“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed
by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore.
Dream.
Discover.”
Sara
Hi, I am Sara and on this world since April 2006. A world that every day is becoming a little bit bigger. Instead of a slow start, chilling in my pram or stroller, mammie and daddy dragged me all over the place. I became best friends with barkeeper Willy in Airole, ate mammie’s tapas in Barcelona when she was not looking, saw fantastic kites in Tarifa, learned how to swim in the Provence, was up to my nose in Swiss snow and built sand castles in Elafonisi on Crete.
Mammie showed all these places on a globe that represents the world. Plenty of places still to discover! Frankly, it does not matter to me if I am chasing a bird on Maastricht’s Vrijthof or under the Petronas Towers. I do look forward to the sea, new and strange animals and playing with other children. And lots of ice creams of course!
Brigitte
There I was, together with Luc, sitting on a terrace in Maastricht, newborn in the baby carriage, owner of a beautifully renovated apartment in the centre of town, just started a new job; what more can one wish for?
Well, actually there were still a few things, varying from my 54th pair of new shoes, more clothing, designer knickknacks for the house, going out for dinner 3 times a week, to loads of extra holidays per year. All in all, the material girl in the material world. A happy-go-lucky, lovely life of luxury.
What we yet really wanted was to travel, travel, travel and break free from everything known to us. Free from all habits, indolence and security. Although it’s a big cliché, you really do only live once. So, live your dream instead of dreaming all your life of things you would like to do. As an extra, we would have the privilege of spending an entire year with our daughter, without any other obligations.
I decided to limit my material world to 20 kilo of luggage to enrich my life with this unforgettable experience.
Luc
Just over 40 and still wondering what it is I want to do. Privately, things could not have been better with my wife Brigitte and our little girl Sara. Professionally, however, I found myself at a standstill. To quote a favourite Dutch band Bløf, I was not sick but could have been better. I wanted to break free from my comfort zone. Travel and discover places, people, my wife, my daughter but most of all myself.
Sounds familiar? Apart from some reactions like what about your pension or mortgage when I explain the reasons for our travel adventure, there are also reactions of recognition. Perhaps some of the stories that will be posted on this blog will hopefully inspire others to do something similar. It is never too late to change.
It will be a big change for Sara, of course. Taking her away form the organized life she is leading to one loaded with adventures but also uncertainty. The hardest part will be to leave the people she loves to be with, especially her grandparents. Pulling funny faces on Skype is just not the same, even though it is only for one year.
On the other hand, I get to do something that few fathers have done before, spend a full year with my daughter. No deadline, no overtime, no nothing. I am really looking forward to it!
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