No doubt there's plenty to think about when planning to take time off. I expect to ask and answer hundreds of questions over the next eighteen months but here are the top ten that are on my mind today.
When should I leave?
How do I know I really want to do this?
How much (or little) should I work when I'm away?
What about my family - kids/husband/parents?
Should I continue to rent out my vacation home?
Can I adopt a dog in Costa Rica?
How much Spanish can I learn before I go?
Should I stop buying winter clothes now?
What's the best way to set up an ergonomically friendly home office?
What if I never want to come back?
You Don't Have to Make All Your Decisions in Advance
I won't try to answer all of these questions today. I will say it's highly possible that I'll want to spend more time at Casa Bali once the gap year is over.
Just look at the pool 👉
Our house is 1/4 mile from the beach and you can see the sun rise over the jungle from the terrace. There are exotic birds in the yard, not to mention iguanas and howler monkeys. It's pretty much paradise.
In her book Working Identity, Herminia Ibara teaches us that when adults try something new we need to experiment and iterate, so that's what I plan to do.
I'll be making as many trips as I can between now and then to figure out what I need, what it's really like to live abroad, and how I want to spend my time when I'm there.
Whether you're planning a #gapyear, are #gapyearcurious, or just want a vicarious adventure - I hope you'll join me.
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