The 5 Year Plan

The past couple of days have been spent purusing through tons of blogs.  Reading about RTW (Round The World) travel, from those that have been there or are out there doing it. I do this a lot in preparation.  While reading, I realized that I have never shared my 5 Year plan.

A little background for you.  My initial international travel trip was to Vietnam in 2008.  The inspiration for this can be read about in the "About Me" section.  If you haven't read it, go ahead....I'll wait......

Finished?  Yes, I know it's really long but I really wanted to make it a point that I am not rich, did not come from a family with a 'silver spoon' in my mouth.  I'm a regular gal with an average American family.

Vietnam was so many things for me.  Inspirational, scary, lonely, dramatic, enlightening...I could go on but you get the idea.  Most importantly, it was during my Vietnam trip that I figured out my 5 year plan.

As I recall, I didn't spend a lot of time planning it out.  Didn't make my lists that I am so fond of.  I didn't mull it over.  I just knew!  One evening while sitting at dinner, I struck up conversation with an Australian couple; Bob and Clare at a table near me.  We ended up spending several days together exploring and getting to know one another.


I don't remember exactly the setting or the conversation but at some point Clare asked me about my future.  I didn't give it a second though and spilled out my 5 year plan to her.  I didn't even know I had decided on a plan, but there it was spilling out of my mouth.

Afterward, I wondered to myself why I told Clare all about this 5 year plan that I didn't even know I had?  Was I being a braggart?  Was I trying to be more adventuresome?  When did I even decide that I had a 5  year plan?

Ever since that day, the 5 year plan has continued to be a part of my longing.  I knew that this was something that I needed, something that was attainable, and something that I would DO.

So, what is the 5 year plan?

It's simple.  I told Clare that within 5 years, I wanted to be at a point financially that I could work for 6 months of the year and travel the other 6 months.

After coming home from Vietnam (2008), I continued to think about the 5 year plan.  I budgeted like a crazy woman, spent a stupid amount of money to take my nearly grown kids to Italy to backpack (see my travel blog: Treft Family in Italy),  budgeted more, spent an unfulfilling year in Germany (See: Travel Nurse in Germany), and never gave up on the 5 year plan.

So, where am I today?  How close am I to fulfilling my 5 Year Plan.

I'm THERE....or as nearly there as I could ever hope to be.  I've posted previously about my upcoming trip to South America.  This trip is only 2 months long, not 6 as my 5 Year Plan would intend.  However, I am gearing up for 2013.

What's special about 2013?

2013 is the 5 year mark for me.  I'm ready to take the leap.  Let me fill you in on the plan (I suddenly just got a sick feeling...just putting it out here feels like a huge commitment.  One that I am ready to make but putting it here brings the anxiety of potential failure).

I'm planning to book a one-way flight into Northern Europe April 2013.  The final route isn't confirmed or set in stone and I'm not sure that it will ever be really set in stone.  I want to leave it open to be changed, adjusted, modified along the way.  There are a few goals that I have and a couple of specific activities/events that I dream of completing.

May 2013: Hitchhiking Competition from Gdansk, Poland to Prague
July 2013: Compete in the Mongol Rally

I think that these are the only two time-specific items on my list.  Other things that I plan during 2013 would include:

(photo Courtesy of Wikipedia)

Take a freighter across a large part of the ocean (possibly China to Australlia)
  - Read more about this HERE.

Move slowly; taking several weeks/month at a time in choosen locations.
  - I am hoping that by traveling slowly, I will be able to extend my trip

Volunteer
  - I don't have any specific plans for this right now but I know that I want to give something back.  If you have any suggestions, feel free to post them in the comments.

Find Other Unique ways to get from point A to Point B
  - Again, if you have any suggestions; please post them in the comments below.
  - I shared my ideas with a fellow traveler at the 2011 MEET, PLAN, GO! event and he shared with me one of his favorite travel days.  Check it out: The Winding Road to Bulungula

I Feel like I have a ton of people to thank for being my 'inspiration'.  It's through other's stories/blogs that I have gained a lot of my inspiration to do this.  I have found that traveling isn't something only for the rich...but for anyone that has the desire.

What is My Motivation?

Every day is an attempt to understand what makes Candy happy. What makes me tick? What is it that excites or motivates me? I used to be happy exploring as a travel nurse. Being able to go all over this huge country living, working and exploring used to motivate me and excite me. Now? All I can think of is leaving....the next trip, the next adventure, how can I travel longer, where can I go.

