In December 2015 we quit our jobs, rented out our home, and sold our cars to begin our global adventure. We knew we didn’t want to be just tourists. We hoped to not only gain insider perspectives of cultures, but test them in terms of potential places to settle for longer stays. We are officially known as “pre-pats.”
We went to 28 countries and had a wealth of experiences. Some were amazing and others not so much. Welcome to our nomadic world!
Eileen:
One of the most interesting aspects was dealing with the reaction of friends and family. While everyone loved the beautiful photos when they realized this was not just a vacation, they became baffled about exactly what we were doing. They figured if we were “on the run” from the law, our Facebook posts would have been a little more discreet.
Mike:
Most of our friends couldn’t imagine just taking off. One of my highest priorities was to be sure we were moving towards something bigger and personally meaningful, not just moving away from the past.
Eileen:
Our life in the U.S. was very comfortable, but I felt there was something missing, something static. Although Mike didn’t exactly resist kicking and screaming, I feel that my powerful need to shake things up kind of pushed him along.
Mike:
True. Eileen’s impatience was tangible. She was ready to go! I, on the other hand, was at my professional peak, doing deals with large corporations. Extracting myself required a focused effort. The timing had to be right.
Eileen:
So, any regrets?
Mike:
No, leaving when we did remains one of my best decisions, when I was young enough (a youthful age 60!) and healthy enough to enjoy it. I could have easily settled for what was familiar and lost this opportunity. Eileen’s inspiration quickly became my own. But it was still a challenge emotionally.
Eileen:
I agree. I have also been focused on my career, and the hardest thing has been plunging into the unknown and trusting that we will ultimately figure things out. Raising three children, we always knew what had to come next.
Mike:
I think the best part is how transformative this experience has been so far. It’s one thing to read about people and events from a distance. Having the chance to experience communities directly has shifted my view by seeing first-hand what local issues really are.
Eileen:
When we started this travel, it didn’t really occur to me we would be together 24/7 without our network of family and friends. The cool thing is we’ve shared experiences that uniquely belong to the two of us. And even with all the ups and downs, we still love being together. Right, Mike?
Mike???
Are you wannabe-nomads or have you already taken the plunge? We’d love to hear about your experiences.
by: Mike & Eileen Brill-Wagner
