T Minus 2 weeks and counting…

T Minus 2 weeks and counting…

It’s getting real.

After a recent trip to L.A. to visit family (happy 1^st birthday Max!), it’s great to be back in the Emerald city of Seattle.  While basking in the 70-degree sunshine and clear skies was desirable and energizing, there is always a sense of relief in coming “home.”  Well, at least for the next 2 weeks until we officially resign our coats and gloves and head back south to California for (hopefully) sunshine, flip-flops and sunscreen.  LOTS of sunscreen.

I am really thankful we made the L.A. trip before our grand exit from Washington.  It was not only great to have quality time with people we love, but it allowed us a taste of what it’s like to use our recently purchased travel gear.  At this point, I’ve already packed away all of my other clothing (screw you suits and button up shirts!) and am just using my travel clothes on a day-to-day basis.  That being said, we also have the benefit of a washer & dryer, a familiar bed, etc.  It was helpful to force ourselves to pack up our backpacks and carry-on luggage and see how it all actually functions.  The good news is it works!  I suppose there’s something to be said about months of research and a certain degree of fear of the unknown that drives preparation and hopefully good decisions.

While I am certainly happy to be back in Seattle, there is also a very real sense of urgency to complete all of our final tasks before we head out.  Things like selling our cars, buying international medical insurance, getting our travel inoculations and putting all our worldly belongings in storage.  With each box we take from our tiny apartment and put into storage, our trip becomes more real.  We become less of our old selves and continue to create the new and improved us.

Thankfully we’ve had about 9 months to go through the cycle of these emotions, so it’s not new to feel this way, but it certainly is becoming more significant.  I’d like to think of it as a very positive thing.  To me, this is the catharsis of our stresses and negative feelings and the beginning of something new.  Shedding skin, so to speak. 

I’ve told many in the past few months that I’m looking forward to going back to the “old me.”  I see this as the first tangible step.  Once we remove the comfort of having a home-base, the journey begins.

First stop, California.  Next stop, the world!