The How and Why

I now have 212 days left to go. The last month has flown by.

January and July are the busiest months for RGIS and this was no exception. I spent two weeks not knowing if I was coming or going. It required a full weekend of sleep when it was all over. Unlike other times when I would complain about the hours, now I was happy. I feel like each hour gets me closer to my ultimate goal.

I also have some projects that I've been working on who's deadlines are March 11, 2008. This whole digital camera thing wasn't so popular during my first few trips. While I plan on having a digital camera for my rtw, I didn't have one in the beginning. Therefore I have been scanning and labeling all of my old photos so that they may be archived online. It's incredibly tedious and I don't like doing it, but I know that it is the best way to ensure that they are preserved.

There is just so much more to buy and to plan for. Well, mostly to buy. I want to make sure I get just the right things, but I don't quite know where to start.

I've had a few people recently tell me how amazing they feel it is for someone to be able to save the money and actually do a rtw. I wonder how many people start to save and give up, or how many never even bother to start but still find the idea appealing. I really don't think that this thing I'm doing is such a huge deal. Well, it is to to me. I can't stop talking about it. But to someone else, especially a stranger? I always feel like it sounds like I'm either mentally instable or came up with an idea they wished they had had before children and a mortgage caught up with them.

However, it's not hard to do if you want it. I think that the last part is key. Yes, you might not be in the same financial position I am in and that makes it harder. But then again, I might not be in the same position as you and that might make it harder for me. You have to want it. It has to be worth the new clothes you won't own, the sleep you don't get because of that second job, and the millions of pounds of rammen noodles cooked at home instead of eating out. For me it is. Plus, I've been saving now for, oh, 23 months, and I've had the idea for over 2.5 years, if i gave up now that would be quiting, and my parents didn't raise a quitter.

In fact, I'm pretty sure that I can boil this whole idea down to being my parents fault. I remember my mom once telling me that I might want to diversify my favorite discussion topics. At the time all I could talk about was Gone With the Wind and soccer. I never quite accomplished that diversifying goal. By college I had grown out of GWTW and soccer, but my friends complained that I spent too much time talking about work and WWII. Once I came back from living in Germany all I could talk about was travel. I don't think that has changed. But that's ok. I don't always think that its about changing the topic, but maybe more about changing the audience. This obsessive part of my personality has definitely helped me to stay focused and to save.

To get back on topic, my desire to go on a round the world trip is my parents fault. They taught me to follow my dreams and supported me in them. They gave me a strong work ethic that allows me to work two jobs and still excel. This went along with the importance of saving money and earning the things that I want. On top of these habit-type traits, my dad gave me wanderlust and my mom gave me the ability to overcome challenges. These are all the things needed to plan and earn for extended travel. All I brought to the table was the idea.

So thanks, Mom and Dad, for giving everything that I need to accomplish my dreams and your support in them, I couldn't do this without you.