Yesterday, we mentioned that it was the 14th anniversary of the beginning of something that has shaped every single day of our lives before we left to begin our journey. When I pause and look at the numbers, I can hardly believe them. After today’s post is uploaded, we will have written and published 4,926 posts. Even typing that number feels surreal.
It is difficult for me to wrap my head around the idea that I have sat down nearly five thousand times to write about our lives. Each morning, wherever we happened to be in the world, I opened the laptop and began again. Sometimes I knew exactly what I wanted to write about before I even took the first sip of coffee. Other times, I stared out the window for a while, letting my thoughts wander until something meaningful surfaced.
Oddly, I have rarely struggled to find a topic. Life on the move has a way of presenting stories, whether you go looking for them or not. There are the obvious moments, such as breathtaking landscapes, wildlife encounters, new cultures, and unfamiliar foods. Then there are the quieter moments that often mean just as much. A conversation with a stranger. A funny mishap at the grocery store. A small discovery during a walk through a town we had never heard of before.
Many days, we have also been fortunate to include photos we took along the way. Our cameras have captured everything from dramatic scenery to the simplest details of daily life. A meal we cooked. A curious animal wandering through the yard. A sunset that seemed too beautiful not to share. Those images help bring each story to life and allow you, our readers, to feel as though you are right there with us.
Of course, there have been times when inspiration did not immediately appear. On those days, I might spend a little time researching something related to wherever we were traveling. Perhaps the history of a town, the origins of a local tradition, or an interesting fact about a place we planned to visit. Those moments of curiosity often opened the door to stories we might otherwise have missed.
What means the most to us is knowing that so many of you have taken the time to read these posts. Over the years, they have been read millions of times. That number is humbling and deeply meaningful. Each time someone visits the site, leaves a comment, or sends a kind message, it reminds us that this journey is not something we are experiencing alone.
In truth, we have never felt isolated during these years of wandering. There have certainly been times when we were far from familiar faces. Some of the places we have stayed were wonderfully remote. There were stretches when days passed with very few face-to-face conversations with anyone other than each other. Yet through this daily connection with all of you, there was always a sense of community surrounding us.
As we mentioned previously, we actually began writing seven months before we left Minnesota on October 31, 2012. During that time, we were in the middle of preparing for one of the biggest life changes imaginable. We wanted to share the process as it unfolded. The excitement. The uncertainty. The practical challenges of letting go of the life we had known for decades.
Those months were filled with sorting and making decisions about what truly mattered. Our goal was to leave unencumbered by possessions so we could step into this new chapter with a sense of freedom.
Even today, we still don’t have a storage unit waiting for us. Every photo album, piece of memorabilia, and sentimental item was passed along to our kids and grandkids. We wanted those memories to stay within the family rather than sitting unseen in boxes.
At the same time, we carefully scanned every paper photograph we owned during those seven months of preparation. It was a time-consuming project, but one that preserved a lifetime of memories in a way we could carry with us digitally, no matter where we went.
Interestingly, although we often say we miss people, we never find ourselves missing any of the possessions we left behind. Not once have we wished we had kept a particular piece of furniture or some forgotten object stored away in a box.
Everything we truly need travels with us.
Now, to be clear, we do not travel light as some people imagine. We are not backpackers moving from place to place with only the bare essentials. Over time, we have discovered certain items that make this nomadic lifestyle more comfortable and manageable. Some of those things might seem unnecessary to others, but for us, they have become part of the routine that allows us to live well wherever we land.
When we stay in remote locations, which happens quite often, those familiar items become even more important. Many of the things we use regularly are not available in small towns or rural areas. Carrying them with us ensures that we can continue living in a way that feels comfortable and sustainable.
In a sense, that is the small price we pay for a lifestyle that has given us so much freedom and adventure.
But when everything is stripped down to its simplest truth, the conclusion is very easy to express.
We are happy.
Still happy.
And incredibly grateful that you continue to travel along with us.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, March 16, 2016:
