Everyone has a travel dream. For many it is hitting the road for an extended time, either here or abroad,
But many also dream of that great family summer getaway. But how many people actually get from the dreaming to the doing for that great trip? Here’s a list to inspire you to go live your personal vision of a road trip dream.
BRAINSTORM WHAT YOU WOULD WANT TO DO ON YOUR TRIP
Get everyone in on the act! Consider all the possibilities – they’ll be time later to narrow it down. The best ideas usually come from lots of ideas being tossed around. Consider how long you can be gone – really think about it, it may be longer than you initially think. Can you work on the road? Home school for awhile?
PICK A THEME OR TWO
Once you have identified all the ideas you might enjoy doing, there is a sad reality: you can’t do it all. So organize those groups of ideas into a “theme” for your trip. Maybe it is seeing some national parks, or seeing baseball games in major-league stadiums, or working on your photography skills. The ideas are endless depending upon your family’s interests. Be sure to pick some things that each person really wants to do.
RESEARCH YOUR IDEAS
Now the fun begins. To further refine your ideas, get on the Internet and browse, order visitor guides from the locations you plan to travel in, buy some books about your destinations, talk to people who share your passions, subscribe to some online “newsletters.” Get excited, get motivated to go and again – get everyone in on the fun.
ENLIST FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Even on a two-week family vacation, there are things left behind that need tending to. Watering the plants, feeding the animals, checking on aging parents, and the list keeps going. Let people know you are going to be away and get folks to help with these chores – and more.
DECIDE ON YOUR MODE OF TRANSPORTATION
More research is in order. What kinds of places do you want to stay? Do you want to move every day or stay in one spot for awhile? How important is it to have lots of your belongings with you? Do you have a suitable vehicle? Consider renting an RV or large SUV just for the trip. All of these issues will influence your choice of transportation.
DEVELOP A BUDGET TO MEET YOUR GOALS
Few of us have the luxury of unlimited travel funds, so at some point you’ve got to figure the costs out. We’ve developed a cool spreadsheet to help with that.
MAKE LISTS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO LEAVE ON YOUR TRIP
The longer the trip, the bigger the list. There is so much to think about that it may seem overwhelming. You begin to doubt that you can make it happen. But you can. Just take a deep breath, and work through it step-by-step.
PICK A DATE TO LEAVE AND START WORKING TOWARD IT
This is VERY important. Once you have a real date to leave, everything will begin to fall into place and your trip will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. People will help you; you will have a special theme and trip to plan on. Then, before you know it, you will be on your way.
CONSIDER EMERGENCY PREPARATION
You can never really “plan” for emergencies – or they wouldn’t be emergencies! But you do need to think through things like insurance, medical and even legal issues in case something should happen along the way. Make sure someone at home has pictures of all of you (and you of each other), a description and picture of your vehicle and stay in touch with someone every day or so. Remember, no one knows you there, or will miss you if you don’t arrive at your destination – unless it is the relatives. Prepare and forget about it – don’t obsess.
SAY GOOD-BYE AND HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE!
The work is done and the date is drawing near. Let your friends throw you a going-away party or two if you are going on an extended trip. Take pictures and exchange e-mail addresses in order to stay in touch. Give them your website or blog address, so they can follow your travels. Wave good-bye and embark on the journey of a lifetime!
Excerpted from Live Your Road Trip Dream: Travel for a year for the cost of staying home ©2004-2008 Phil and Carol White. If you’ve liked what you’ve read here, be sure to enter for your chance to win Carol and Phil’s Roadtrip Dream Book Pack.
My husband came home a few years ago and announced he wanted to “chuck it all” and travel the country in an RV for a year. I asked, “Why can’t you be like a normal husband in a midlife crisis and have an affair or buy a Corvette?” We’re both shrinks, but he’s obviously the better one, as we packed up our pets into 340 square feet and headed off to nearly every state (including AK) – with no agenda.
The only advice I’d add is there is never a “good time.” If it’s something you want to do, you just have to do it. As shrinks, we’d seen so many people in our practices put off their dreams until it was too late. We didn’t want that to happen to us and I’m so glad we did the trip. It was so life-changing, that we’re now in the process of selling our house so we can full time.
http://www.QueenOfTheRoadTheBook.com