The last week and a half has been a whirlwind.  Holy crap.

The decision to make this move, take this trip, and choose the path that we’re choosing is a bold move.  Giving up a high paying ‘stable’ job, leaving the comfort and familiarity of our community, and heading overseas for 6+ months (and maybe longer?) is a daunting thought to really get your head around.

And up til now it’s been just that.  Something that you have to get your head around.  But when the rubber meets the road it’s a whole different animal.

What happens when the theoretical big talk of sticking it to the man, leaving everything behind, and making the leap comes true?  Things get scary, anxiety approaches, and you’re faced to actually look yourself in the mirror.

Sometimes this is a great thing.  I look at myself in the mirror now and know that we are absolutely doing the right thing for our family, for Amanda and I as a couple, and for our future.  But I also look at myself in the mirror and ask if I really know what the hell I’m doing.

I think that’s just what happens when you leave the framework of conventional society.

You leave behind the comfort of “fitting in” and anytime you step out of that convention you open yourself up to questions from people, weird and awkward stares, and doubts from those close to you about what you’re doing.

And you have to ask yourself if you can honestly answer those questions, be confident in your position to those weird looks, and sleep well at night knowing that you know more than they do, are enlightened past their perspective, and know deep down that you are choosing the right path.

At various times during the past week and a half since I gave notice at my corporate job I have had all of these weird looks and questions both from myself, from Amanda, and from my friends, family, and coworkers.  But through all of this I have remained steadfast that we are on the right path.

While it’s not easy to know this deep down and be able to defend it not just to others but to ourselves as well is hugely inspiring.

Not knowing what the future will hold is going to be a common state of mind now, and that’s fine.  We’re trading that lack of security for another level of security that is on a different level entirely.  Now instead of knowing that the paycheck is coming in every other week we know that we are 100% in control of our time, location, and direction in life. And I think that’s a pretty awesome tradeoff to have.

This is the road we’ve chosen, and now that the rubber is meeting that road I’m really excited (even if I am honestly a little scared) at what the future will hold for us.

Looking Forward

Now that we’ve actually started down this path it’s time to actually start planning this journey.  And just yesterday we made an important first decision:  Where we’ll start our Europe Trip.

After looking, researching, talking to a lot of knowledgeable people, and soul searching a bit, we’ve settled on Aix-en Proveance in France for our first long stop of the trip.  We’ll likely stay there 3-4 weeks, and think it will give us a great feel for what real European culture and lifestyle is like. Aix is a medium sized provincial town in the south of France, giving it both great weather for May, which is when we’ll start, and the cultural immersion that we’re looking for.

Who wouldn’t love to really experience the South of France in the Spring?  I sure as hell am excited about it.