamed of.
Have a safe trip and make some wonderful memories!
Nerves are a great thing….think of it as the universe telling you that you made the RIGHT decision.
One foot in front of the other, right?
See you in August…XOXO
Enjoy every moment of the adventure!!
Most things worth doing are scary. But this is going to be great! What a worthwhile adventure.
Happy travels!
August 15 is my birthday. True, that may seem irrelevant; however, when you factor in the inability for me to feed my raging wanderlust, I am convinced that you must do this for your family… and for those of us who will never have such an opportunity. Go. Drive. August 15, 2011: Tell us where you are at the one year mark, please.
We love you guys!!
Good luck! This won’t change your friendship with Faiqa, it will just make you appreciate her more. Besides, just think about all of the many, many people you will get to hug along the way!
You are my idol. Not kidding. I can’t even begin to to tell you the number of times I’ve read one of your posts and then called my best friend to tell her what I’ve learned from you this time.
You are going to have an amazing adventure no matter what happens. I am so excited for you!!
Godspeed!
I’m so excited for you guys! You’re going to have a grand adventure! Safe travels, my friend. xoxo
Eh, it’s a little bit of cold feet, that’s all. I know you’re going to love this trip!
And what an incredible, priceless gift you’re giving to your children. You’re giving them YOU. And, well, Jared, of course. It boggles my mind when I try to come up with words for how much this time together will mean to you and your family.
Looking forward to reading all about it, sweet lady.
Big massive huge GOOD LUCKS to all four of you! I wish you guys only the best.
Drive like the wind! Or something.
What’s going to pull this contraption? A truck or SUV, I assume?
It’ll be fun.
I, for one, am so excited to read about your adventures. You are giving your children the experience of a lifetime, while teaching them to not be afraid to reach out into the unknown. What courage you and your husband have.
Being afraid is a healthy reaction. Kudos to you for pushing past it!
Travel safe, take a ton of pictures, savour every moment. LOVE YOU!
Love will follow you wherever you go. Have a safe trip. xo
I think it’s natural to feel the way you do! You’ll have a great time though and I cant’ wait to read the stories and check out the photos!
I am jealous of your ability to do this. To dream it, to plan it, to put it in motion and to do it. I know, on paper I could do it too, but have you met me? Well, no, no you haven’t. I can’t do that. Too many roadblocks.. starting with ex husbands.
So, having said that, I am envious and excited, and anxious, and eleventy billion other things for you. Go see the world, well, ok the country to start. Know that I am home cheering you on, living through you.. too much pressure? Oh, sorry.
Best wishes, and safe travels. Godspeed.
Good Luck, we will be waiting for you to catch us up some where on the road.
Yesterday we were riding our bikes up Vail pass, after 16 miles out of Breckenridge we had to stop because an Avalanche had blocked the trail, You dont see Avalanches in Florida.
Hope to see you soon.
taking the leap, that’s the next step
as soon as you hit the pavement and go. so excited for you!!!
If I was ever so blessed to have my BFF within driving distance again (highly unlikely), leaving her behind MIGHT be a dealbreaker for me! Nonetheless, I’m so touched by your friendship with Faiqa and I totally get it.
But man, the adventures that await you and your family! I’m so excited for you and also seriously envious. That we will get to be a part of it through the miracles of technology makes it all the more awesome.
Wishing you, Jared, Emma and Devin happy trails and safe passage and a million wonderful moments!
See you in San Diego XOXO
I think you’re doing something awesome! You are definitely brave, but at the end of the year you are going to be so glad you did it!
I happened to learn about a group today called Love Drop and was poking around the site when I found this video;
http://www.lovedrop.us/stalnaker/episode-5-the-stalnaker-love-drop
Wow. When your name came up I cried. How special is this? I can’t think but it’s a good omen and that you will head out on wonderful adventures.
Welcome to the road! We’ve been going for over a year now and still love it. Can’t imagine staying still now. Hope our paths cross one day!
I know I’ve said it a bajillion times already (I feel like I’ve been chasing you around the internet clapping and waving at you
– but seriously, SO excited for you.
I’ve made several big, life-changing decisions over the last couple of years, and understand the sweet taste of following a dream and the fears that accompany it. I think that is why I am so ridiculously obsessed with your journey; because I can’t wait to see the photos of y’all with faces filled with total joy and happiness!!
Wow, what an exciting adventure! I took off 8 months after college for a round the world trip and now fantasize about doing the same thing here in the US. Will be following via your blog and living vicariously through you guys.
Also, your post about writing things down? Amazing. Gave me shivers. I write down lists for everything except my goals and dreams. I have them in my head and convince myself that’s enough, but looks like reading this was the kick in the pants I needed so thanks for the inspiration!
Wishing you safe travels. If you get lost and end up in Minneapolis, let me know.
All you need is an orangutan named “Bear” and you’re all set.
I’m so proud of you. You truly are an inspiration.
Good luck Britt and family! See you at BlogHer!
Have a great trip! I’ll be following your journey!
I’m sure it will be the time of your lives and I’m so happy I get to tag along for the ride. I hope we get to meet if you’ll be swinging through Boston. New England is a great place to visit. Ride on!!!
You have officially left your comfort zone. (But that was the point, right?)
Safe travels!
Britt – I’m terrified for you but at the same time thrilled. Bon voyage! I look forward to your travel tales. What device will you use to write blog posts? How will you connect to the internet?
Good Luck, stay safe, have fun… can’t wait to read all about your adventure! xox
Gosh … had to scroll WAYYYYY down to leave my comment.
It won’t be easy. I told you that in the beginning. Peeps will tell you that it’s wonderful and amazing and “oooh, how fun!!” …. but in reality – ??? it sucks! There are times that you will be sooooo sad and sooooo mad … and then 5 minutes later, you will be releving (sp?) in the fact that YOU were brave enough to do this ….
You will have moments where you want to look at Jared and say “seriously? WTH!!!!” … and moments you will want to chunk stuff out of the RV windows while you drive cuz you’re just frustrated.
BUT my dear and lovely internet only friend … you will be BETTER for this, and therein lies the beauty …
Get to drivin’ !!!
(and puh-leaze tell me that one of your in-real-life-friends made you guys a playlist of tunes for your drive??? if not, I am so on it and will send it to you … although I will need an address like … 45 days from now ….)
How exciting! My sweetie & I did a six week trip last summer, and it was the longest stretch of time I’d ever been out of my home state of California.
So glad for you all to be taking this wonderful adventure!
& Looking forward to meeting you in Cali, maybe even BlogHer & SF.
I’m a little jealous. I’ve wanted to do something like this for a long time but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to talk the husband into it. I’ll be tracking your every move and maybe, just maybe, one day we’ll be able to do something like this.
I noticed on the map you weren’t coming through Los Angeles, but if you change your mind, we’re in
Santa Clarita and have plenty of hot water, good food and clean towels.
Good luck! So excited for you all. Holla if you come through Dallas.
i love watching you and your family on this adventure. truly thrilling.
I just wanted to let you know, (a few days late, because that is how I roll) that I’m up here in Canada, cheering you all on to great success, amazing adventures and a year filled with love and exploration. Bon voyage Britt. Be safe and have fun!