Nowhere in Particular

The last six weeks have been a whirlwind of change in our lives. We have packed up our previous life by selling our house and are in a somewhat no man’s land state. Our new adventure is yet to begin and so much still needs to happen, including the ever looming goodbyes. Our adventure is a little different in that we are not only travelling for a few months, but our end destination is a new home in a new country – Australia. This has caused me to be emotionally torn. Embarking on a world tour is what most people dream of, but I keep thinking about the lovely people I have in my life and that I, unfortunately, can’t take them all with me. I know our world is super connected, and it’s easier than ever to stay in touch, but there is something special about clinking wines glasses and sitting next to each other on the couch laughing about the craziness of the week that has passed. Although, we are now seasoned travellers through short vacations , I have never lived more the 5

It is important to try to blend in as a tourist. When you stand out like a sore thumb, you become an easy target. Touts easily see you coming and can hike their prices. Scam artists could also easily take advantage. We recently joined some friends at a Halloween party and dressed as travel nerds. These get-ups are a great example of what not to do. Do we blend in? Schalk and Lauren (Travel Nerds), Halloween Party, 31 October 2015 It is worth remembering that when you are as tall as Schalk is and have the pale skin we both have, the places where you will look like a local are quite limited. I am also cautious to commit that we definitely won’t be captured on camera looking somewhat close to the above photo. It is going to be a long trip and practicality may quickly outweigh any fashion sense.

When you are planning to travel for a couple of months, you begin your preparations months in advance. Part of our groundwork was to do some maintenance on the house and put it on the market. We anticipated that the sale would take about three months if everything went smoothly. Our house was sold after only two weeks! And as an extra shock, it was sold on the condition that we also moved out within two weeks. For an incessant planner like myself, this turned my world upside down. We had to pack up a three-bedroom house that had been our home for six years in a matter of days – you accumulate a lot of junk over six years. Selling your house in preparation for your travels might happen much faster than you anticipate.  Here are the necessary steps to take to pack up your house in 14 days: 1. Build a list The first thing you need to do is put together a list of all the furniture and equipment and then price it. You’ll be surprised with how much you can quickly sell if you pr