Whenever I am in the midst of spectacular natural beauty, I feel connected to nature and a higher power. Whether it be endless mountain peaks or a glowing sunset I know that I am blessed with a beautiful earth to spend my time on. There is no way that every rock formation and sandy beach around the world was just created by chance.
Archives for November 2011
Spending and Saving: Our Priorities
In the past, our trips have been short, week-long breaks from our home and jobs. The focus is usually on balancing relaxation with doing as many things as possible. To ensure that we relax enough and check everything off our list, we end up spending money to achieve those goals. We plan on changing that with this trip.
Passion Doesn’t Pay the Bills
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice, heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
22 inches of Baggage
Taking a carry-on bag doesn’t even feel like a choice anymore, it feels like a requirement. I can’t imagine traveling with checked luggage for any length of trip. It’s more secure, economical, efficient and fun!
Chicago: Our Favorite City
The Windy City has been where we call home for the past three years. We have been to Cubs games, celebrated sunny days at North Avenue beach, laughed at The Second City, visited musems, the aquarium, the Lincoln Park Zoo and so much more. The activities never end, the city never slows down. There is always a bustle of energy along Michigan Avenue with a new restaurant always popping up to try.
Quote from Vagabonding
“Money, of course, is still needed to survive, but time is what you need to live. So, save what little money you possess to meet basic survival requirements, but spend your time lavishly in order to create the life values that make the fire worth the candle.”
What Pushed Us Over the Edge to Travel
So what finally pushed us over the edge? What made us believe that we could make this trip happen and actually go through with the plans? (we leave in 2 months!). Below are some links to bloggers that have inspired and convinced us that if traveling is your passion you can make it happen! We hope you will be inspired as we were to fulfill your own dreams.
Home: An Identity Crisis
We have yet to settle down into a house, but our temporary home is our apartment in Chicago, Illinois. Even this home has changed three times in the past three years of living in the city. We have lived in three different neighborhoods and have loved each one for different reasons. The stuff we bring with us is basically the same, but the scenery is a bit different.
Feasting While Traveling
For some of us, food isn’t just a part of our travels, it’s the reason why we travel. Whether you travel the globe to try new foods and use food to form a deeper connection with the culture or just eat to live, food plays a big part in the travel experience. Share a food-related story from your travels or describe your best meal.
One Perfect Day
We climbed down a muddy hill into a rush of water that seemed to go on forever, surrounded by beautiful greenery and serenity. There were only 4 other people in these natural hot springs so we climbed up some rocks until we found our own area and there we sat. We felt the water rush over us and watched it swirl around the rocks and down to the next level. We listened to the birds and the wind through the trees.