In retrospection I have noticed that I am much more willing to brave the elements and explore on my own when I am out of my own country. I feel less inhibited when no one around me speaks my language. I am happy to be wandering aimlessly amidst the locals when I am an outsider. I'll sit comfortably for an afternoon at a local cafe and watch the people pass by and think about where they are going or watch them carry on with their daily lives, watching them work or play. I love to engage in conversation or share a knowing smile or laugh at something going on. Why is it that I feel like I 'fit' better where I don't belong? Here I sit in Chicago..... No motivation to do much of anything. There is tons to do and see but I feel lost and alone. I don't have the motivation to go on my own. I long for someone to share it with. I'm lonely.

So, what is my motivation?

 Leaving.....going somewhere new......the feeling of an aircraft taking off.....the unusual sights of a new culture.....the smells of food unknown....not understanding the voices surrounding me......not knowing what to expect.

This is my motivation. My desire. The 'puts a smile on my face' moment.

February 11, 2011

What's significant about this?

I'm leaving....going somewhere new....going to feel the airplane take off....transporting me to a new culture....with new sights...new smells....new sounds....new voices....not knowing what to expect!! There is a smile on my face just thinking about it. It's one of my moments....

The date/time-frame was set months ago. My plans have changed multiple times. Travel partners have come and gone for various reasons. Finally, I decided to plan it on my own. I picked a place I could travel alone. Decided that it was useless depending on others to travel with me. Besides, this was about me. Me being motivated. Bringing the smile back to my face.

So, where am I going? South America. It was decided after a friend mailed me a wedding invitation for Playa Del Carmen at the end of March. I needed to be somewhere that i could easily travel to the wedding. This is the person that inspired me after all!! (About Me)

Once I decided to make the leap alone, I was discussing it with a friend and she has decided to join me. Teresa and I will be traveling together.....I'm very excited. We are spending 7 weeks together in Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador.  Teresa and I traveled together last year in Scotland and had a wonderful time.  She is such a great travel companion and I'm looking forward to sharing some of Latin America with her.

For some reason, I never got a blog posted about out trip to Scotland, but here is a photo journey:





After exploring South America together, Teresa will fly home and I am onward to the wedding in Playa Del Carmen. I'm very happy to be included in such a special day for a special friend.

I keep running through the finances, the timing and everything else and I really want to extend the trip and spend some time on my own. i am tryiing to figure out how to add an extra month after the wedding to travel in Central America. I would like to try to settle into a place for at least 3-4 weeks and see what I think about living as a local in a culture so unfamilar to me. I want to see if it will bring the 'puts a smile on my face' moment.

I'll keep you posted......

Downtime

11.04.2011 - 11.07.2011 I arranged and planned to stay with my friend Lisa so I could have foot surgery in April after returning from New Orleans with Mom and Dad. Just a quick run-down of several months of much of nothing... April 15th: Surgery April 24th: I became a Grandma 11.04.2011 - 11.07.2011 April 25th: interviewed and got position with VA Travel Nurse Corp May 20th: Second Surgery June 20-29: Phoenix AZ for Orientation with TNC Most of April to June was spent sitting around on my ass trying to recouperate from surgery. I had a great time visiting with Lisa, getting to know my new Grandbaby, Charlotte, enjoying time with both the kids Corey and Trinity and generally feeling useless. Trinity decided to take a road-trip with me to my newest travel assignment with the VA TNC in Providence, RI. We had a great trip. My camera was broken but Trinity got some great photos along the way...she has yet to share them with me though! I'll have to get her busy on that. We were disappointed by Hershey, PA but enjoyed all of the covered bridges in PA.

Silence

Is is ever really silent? I'm sitting here at the computer working on MySpace and there are a hundred sounds around me. First, I hear the hummmm of the computer and the ticking of my fingers on the keyboard. I stop....and I hear the crickets chirping outside. Blocking those out...I hear the soft sounds of my daughter breathing as she sleeps in the next room. The crackle of the candle burning on the desk mixes with the crickets....almost loud...far from silent.

The Airport...people watching

So, here I sit at the airport in Houston TX. I've been here for almost three hours and am currently sitting and people watching. My flight leaves in about half an hour so I will make this short and quick. I'm in a small part of the airport and fortunately they decided that it's important to have alcohol available to those that are interested. There is a full bar within view with several patrons taking that last drink prior to their flight leaving....Michael Jacksons trial is on the TV and many are watching in deep anticipation of the outcome. There is a your girl sitting across from me with headphones on in her own world...funny with the invention of the modern electronics how we tend to "tune out" rather than interact with those around us. I sat at the bar earlier and had a couple of drinks. Chatted with a man from CT for a while heading back home. I enjoy hearing about other peoples travels and life...makes me worry less about mine. So the girl with the headphones...next to her is a young man who would probably love to talk to her but she is so absorbed in her music that she isn't interested. They are about the same age and it would be interesting to see them interact. Another girl sitting beside me is currently placing her headphones on to block out any unwanted intrusions. She is writing in some sort of small notebook. I wonder as I write, Is she writing about me or the others around me?? I would love to chat with anyone that would but most just want to be left alone.... Some people are reading or just acting like they dont want to be bothered. Carrying an array of backpacks and suitcases...purses or any color...some in suits and some in sweats. A woman across the waiting area is stretching her legs after, I presume a long flight or at least a long wait. The atmosphere is dull to say the least. No excitement no thrill....just tired passengers in a hurry to get wherever it is that they are heading whether it be home or somewhere for work or pleasure. So, here I sit...just like the rest....waiting.....

