Pivot 2.0 – We’re Home!
To pivot is one thing, to do it publicly…well, it’s taken time for me to process and gather strength for that.
Writing a blog is like letting everyone read your diary. Suddenly my private, inner commentary is public. I failed to consider the pressure. I thought blogging was going to be a breeze. You know, all laughs & fabulous photos. I underestimated the time & effort. And I certainly underestimated the exercise in authenticity and vulnerability. Authenticity will forever be the bravest thing I ever do.
In October, we jumped into long-term, nomadic travel as a family. We moved to Mexico and lived there for 2 months. We had some cool animal encounters and soaked up the sun. But, even on our best weeks it was 50% cool adventures and 50% regular routine life. Even if we were diving in cenotes or playing at an amusement park, we still had to wash the clothes, clean the dishes, cook the meals, and drive around town. We had mountain peak moments in Mexico to be sure. But the daily grind was stressful, really stressful.
In our state of culture adjustment, every single daily living task was 100% harder. Washing clothes involved either a bucket, line drying, or a hot walk to the laundry mat. Buying groceries was a guessing game and despite all our efforts we struggled to make any of our favorite home cooked meals. The ingredients and spices were either not available or altered just enough to be slightly off. And did you know that taco seasoning is an American thing? In the US, I could walk into Kroger and grab “my brand” in 2 minutes. Now grocery shopping is an exhausting event using Google translate. And I still ended up purchasing two fabric softeners instead of laundry detergent.
Coming home was a hard decision to make. We poured our hearts into this dream. We saved our money. Sold all our stuff. Quit our jobs. And now our dream wasn’t coming together like the YouTube videos had promised. I don’t mean to complain, I really don’t. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be a guest in Mexico. These are all First World problems. We willingly signed up for these challenges. We can adjust, right? I think we could…to everything…BUT the isolation.
We looked in our hearts and realized we wanted to be part of a community. Moving every month, or even every 3 months, wasn’t going to allow that. We needed a home base. So, we came home to celebrate Christmas, regroup, and reevaluate our method. Our original plan to circle the globe, not to return for 3 years, wasn’t coming together exactly like we imagined. We set out to see new cultures and have eye-opening experiences as a family. The mission is good! It was our method (& perhaps our timing) that was flawed.
So back to the drawing board. Where’s a good home base?
We came up with a short list of desirable qualities for a home base.
- Near the ocean
- Close to an international airport
- Great schools
- Safe
- Warm, friendly people
- Near our hometown
Fast forward a few months and we’re moving to Ocean Springs, Mississippi. We know it’s going to take years to form the deep connections we crave in a new city, but we do feel the potential here. The community here is eclectic and warm. It has an artsy, laid back, nature reserve vibe. We’re excited to have adventures here on the MS Gulf Coast & have easy access to NOLA airport to continue our international travels – after we’ve recovered from our traveling PTSD and our love for adventure returns.
I am confident we will find our way. Not just our way around the globe, but a way to pivot with purpose, find meaningful work/learning, and the joy of connection.
We’ll find our way. We’re on our way. One journey, one insight, one pivot at a time.
One Comment
Callie
So many wins.
Allowing yourself to dream= win.
Showing your children that you aren’t afraid to go for it= win
Showing your children that when you say you’re going to do something, you do it= win
Being brave enough to change your mind= win
Owning your story and being vulnerable enough to share it= win
These are just a few!
We miss our adventure seeking, whole hearted friends. And we can’t wait to follow the rest of your story and see where life takes you! 🤍🤍