Honey, I'm home...For good.
As I write this, I'm staring out our front window watching snowflakes fall on budding trees and green grass sprinkled with bright yellow dandelions. My eyes and mind are playing tricks on me though. It can't be winter anymore. I'm in denial that in one day it will be May 1st. It feels like just yesterday, on a random December evening, that we were eagerly waiting for Chip to come home from work. This was not your average winter night though.
As I write this, I'm staring out our front window watching snowflakes fall on budding trees and green grass sprinkled with bright yellow dandelions. My eyes and mind are playing tricks on me though. It can't be winter anymore. I'm in denial that in one day it will be May 1st. It feels like just yesterday, on a random December evening, that we were eagerly waiting for Chip to come home from work. This was not your average winter night though. I prepped our twin boys on what to say when dada walked up the stairs from the garage and into the dining room. I remember him swinging the door open wide, wearing an even wider smile, and the boys exclaiming in unison "You did it! You did it!" Reid continued to add "We're gonna take a dabbatical." He meant sabbatical. We were giggling, and dancing, and I'll be honest, maybe a little freaked out too (although neither one of us led on). Our minds were racing with excitement just thinking about what we would embark on in only a few short months. But it was then, in the middle of break dancing with the boys, that I froze and my expression turned as serious as a statue. Wait, is this really happening? Do I also need to put in my notice for work? Oh gosh, we need to find renters for our house! And sell our things? What about our cars...are we selling those too? I'm afraid to tell our friends. What will our family think? GULP. One minute I was thrilled about the possibility and the next I was struggling with the fact that maybe we had made the wrong decision.
Fast forward to the month of April. The notices had already been formally turned in and we were no longer sitting at our desks from 8 to 5 every day. It felt good. Wait, I'm not going to lie. It felt great! We could already feel energy seeping back into our bones, minds, hearts, and body. We'd have actual time for ourselves, our home, our children, and other people. Heck, I've even managed to hang up curtains in the guest bedroom that have been sitting in a box idle for the past three years. Preparations for the trip are in full force at the Keller household. We are painting walls, purging stuff, selling cars, responding to rental inquires, renovating the bathroom(s), and prepping Spud for take-off (this includes a Subaru engine conversion - thanks, honey!). It feels a little bit like a juggling act.
Naturally, you might be asking yourself, "Why did you do it?" Why leave a city that you love, friends that you've made, and good jobs that you were content with? Simply put, there was something deep inside us that tugged at our heartstrings. Meeting other families who were on the road, watching documentaries, or following other people's blogs got us talking about executing a similar trip. At times we were so passionate we would often have tears in our eyes when we spoke about it. Sounds a little nerdy, but it's true. That whisper in our ear urging us to "do it" only grew louder and more persistent as time went on until finally we gave in and agreed that there was no better time than now.
We will dive in to some of the main reasons we decided to do the trip, how we went about saving for it (yes, LOTS of saving!), and how we will survive in 80 square feet of van (stay tuned for a video tour of Spud) in upcoming posts. But for now, bear with us while the final push in preparations come together. Soon, in one short month, we will be waving goodbye to our life in Durango to start a new one on the road for a year. Check out where we are headed HERE.
We look forward to seeing many of you on the road! To those we haven't met yet: We can't wait!
May 2016 - One year ago in Valley of the Gods. Short trips that changed everything! Don't worry, the helmet was from the previous bike ride, not for fear of a drop...
April 2017 - Bennett supervising Chip's effort at putting the gas tank back together. Nothing like filling ALL the way up and not dripping gas for the next 20 miles.
April 2017 - Chip, a.k.a. "The Mad Scientist," pulling out the Impreza engine so Spud can soon keep up with other cars on the road. Don't let him anywhere near your Subaru. Note the headlamp-induced hair style which is vaguely reminiscent of the sweet bowl-cut he sported in high school. Try not to be jealous.
May 2017 - The highly choreographed mating dance between Japanese engine and German transmission begins. Our kids have never learned as many "mean words" in just one single day.
Mini mechanics in the making.