Almost ten years ago I was a contractor doing project-based jobs with long breaks in between. During one of those breaks in 2014 Audrey and I embarked on our world tour to Turkey, Africa and Madagascar, and it was a magical journey. Since then I’ve started working full-time, and while there have been some smaller adventures, there hasn’t been anything on the scale of a multi-month journey to the other side of the world.
I’ve been agitating for an extended break from work for a while now, but after getting OK’d for a sabbatical in 2021, COVID stepped in and changed everyone’s plans. Three years and some burnout later, I’m writing this entry from SFO while awaiting a fourteen hour flight to Christchurch, New Zealand. The next six weeks will be filled with mountains and Hobbits and glow worms as I get to roam around Middle Earth, then I’ll leave New Zealand and meet Audrey for another six weeks of kangaroos and tropical reefs in the Land of Oz. After the plane lands in Oceania I will have set foot on every continent, and it’s exciting (and honestly a little scary) to be off into the unknown again. Even moreso, it’s invigorating to be breaking out of the last decade’s routine, knowing that while I couldn’t tell you what I did most days over the past three months, the next three months will rarely have a day that doesn’t create a lifetime memory.
I’m insanely lucky to be able to do something like this, and SO very ready to again spend an extended period living life to its fullest.