By: MJ + PJ
This post addresses something that we have always seen as a curious human condition: Wanting to do something, but not doing it.
Sure, we have been there at times: Too busy, too entrenched, too expensive, too little time, too much to organize, too many other things first, too little experience etc. But the reality is, when faced with an ultimatum or firm choice you find all sorts of ways to change reluctance and deferment into a series of “all we have to do is…” statements. Neither of us are from California, or Colorado, so how did we get there?
Coming from Ohio, PJ realized that Ohio beaches were not up to par, so she drove more than halfway across the country to the West Coast. She had a mission, so packed it up, got in the car, and went. These types of shifts are uncomfortable, but not always entirely for the person actually doing them. The person doing the shift is enacting and living out their reasoning.
MJ has lived in the US about 15 years and people often ask where he is from. When he says “Australia, originally”, the usual responses are:
“Really! It looks/sounds like such a great place!”
“You know… I’ve always wanted to go there.”
“I planned a trip there once, but never ended up going.”
“I hear it’s dangerous… there are a lot of things that can kill you!”
“If I ever went, I wouldn’t know where to start?”
“They say that Australia…”
To which his usual reply is “It’s still there. You are free to visit and find out.” Then the discussion turns to flights and time and travel costs, which usually ends with MJ explaining that: a round trip flight is about $1500-$2000 ($4-$5.50/ day saved for a year), the exchange rate usually saves you about 25c per US dollar, because of jet lag you should go for at least 2 weeks, the seasons are opposite, and that the Australian continent is about the same size as the continental US… so make that a month trip. Basic stuff to be able to plan a trip there. Why not take the leap?
So, when we started planning this trip, we read ahead in order to get an idea about how people would respond, which pretty much panned out as expected.
Us:
“We are going to travel the world.”
Responses:
“Why?”
“I’ve always wanted to do that!”
“I wish I could do that…”
“Really? How?”
“Where will you be going?”
“That’s ballsy!”
“I’d like to do that, but…”
“When I retire I’m going to…”
These include some of the responses we ourselves expressed at certain stages over the last decade. While there is nothing wrong with these responses, the question that is begging to be asked is “Have you ever gone beyond contemplation?”.
Has your time come?
This website aims to help those who go beyond that point of contemplation. Not everyone will take on such a venture – some may for a few months, some may for a few years, and some may never go home. The harsh reality that is that the only thing stopping or enabling you is you.
Ouch.
Maybe we’ll see you on the road!
