Hellbent On Change
Spot #8
With little fanfare, yesterday we arrived back to HMB and quickly got ourselves settled. They say home is where the heart is, which for us seems to be somewhere else. Because we yearn to be continually elsewhere, I particularly hate this phase of our travels – its symbolism affirming our ‘rootedness’ as being someplace other than where we really want to be … on the road.
Yes, our home is mobile and we do enjoy freedom we never experienced while owning a house, but our current situation is really a tease of what life might be like if we were on the road full-time. If only.
Having spent 16 of the past 21 days traveling, we have no fixed plans for our next trip. We will go somewhere over the July-4 break, but nothing is solidified at this point. For now, our next trip seems like forever away.
During the drive yesterday, Kelly and I discussed (yet again) our desires to make a change. A big change.
We just need to think through some important decisions.
We both have good jobs which for now tie us to the Bay Area. We also need to be thoughtful about disrupting our long-term retirement (financial) plans. Any decision to walk away must be done so responsibly and only after having been thought through completely.
Today is Kelly’s birthday and for a few months we are once again the same age. It’s silly, but I enjoy sharing the same number with her. As a birthday gift to Kelly, we are committed to having full-time travel plans fully baked and ready to execute by this date next year. Our promise to the other is this: Project Launch will be ready for primetime.
I want to believe such a gift will be a wonderful present to my wife – the woman I love.
Until then, we have a lot of thinking to do.
Wandering With Purpose 
Crazy gypsies.
Jealous hater… 🙂
The fact that you added “hellbent” to the headline tells me this is for real.
Just think Marty – perhaps we can finally visit you guys someday. Btw, can your garage accommodate our “27ft trailer? I know that street parking in DC is horrid.
What a great birthday promise that is. It can be so hard to walk away from the financial stability, but I have confidence that you guys can make it work. We can’t wait to see you out here on the road in one year! And a very happy birthday wish to Kelly from Amanda, Tim & Phineas 🙂
Thanks Amanda. As you, we are itching to hit the road as soon as possible.
Mike and I completely understand! We’ve seriously considered moving or changing careers so that we could full time RV, but in the end we decided to stick to how things are now (but we are getting an Airstream in August to travel in as much as possible). Starting over now would hurt us tremendously financially which wouldn’t allow us to achieve our goal of retiring early. We’re happy with the decision, though, because after all, life is a grand adventure each day. 🙂
Molly – Thanks for the comments. You nailed our predicament exactly … how to get ourselves remote without delaying retirement plans. Like you, we have aggressive goals for financial independence which we don’t want to put at risk.
Happy Birthday Kelly!! And oh my god am I reading this right?! You’re going to hit the road full-time on Kelly’s b-day next year?!!!!!!! I’m so excited for you both.