So, it’s been a year. A YEAR!!! Since we posted last, and yes last time we were in Europe. Wow! what a year it’s been.
I wanted to give a little bit of an update, and by little bit, I mean the first edition of catching everyone up to what we’ve been up to and what’s changed.
So, after we came back from Europe and spent the holidays with Mr. Wow’s family and then headed out on the way back to the west coast.
American culture holds the road trip as something of an almost sacred rite of passage. And I’ll say, the United States has so much to show you if you take you time and drive across it.
Yes, a plane is the most time efficient way of traversing the country, but you miss so much. You miss stopping at the gas stations and you miss stopping at Elvis’s birthplace. Or seeing a MoonPie dropped on New Years.
You miss stopping at a Brewery in Garden City, KS and regaling your stories of finding breweries across the country and sharing some of your spoils with the only brewery in a town of about 4,000.
What about visiting friends that we haven’t seen in years. Or in some cases, even met up for the very first time. Hooray for blogging friends!!!
We also stopped through the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon to see what that was all about. Which, if you haven’t been, make sure that you go by. It’s well worth it, and in the winter it’s a little less crowded, but it snows? Who knew!
From the Grand Canyon,we headed back to LA. We both made mention about how strange it was to be back in Los Angeles, but it was good to be in a place that was familiar. A place that felt like home.
We planned on being there for a couple months before taking off again (at this point we all know what happened to those plans, alas, details will be in an upcoming post.)
So, after almost 6 months on the road, what did we learn?
- Mr Wow likes the idea of having a home base. I’m all for traveling for a while, but having that place to come back to is something I don’t think I really appreciated. There’s some comfort in knowing where the grocery store is or what restaurants to go to.
- Community is great. We stayed with and visited friends across the country. We are so blessed to have so many great people as a part of our lives. All of you that we saw along the way, know we are for ever in your debt (GASP!!!) and you have a special place in our heart!!
- Traveling is pretty tough, and we’re pretty lucky that we get along and like each other. There were times that we were at each others throats. And it wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows, but we made it, and we are better for it. I think our relationship is better for it as well.
- Did you know they make rapper chips?
Alright, there’s plenty more to catch everyone up on. But, you can’t run a marathon without taking the first step. I just needed to get back into it. And we’ll get into more detail about the finance side of the whole trip and everything.
Oh, and you can thank Mrs. 1500 for making this happen:
Wow, a catch-up post would be a great way for your tens of readers to hear all about your adventures!
— Mindy Jensen (@MindyatBP) August 31, 2020
So, hopefully it won’t be another year before you hear from us again!!!
YAY! I’m so happy to read this! Can’t wait for the next one!!!
I’m honored to be among your 10’s of readers. Smile. Great to hear from you again, hope I don’t have to wait another year for the next one…
Traveling can, indeed, be stressful. We’re driving to Seattle next week, “Cannonball Run with a 2-year-old”, watch for my post announcing the adventure next week. Welcome back!
Awesome! Great to hear from y’all!!! I’m on the edge of my seat to hear what happens next! Covid-19 messed up everyone’s plans but you guys are great at rolling with the punches. Can’t wait to read about the next part of your journey. 🙂
Also love the honesty about traveling together with your partner. It’s amazing to have a travel buddy that knows you so well, but totally agree there are times when they absolutely drive you bonkers in only a way that a partner can! During this pandemic I’ve joked multiple times about running away to join the circus and heard the sarcastic reply “I don’t think there are circuses right now because of Covid.” ? Cue me walking away and taking a deep breath lol
Glad to have y’all back in the blogging space!
sounds like a good trip. i hope you enjoyed niagara falls. a home base is a tremendous thing indeed.
Sounds like a great time. I’ve never driven cross country, and definitely want to:). Now I want Rapper Chips!!
Thrilled to have you back home, and excited to see what the weird new world we live in means for your Act Two plans. And here I was looking forward to that catch up beer together under something large and inflatable at Fin Con 20…(sigh).
(Been pondering that myself as many of our plans as a family revolved around international travel, and that’s not on the table for the foreseeable future.)
Antelope Canyon had been on our (disrupted) spring break itinerary, so it’s a joy to see your photograph of it.
Welcome back to the new normal – you were missed.
Fondly,
CD
I’m one of the 10’s that’s happy you are back and look forward to hearing more about your adventures and all the waffles!
Hello Mr. and Mrs. WOW, I just started on my path to FI and learned about your mobile budget app. I follow all your instructions but I think I miss something, I just do not know what. would you be willing to take a look at my form and spread sheet and guide me to fix it? I really appreciate it, if you could. My email is below.