It was only a mere month ago when we began seriously considering an ambitious road trip to see the Pacific Northwest, yet it seems like it was just yesterday. Most of our friends and family were really excited and supportive of our decision to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity and well, others probably just thought we were crazy but keep it to themselves. Regardless, I’m incredibly glad and grateful we did.
Last fall my husband, Curtis, found out he would be laid off by June of this year from the company he’d worked for for nearly two decades. We’re both optimists and looking at the brighter side while feeling scared shitless sometimes, too. While on a planned week-long vacation to Lake Michigan during 4th of July, we had the opportunity to reconnect with some really close friends whom we’ve not been able to see for a while, all adventure seekers like us. Conversation led to us candidly discussing the fact that if there was ever a moment to take time off to visit many beautiful places we may never see again, it was now. During our drive home from vacation, the subject came up only this time with a more seriousness.
With a predictable amount of resistance from Curtis, we continued to discuss it over the next week while he was undergoing job interviews he’d lined up the week before. Now unemployed and expecting a decent severance package, he knew he had a little extra time to find a job. In order for us to be able to take a crazy road trip like this, I’d have to ask for unpaid leave from work. On my first day back to work, I realized that it could actually be possible as there weren’t any conflicts on my schedule and our department had recently been blessed with another part-time staff person who I’d been training the previous three weeks. So, on my second day back to work, I approached my supervisor about the possibility. Luckily, he didn’t say no; he also didn’t give a quick yes either.
For the next week I hustled to prepare for things as if it were going to happen. At night, I put together spreadsheets for expense projections and cash flow projections into next September to help Curtis understand how this could, in fact, work out. Early in the week, a friend who was in between houses offered to look after our home and four-legged kids. Two days before we left, it all worked out. The night before we left, we finalized our route. The day we left, we packed.
We traveled nearly 6,500 miles through 13 states – Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa and of course, Missouri – crossing the Great Divide multiple times. We took hundreds of photos and videos, visited some long-time friends and made new ones. We met people from all over the US and even Australia. We went through countless state and national parks and immersed ourselves in our environment and its culture. It was life-changing and I have about 13 pages of journaling to share with the photos.
Now we’re home and I’m settling back into work while Curtis is resuming his search for employment. Nyah started school this week and life will once again become fairly routine. However, a switch has been flipped inside me, like my own great divide. I’m not the same person I was before we left. Traveling does that to you – it opens you up to a world of possibility and opportunity. It provides perspective. Much. Needed. Perspective. Admittedly, my re-entry to our world here has been a little rough, but I’m beginning to refocus and redirect until our next adventure.
Consequently, I’ve relaunched my massage therapy business, am beginning to make jewelry and truly explore writing for the first time in my life. I’m excited to dive back into the personal development practices I once depended on to stay connected with gifts I often ignore. Hopefully you will follow me on this journey. 🙂
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