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Dear Friends & Family,
Thank you for signing up for our Five Tickets to Roam Newsletter! We're thrilled to have you join us on our journey of discovery, learning and growth.
With less than two weeks left until we depart from San Francisco airport, our excitement is building for this year-long adventure. If all goes according to plan, we won't return until this time, next year. But as the traveler's curse goes, plans often change! It reminds me of a John Steinbeck quote: "A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you can control it." Okay, I just Googled that, but it sounded more erudite as something learned in an academic experience in my youth that bubbled back up to the surface. In any case, wise man, that Steinbeck!
CONTENT OVERVIEW
I've been contemplating the content of these updates. While our website and social media channels (Facebook and Instagram) will document much of our trip, these newsletters will provide more personal insights and exclusive updates not shared elsewhere. And for those not on social media, this will be a way to stay connected and informed. In any case, these newsletters will likely evolve over the ensuing year so we appreciate your patience and engagement.
ONE YEAR ON:
Lately, we've been devouring books by families who have traveled the world with their young children. Surprisingly, there are quite a few! While many have admirable goals like volunteerism or to become closer as a family, they all seem to characterize it as a "Year Off." We, however, see this as a "Year On" - a year of growth and learning, not just an extended vacation. We aim to immerse ourselves in different cultures, histories, and experiences, while also ensuring the kids keep up with core academics like Math and English Language Arts.
To achieve this, we've enrolled the kids in Pathways, a charter homeschool with a travel agreement, and will co-design a curriculum with a certified teacher who will meet with them via Zoom every three weeks. They will also take the same standardized tests as their peers back home. Our current school principal said "you'd be surprised how little time is spent on academic learning in a day at a traditional school", reassuring us that with just 1-1.5 hours of daily study, our kids will keep up with their core curriculum.
To keep our goals top of mind, we've drafted a Travel Pledge for the kids, for us as parents and for Francesca and me as spouses. These signed pledges are printed, laminated, and ready to be displayed in each new lodging. They will be our guiding principles throughout the journey. Curious? Check them out here.
READY TO FLY?
We've been emotionally ready for some time, and we're nearly physically ready - house prepped for renters, personal stuff stored, kids enrolled in a homeschool program. However, the universe seems to be testing our resolve with a series of unexpected issues.
First, our chimney sweep - yes, just like Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins - revealed serious damage requiring an expensive rebuild. After years of considering a wood-burning insert, we've decided to go ahead with it now, as it's the more economical option compared to a full chimney replacement. Chim chim cher-oo!
Next, our septic system developed a root infiltration issue, causing effluent to overflow. I won't get into the sewagey details, but best case, it's a minor fix that will still cost hundreds of dollars; worst case, it's a complete overhaul costing up to $15k. We have someone coming tomorrow to investigate. We've also had to deal with a mouse problem, which isn't ideal for a vacation rental. None of these costs were in our travel or rental prep budget, but we're navigating these bumps with determination and a sense of humor.
Despite these setbacks, we remain undeterred. The excitement outweighs the stress and we are more committed than ever to making this journey a reality. If anything, they've reinforced our resolve (and our need to find additional freelance work to cover these unexpected expenses). So if you know anyone needing a website or SEO work, send them my way! :)
BLOG HIGHLIGHTS:
If you haven't had a chance to read our pre-departure blog posts, here are the links:
Why Are We Doing This? - December 20, 2023
So Much Time So Little To Do - January 16, 2024
To Post or Not To Post - February 20, 2024
Returning to the Scene of the Joy - April 13, 2024
Wrecking Ball - May 13, 2024
Our next update will (hopefully) come from the road, as we begin our Worldschooling adventure.
Dan
(With Francesca, Ryan, Austen & Finley)
P.S. Feel free to forward this newsletter and signup link to anyone you think would enjoy following our adventure.
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