Reactions

There have been many and varied reactions when we have explained our upcoming adventures to family, friends, acquaintances, strangers in the street - majority of them very positive:
"Oh, that sounds great!"
"How exciting!"
"You're so lucky"
"You are going to have a fantastic time!"
and then comes...................................
"I wish we could do that"
"You've sold your house? Will you be able to get back into the market?"
"What will you do for money?"
""Do you have any savings/security?"

These negative reactions aren't really directed at us, they're people's own fears surfacing when presented with something (our trip) that doesn't conform with the norm and what society expects.

Not only is our journey producing reactions from others, but it is also a product of our reaction to many events that have happened in our lives.

A dear friend of ours introduced us to a movie last year, "Into The Wild", which we 'totally got!!".  A young man disenchanted with society leaves a dysfunctional family behind and gives his life savings to charity to explore his country, by himself, using his own resourcefulness. We by no means are that 'hardcore', but to many people the fact we have sold our house and reduced our wordly possessions down to about 20 boxes and essentially don't have anything to return to is very confronting. Maybe a song from the soundtrack of the movie will help to explain some of how we feel and our reasons and reactions:

Society - Eddie Vedder

It's a mystery to me
we have a greed
with which we have agreed

You think you have to want
more than you need
until you have it all you won't be free

Society, you're a crazy breed
I hope you're not lonely without me

When you want more than you have
you think you need
and when you think more than you want
your thoughts begin to bleed

I think I need to find a bigger place
'cos when you have more than you think
you need more space

Society, you're a crazy breed
I hope you're not lonely without me
Society, crazy and deep
I hope you're not lonely without me

There's those thinking more or less less is more
but if less is more how you're keeping score?
Means for every point you make
your level drops
kinda like it's starting from the top
you can't do that...

Society, you're a crazy breed
I hope you're not lonely without me
Society, crazy and deep
I hope you're not lonely without me

Society, have mercy on me
I hope you're not angry if I disagree
Society, crazy and deep
I hope you're not lonely without me
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As I explained earlier, we are not completely hardcore in removing ourselves from society or the grip of possessions/security, however to be able to travel, explore, work, dream, we have had to make (and to some it may be described as), sacrifices and do a lot of hard graft too, be it physical, spiritual, emotional or personal.

Together we have made a choice to live a dream and a life concept and since making that decision and taking action for our own happiness - well, we have been happy, deeply happy and it has permeated through to the people we love and inspired some.

There have been a few deaths in our family in the past 5 years and it does make you think, not about your own mortality, but about our life and our 'living'.
Society had us believe life must play out like the following:
- get a job,
- find a partner,
- get married,
- buy a house,
- have kids,
- get a better paying job (often doing something you don't like),
- buy a bigger house,
- buy lots of 'things' to keep up with everyone else,
- work harder and longer to pay for the bigger house and lots of 'things' in a job you hate,
- save for your retirement so you can travel and enjoy life,
- work harder and longer to tread above the debt water line and continue to save for retirement,
- end up dead or being too old and miserable when you retire to travel.

Why wait until retirement to be happy? Just do it now (or when you're ready).

So, in answer to those questions:
"I wish we could do that" - you can if you really want to and are prepared to work on it and yourself.
"You've sold your house? Will you be able to get back into the market?" - who said we want to get back into the same market? We might not stop travelling and be professional gypsies or we may end up somewhere completely different to where we started.
"What will you do for money?" - work!!! If you are prepared to work you can find work in Australia. Oh, to experience all kinds of jobs and people, stretch ourselves and maybe 'fall' upon our soul purpose.
""Do you have any savings/security?" - yes, we're in our late 30's to 40's, we're not completely bonkers :) but it is only enough for an emergency and so we must work and only buy what we really need.

We have learnt that when you start to make decisions and choices for your own happiness it is generally met with love and joy. 

Thank you to all the people who have been supportive, encouraging and excited by our adventure.