Here We Go Again

Hey there…it’s been a while, I know, inconsistent. Honestly, it is difficult to write about traveling when you aren’t traveling regularly….Good news! that is getting ready to change.

When Phil and I settled in North Carolina after returning from Spain, we knew it wouldn’t be our forever home. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fine place to live, but we knew a couple things: 1. We wanted to save and take another period of extended travel and 2. When we settle down more permanently, we want to do it in California. We loved our time living in California and it felt like home (and still feels like home).

Well, upon our arrival we started saving for another period of extended travel almost immediately. The decision on where we would go has changed a couple of times, but it was never a question of if, always of when. We had a certain dollar amount in mind that we wanted to save before leaving and we saved it, a little earlier than we’d anticipated. So, when? Now!

I quit my job and we’ll be leaving North Carolina at the end of September (only a couple weeks away!) and will be traveling around the U.S. visiting family over the next few months. Since Phil works remotely, he will continue to work during this time.

Are you ready for the plan? As excited as we have been to plan? Here we go!

In early January 2026, we’ll leave the U.S. for the first stop, India! India has been on our list of countries to visit since we met our dear friend, Utkarsh, in Spain. Utkarsh is from the north of India and had been living in Delhi for several years. Prior to spending time with Utkarsh and learning a bit about India and seeing the photos of his own travels throughout the country, Phil and I had not had a great desire to visit. Now we are excited that it will be the first stop on our trip.

Following India, we will travel to Hong Kong and China, then spend time in Southeast Asia for several months. We plan to return to Japan, visit Korea, and while we are nearer than we’ve ever been, see New Zealand and Australia too.

Unlike our time living in Spain, we won’t have a home base this time. We will stay in some countries longer than others (30-90 days depending on the Visa stipulations), but will be living out of our suitcases.

During our last six months in Europe, after we left Gijón, we lived out of our suitcases. It was fun and tough at the same time. I remember Phil and I singing the old show, WKRP In Cincinnati, theme song to one another as we’d pack up, preparing to get on the road again (seems like a missed opportunity to sing On the Road Again, if you ask me).

To put it very simply, I know this trip will be fun…and tough, full of challenges and beauty and with moments of feeling uncomfortable and others of being happy, knowing all is right with the world. When we were in the early stages of planning, we seriously considered returning to Spain to live in another Autonomous Community for a year or so. We like Spain, and, we are comfortable in Spain.

The older Phil and I get, the less we are willing to deal with being uncomfortable, as that seems to be the way of humans. In a few years, we may not be as willing or able to embrace the discomfort. Our upcoming trip is going to be uncomfortable in many ways but it is also going to be awesome and full of adventure (and so much good food!). We decided on the more uncomfortable travel option because if you put off something for too long, sometimes fate makes the choice for you, good or bad.

Stay tuned as we prepare for and embark on our next chapter!