I tried to hold back the biggest grin that was spreading across my face. I love that he's thinking about future adventures. I had assumed that our next adventure may not be for a couple of years since (1) we're both done with school and no longer have months of vacation, (2) Neil has a "real" job with limited vacation and a lot of responsibility, and (3) we're actively trying to have children and from what I understand, adventuring with an infant may be more adventure than we're seeking.
Some of our past adventures have included:
- Road trip to Georgia, South Carolina, and New Orleans after I graduated college
- South Island of New Zealand later that same summer (adventure for Neil, vacation for me)
- Road trip across the country on our way to grad school including stops in North Carolina, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho (with all of our earthly possessions stuffed in my '92 Honda Accord, Rocketstar)
- Senegal and The Gambia (adventure for me, vacation for Neil)
- Bike trip from Portland to the first farm near Hood River (perhaps the best 10 days of my life up to this point)
- WWOOFing in Hood River (quickly surpasses the bike trip and becomes the best two weeks of my life)
- WWOOFing in Ashland, OR
- Train trip back to Arkansas with all of our earthly possessions in ten boxes and four carry-ons
We concluded that while we are planning to take a big vacation in February/March, vacations do not count as adventures. The plan? After Neil gets some good work experience at his current job (2-5 years) we will depart for Alaska. We'll take the train to the Northwest, stopping to hike/camp/explore as needed. Once in Washington (or maybe Vancouver?) we'll take the ferry to The Last Frontier and spend the summer exploring all it has to offer. It will be a different kind of adventuring than we've done in the past because we will likely have a couple children in tow, but that's just adds more adventure to the adventure, right?
Obviously the Alaska plan will be expensive, time consuming to plan, and a challenge with children. But it'll happen. I believe in visualizing what we want out of life, and I want a life of crazy adventures with my family. I am sending our desires out into the universe and then we will work hard to make it our reality. You have to make it happen for yourself. We are not wealthy (by American standards), but we have a modest income and live a frugal lifestyle so we can spend our money where it matters to us--making memories exploring the world as a family.