Monday 2 September 2013

An awfully big adventure

So there we were, B and I, sitting on the terrace, with a glass of something bubbly, looking at the view and thinking: "isn't it a shame that holidays only last two weeks".

And B, whose father was (and is, at 69 and three quarters) self-employed and who therefore took holidays to suit him and the family more than the rest of us generally can, said "I think I'm entitled to a sabbatical at some pointWe could have a long holiday then."

And I said: "Let's not have a holiday.  Let's have an adventure.  I'd love to have an adventure".

Which is sort of true and sort of not, because although this idea is mere weeks old and probably years off, I'm already worrying about all the practicalities.  And grinning every time I think about all the possibilities.

Because I really think we might do it.  Pack ourselves, our lives and our children up and go.

Where? 

Well, that's the thing. We have a tentative plan, to be slightly less tentative soon, but for the moment (until next week at least) I'm keeping it under wraps in case it doesn't come off at all.

But I'd love to know:

Where would you go?  You've got the world.  And four children.  And six months or so.

Money (because this is entirely hypothetical at the moment) no object.

Where should we go?

18 comments:

  1. GO for it. Why not take a look at Victoria Wallops blog it5's a small world. They did similar with 3 children for 9 months.

    It would be a really wonderful experianmce

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know it well - I suspect there may be quite a bit of linking to it in months and years to come!

      But where would you go...?!

      Delete
  2. America. Or Italy (mainly for wine). Or Scotland. House swap?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. House swap any time... although I'm not sure the South Coast counts as an adventure. But seriously yes to that one.

      As to the others Italy doesn't seem like a six month trip - isn't that either an all out move (wouldn't that be awesome?!) or two weeks in the sun.

      And the States. hmmmm.

      Delete
  3. I second Helen's America suggestion. Get a campervan (you can get seriously huge ones in america - complete with jacuzzis etc) and drive from coast to coast. That's what we're going to do between the eldest's junior and senior school. Florida to Alaska. We're hoping the children will have grown out of the need for muzzles by that stage.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had a flingette with an American I met at a wedding in Illinois once. He wanted me to cash in my return ticket and drive with him from New York State to San Diego.

      I still sort of wish I had.

      Yet somehow it doesn't, now, feel like quite adventure enough.

      Interested by your timings though - that's my next decision. If you miss six months of high school, how much does it matter??? Answers on a post card.

      Delete
  4. Ooooh! What The Reluctant Launderer suggested sounds fab. Though you might get a bit fed up with each other, cooped up in a campervan for weeks on end.

    House swap with someone in Sydney, Australia?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do you think someone in Sydney would really want to come here for six months?!

      Delete
  5. Australia and New Zealand. No contest. Worth the flights if you're going to be there for 6 months. But then I have a vague idea of what your plan is..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Which means you don't agree with it.... 'cos it's not the wonderful land of Oz!

      Delete
  6. An adventure is a VERY good idea. I love adventures. Thailand is cool - they're pretty amazing with children and they have a good train network which works well with children in my book. You could then head down Malaysia and into Indonesia and go and see orangutans. Then onto Oz and NZ for a bit of amazing scenery and western-style convenience.
    Just a thought.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow... I don't have the imagination to even imagine the adventure, let alone the destination! Coast to coast states, home via Hawaii and Japan (is that geographically possible?)

    ReplyDelete
  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  9. My vote's on Australia and New Zealand and South East Asia while you're in the neighbourhood. Or what Iota said.

    Or house swap to Sydney and keep that as your base and take excursions from there.

    Or drive across Canada/US. We did that as a holiday (3 weeks) the summer I was 12. I hated the driving (well, the sitting in the back seat watching wheat and corn fields go by). We went from New York to California. I don't know if camper van would be better.

    You could go to East Africa. There is nothing like an African sunset. We went there for a summer (before children) about 10 years ago. Was so fun and there are many volunteer opportunities.

    South America would be lovely - maybe Argentina. My friend is married to an Argentinian pilot. They spend their summers up this way and their winters down his way. I hear it's a lovely place and really kid friendly.

    Can't wait to hear more about this adventure. I'm practically giddy for you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You see? When the imagination gets going you could really go anywhere, couldn't you...?

      Africa would be amazing though. I sort of feel that all these English speaking places (by which I mean the States and the Antipodes (now that sounds like an adventure in itself, doesn't it?)) aren't adventurous enough. But then maybe I shouldn't bite off more than I can chew (or pack in my suitcase..)

      Delete
    2. I was acutely aware at the end of my comment that I had effectively sent you on a trip around the world :)

      I'm with you - I sort of feel the same way about going to the States or Canada. The reason I love Australia is the ocean and so I would go there in a heartbeat. I don't think I felt that way before I lived there.

      They speak English in most parts of Africa. You could connect with the Reluctant Memsahib? If it were me I think I'd be looking at South America. But then, I've been to Africa :)

      BTW - did you ever read the book "The long way around?" I think there was a documentary series about it. Ewan McGregor and his mate, Charlie Boorman go on a motorcycle trip around the world (they start in London and end in New York). The documentary was really good and the book was basically the documentary written down. They also did one called "The Long Way Down" where they started in London and went down to the tip of South Africa. Give it a go if you haven't already. Should get you excited about a whole bunch of different places!

      Delete

I know. I'm sorry. I hate these word recognition, are you a robot, guff things too, but having just got rid of a large number of ungrammatical and poorly spelt adverts for all sorts of things I don't want, and especially don't want on my blog, I'm hoping that this will mean that only lovely people, of the actually a person variety, will comment.

So please do. Comments are great...