The stress level is better now than last night. I spent my morning finding the Fed-ex building and then finding a place to cash my paycheck...the company that I am working for is not paying me correctly and that is another thing that I will have to deal with at some point....not today! It ended up costing me almost $40 to get my check cashed and I plan to have the company reimburse me for that amount...wouldn't have had the charge if they had direct deposit like they were supposed to. There is another young girl across from me traveling with (i'm guessing here) her grandmother and she is on the phone bitching about some flight delay that she had....welcome to flying!!! The waiting area is thinning out a little now as one of the flights has boarded and ready to leave now. I am almost certain that half of those still waiting are going to be on my flight....

I spoke to Randall today and he is meeting me at the airport in Louisville when I arrive. It is actually nice to know that someone actually wants to see me. I am still feeling a bit sorry for myself...I am feeling like I really have no true friends and it's a little lonley. Sometimes I wonder if I should pick a spot and try to place roots but the bigger part of me just wants to continue to travel and see all the places that I can see and experience. Maybe someday I will setttle down....not today though.

My flight is being delayed now...crew isn't available yet. I suppose that IKt will be late when I get in tonight but at least I wont be arriving to an empty airport...or an empty feeling (I hope).

Homesick...yes, I'm HOMESICK!!

I dont really know if it's home-sickness or if it's just stress!! I'm finished with my third week on the job and the job is going great but the company that I work for is fu**ing horrible! I arrived in San Diego with not much $$ left from my stash. It costs a lot to drive half way across the country. So, not to worry I told myself. I was only a week away from a paycheck and I was alone, so If the food situation was slim then maybe my body would be too...ha ha! So, when it was time for my first check, I waited....and called....and waited...and called...and called...and waited!! Well you get the picture. So here I am now with two teenage boys in the house (Corey and his friend Jason) with NO food and NO money!! And my company says "sorry"!! At 35 years old, I called my Dad and asked to have him send $$ for me. I also needed to book my airline ticket to go home to get Trinity so again, Dad helped me out!! Talk about feeling like shit!! It really sucks to have to ask your parents for $$ when you are a full grown WORKING adult!! Finally, last weeks pay came through for me...although it was short by about $400!! I was told "dont worry, we will put it on your next check" yeah...easy for them to say!! They didn't have to just ask "Dad" to wire money!!!

So here we are waiting for week two's paycheck to come.....

I called the company this morning because the check hadn't posted to my checking account and I was told "we're sorry, it didn't go direct deposit like it was supposed to but I have a check for you here in my hand...what do you want me to do?" Well...what I wanted to say was for them to "fly your fu**ing @$$ out to California on the next "red=eye" and bring me my damn money!!" However, I held my breath (Corey keeps telling me that I'm too mean with people and basically he thinks that you get more with sugar than with vinegar) maybe he's right?? So it was concluded that the $$ would be fed-exed to me to arrive by 10:30am tomorrow, Friday. This is all good and fine.....know what time my flight leaves tomorrow?? 11:30am!!! So...here I sit hoping against hope that the fed-ex guy will deliver early tomorrow so that I can make my flight with a little hope of some cash!! I have $40 in my pocket and $-23 in the bank currently!! My auto insurance wasn't paid (just realized that yesterday), my car payment is LATE, my student loans are LATE, I owe my Dad about $500....and I'm so stressed out that I cant even relax!!

Oh yeah...I almost forgot!! My company called me today to tell me that the almost $1000 that they owe me for my travel and license reimbursement isn't going to come till next week!!! Do you think that will happen??? Not Likely!!!

Realize that even if I do get a check tomorrow...there isn't ANYWHERE here that will cash the damn thing for me....outta state check ya know?? So.....I will have to hope that somewhere in Louisville, I can get a check cashed!! Or, maybe I can cry and beg and plead a little with who knows who to get some help???? I feel so lost, angry, alone, and pissed!! Then to top it all off, I dont even know how I am going to get my stuff packed up in the $300 rental truck that I have reserved??? No one is going to be available to help....great??@!@ So, right now I am thinking that I may just pass the rental truck, get a van or something and just take the stuff that is sentimental to me?? Who knows? Maybe I should just keep stuff in storage for now and go home later to deal with this? If I just go home and get my baby (Trinity) and give her a hug....I'll feel sooooo much better!! Know what?? I miss my Daddy too!!!!