Planning for the Trip

This is my first post. Doing this makes the trip now seem even more real. For the last 5 years we have been planning on taking this trip around the world, but did not start doing much of the planning until the last 5 months. Most of the planning on where to go in a country, and where to stay, has been done by Margit, while I have focused more on the nuts and bolts of leaving; buying our airline tickets, what gear to bring, and the purchase thereof. Margit has done by far the bulk of the work. Yesterday I did my first extended investigating on places to stay. I don’t know if it was that, or the fact that we leave Boise in a little over two weeks, but last night the excitement hit me, and I had trouble falling asleep. I can only imagine what the night before we leave will be like.

In our planning, I was actually surprised by how little disagreement we had on where to go. Perhaps it was because the kids only had a few places that were must-see places (China, Paris, Egypt, Greece, and Indonesia). Perhaps it was also a recognition and acceptance that we had to find destinations where our money would last longer. (I want to put in a plug here for “World’s Cheapest Destinations” by Tim Leffel, whose book was a great education and constant guide in helping us plan an itinerary). And maybe it was also because there are so many places we want to see, that there are so many destinations that would be of interest. Additionally, we realize that this will not be our last trip. Probably our only one of this length, but the planes will continue to fly after our return and the countries will still be there.

This will be my 2nd trip around the world, the first having been as a college student on a 5 month study program. I had always thought that that trip would be the highlight of all trips. It was my first trip out of the country; for that matter it was my first time on an airplane. It was also with a wonderful bunch of people who also were interested in learning and exploring. How could I top that? Now I know. Maybe things won’t turn out as planned, but I am excited to spend a year exploring with my wife and 2 kids, my favorite people. I realize how quickly kids grow up, and soon they will drift away from us; we will no longer be the center of their lives. It should be that way, but I will miss that nevertheless. While we still rate near the top in their lives, I want to share in exploring and learning with them. This will be a trip we will always remember, and hopefully, always cherish. Mitch