Have you ever wanted to quit your job, pack a bag and head off to see the world?
That’s what we did in 2013 and now we’d like to share our story with you. Whether you only fantasize about turning in notice at your job or you seriously want to sell everything and embark on the trip of a lifetime, this story is for you.
Going All In
The Exotic and the Mundane is of course a story about a trip around the world, but it’s about more than that. Our story is about realizing a deep-seated dream instead of letting it slowly wither away and I think most people identify with that scenario. There is a point for every dream where you either go all in, or you let it go. This book is about choosing the “all in” option and not looking back.
We spent years like many people, fantasizing about traveling to far-away places, but not venturing very far from home – until ten years into our marriage when we took a long hard look at how far we weren’t getting and how fast the years were flying by. We decided we needed to stop waiting for the stars to align, accept that things would never be perfect, and make something happen.
You Don’t Have to be Rich, Young, or Brave
On March 31, 2013, we entered a realm usually reserved for recent college grads and retirees, setting out to travel for an indeterminate, but a long period of time. The Exotic and the Mundane chronicles the first six months of that trip, spent in Central America and Africa, as we learned to slow down, look around and embrace wherever the heck we were. Alternately funny, frustrating, and inspiring, our journey proves that anyone can travel more and that you don’t have to be rich, young or all that brave to get out and see the world.
Joyce wrote about the trip from the road right here on our blog, Learning To Travel, but never intended to write a book. However, after returning and realizing that our trip had served as an inspiration for many, she decided to do just that – to collect the stories, talk about what it was like to sell everything and spend 14 months on the road, and encourage others that anything is possible if you decide it must be so.
Today, in addition to promoting this first of two books, which was released on Amazon on April 25th, 2018 we are working to build Learning To Travel into a wealth of information to empower, encourage and equip “normal” people with the inspiration and knowledge necessary to overcome hurdles and make their dream trip a reality, whether it’s two weeks in Paris or a year-long round-the-world trek.
You can download your copy of The Exotic and the Mundane on Amazon today and read about the awe-inspiring trip of a pretty average, but determined middle-aged couple that will inspire you to start living your own dream instead of letting time slip by.
