Where do I begin. We get asked everyday about the logistics in planning for a trip like this. It is mind boggling. It has been absolutely stressful but of course worth all the effort.
The hardest part is deciding to go. The easiest part is choosing where to go and spending all your hard earned money! We have been dreaming about this for 10 years but it took years for us to decide to go for it. This is an example of our conversation the last couple of years: it wouldn't be responsible, this isn't realistic, we have to start all over again, what about our careers, we need to have kids, the economy is bad and we need our jobs, on and on. But we finally agreed that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and this is the best time for us see the world together.
After you decide, you must learn to love checklists and execute. Everyone's trip is different but this is a list off all the things we have been doing the past year to get to this point. Each item noted is it's own checklist.
This list does not include trip research, visa research, and making our best guess on a budget.
1. For 5 years we have conciously stayed out of debt and saved.
2. One year before departure:
---- started buying our gear and testing it
---- started selling, donating and tossing our junk
---- visited our dentists and told them our plans
---- visited our doctors and told them our plans
---- update our travel documents/passports
3. Six months before departure:
---- visited our travel doctor
---- decided on and started our vaccinations (13)
---- started trial runs of Malaria Pills
---- started consolidating our banking and make everything electronic
4. Two months before:
----hired a CPA for taxes
----forwarded our mail
----tracked down and notified all our services
----updated contacts
5. 0ne month before:
----stored the Jeep on blocks in AL. and stored the red hot honda in OK.
----Finalized travel insurance
----tracked down and canceled all our services and maded sure we are cleared
(rent, phones, internet, insurance, tolls, library, dentist, doctors, etc)
----Decide on 401ks and Investments
----consolidate debit cards, credit cards and all accounts
----called our bank about our plans(have to call every 3 months to update)
6. Consolidated our two bedroom town home and a garage full of gear into a 5x10 storage unit. Payed up to one year.
7. Drove over 3,500 miles in 48 days around the country and visit all of our family and friends.
We'll this is all I can think of right now. The easiest way around this would be to find a lot of money, keep your house and hire a sitter, don't do anything too active so you won't need gear and hire a porter to carry your luggage around the world!
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