How We Got Here
by Jana
I had wondered if I was going to feel regret about selling our family home, but I never once second guessed the decision throughout the process leading up to the move and really haven’t looked back since. At times, I’ve thought it weird that I didn’t. I loved our home, both of our kids were born there and after living there for 14 years, it represented the most stability I’d had in my life.
Surely these things happen for a reason, right?
Six months ago, we wouldn’t have fathomed selling our home to live on a bus and travel full time. But one beautiful day in July, Grant and I were stand up paddleboarding in the middle of the Rivanna Reservoir and out of nowhere, an idea just made its way into my head: we need to sell our home at a premium price, no realtors, and move to Australia. We approached Jack and Stellie with this wild and sudden idea thinking that they would tell us we’re nuts, but they were shockingly all about it, telling us that they would love to live in Australia again. I built a website, we painted our hallway and decluttered, and two weeks later the house was sold. Everything was going beautifully, not a single hiccup. Or so we thought.
We began the hugely arduous and somewhat over-the-top process of getting our three dogs, Mackie, Paigie and Phoebe, ready for export into Australia. An hour before their scheduled rabies titer test (basically just a much more expensive version of a regular rabies test), the vet called to ask if we realized that all three dogs had tested positive for Ehrlichia at some point in the past. Our answer was: “Ehr-what?!” Apparently Ehrlichia is a tick borne disease that usually doesn’t cause any symptoms unless your dog is a German Shepard. But because our dogs had been bitten by a pesky Ehrlichia carrying tick, they have Ehrlichia antibodies in their blood. Australia won’t allow that. Turns out, Australia is the most difficult country for importing animals, including family pets.
But when the Universe speaks, we have learned to listen. Upon receiving this news, Grant and I looked at each other knowingly. We had two options; option one was to leave the dogs behind and go to Australia (which would never fly with Jack and Stellie) and option two was surely going to reveal itself to us any second. Surely, these things happen for a reason, right? We immediately headed upstairs and called a family huddle. We presented the latest information to the kids and as predicted, their instant reaction was: “We’re not going anywhere without the dogs.”
We all stood there, deflated, desperately looking to each other for answers and suddenly I blurted out: “We should live on a bus and travel for a bit.” Much like the idea of selling our home and moving to Australia, this sentence also came through me, not from me. Everyone looked at me as though I had suddenly grown an extra head, but nobody objected. Instead, after a short moment of silent contemplation, logistical questions started to flow. “Three dogs on a bus?” “What if school goes back to in-person?” “Will there be enough privacy?” and lastly: “Where will we go first?!”
We quickly figured out that we had sufficient answers to all those questions and there was pretty much nothing standing in our way. Less than a week later, we sold my car Denise, bought Thelma and began her rejuvenation.
Travel with us:
Happy Aussie Father’s Day to @grantiangamble ♥️
Pottsville Beach, NSW, Australia.
Pottsville Beach, NSW, Australia.
Moreton Island, Queensland, Australia
Cape Moreton Lighthouse, Moreton Island, Queensland, Australia 🎥 @jack_gamble_shoots
We recently had the incredible opportunity to share our year-long family travel adventure on the @age.rebels Podcast with @sommerlouiseb @theixmethod . (Link in bio)
Manila, Philippines
Join us as we delve into @culture_nomads new book, “Culture Nomads: How Giving Up Everything for a Year of Travel Transformed Our Family and Our Lives.” We share the story of how embracing the unknown turned our lives upside down in the most extraordinary way.
In this podcast episode, we open up about our decision to break free from the mainstream and embark on a year-long family adventure around the globe, exploring diverse cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and discovering the true essence of the human spirit.
We share heartwarming tales of personal growth, unbreakable family bonds, and the invaluable lessons we learned along the way. From traveling the U.S. and Mexico on a bus for 8 months to our intrepid crossing of the South Pacific ocean on a 38-foot catamaran, our experiences will ignite your wanderlust and leave you yearning for your own transformative journey.
Join us on the Age Rebels Podcast as we discuss the joys and challenges of living life as Culture Nomads, and how this incredible odyssey has forever altered our perspectives on the world, our family, and ourselves.
If you’re passionate about travel, adventure, and the power of embracing different cultures, you won’t want to miss this episode. Get ready to be inspired, captivated, and motivated to embark on your own extraordinary journey of self-discovery and family connection.
Don’t forget to check out our book, “Culture Nomads: How Giving Up Everything for a Year of Travel Transformed Our Family and Our Lives,” available now on Amazon. (Link in bio). It’s your ultimate guide to crafting a life filled with adventure, love, and unforgettable memories.
#CultureNomads #AgeRebelsPodcast #FamilyAdventure #TravelTransforms #Wanderlust #travel #familytravel #travelbook #sailing #rv #podcast
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