We're taking off in two days!

So everyone has been asking us why in the world we have quit our good jobs, sold all our most valuable possessions and are taking off for the next 14 months.

I had two thoughts to that:

1) Because we can, and most people don't. I wonder why the heck not?! Why do most people choose to stay and work, paying their bills and have their routine lives? Well I'll tell you, because it's SCARY leaving everything you worked so hard for behind. But I'll tell you what, I feel like I have been liberated for the first time in my life since letting everything go. Knowing that in the next few months I'm going to be skydiving, hang gliding, diving with sharks, exploring sunken ships, doing wine tours in some of the best vineyards in the world, going on a private safari, learning to surf, going caving, zorbing, sailing, biking and visiting famous world attractions and the wonders of the world is no replacement for working 9 - 5 and following a routine life just because that's what I'm used to. Am I scared? Yes. Am I going to be massively in debt? Probably. Do I feel like I made the right choice? Without a doubt in my mind.

2) The second thought that went through my mind is that having a family is going to come sooner than later and what have we done with our lives up to date other than kill ourselves working for the past 12 years? We have the opportunity NOW to do all the dangerous, adventurous and sometimes expensive things that would be almost impossible with kids. Not that you can't travel with children. My parents took my brother and I around to many places in the world when we were kids. The difference is the types of activities you can enjoy when you're young and free. Lots of people decide to do their world travels when they retire, and that's great if that's what they want to do, but it would be a little more challenging to learn how to surf when you're 60. Plus, I doubt I'd like to see myself in a bikini then! Ick. Besides, life is so short, how do you even know you're going to LIVE to retire?!

No, our chance is now and we have to take it. So, we hope that you find some pleasures in keeping up with our trip as we go. This blog will be our way of sharing our adventure with our family and friends, and perhaps be a reference for us to look at later in life when we want to remember what we did.

For those of you who don't know what the plan is, we leave in two days for Africa and then go on from there. Here's the itinerary as it currently stands:

2008:
Jan 20 - April 15th: South Africa, Tanzania (Safari) and Zanzibar (Diving)

April 15th - July 3rd: Europe. We're doing a 'BusAbout' tour that lets us go our own pace

July 3rd - Aug 14th: Back in Vancouver for some very important people's weddings

Aug 14th - Aug 30th: Drive across Canada (and yes, you can come with us if you like!)

Sept 1st - Dec 28th: Australia and New Zealand (we may work here for a couple of months)

Dec 28th - March 1st: South East Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and more)

We hope you enjoy reading this as much as we enjoy writing it. We can't wait to share our adventure with you!