Prompt: Would you move to another country after this.
We do a lot of fantasizing, Partner-in-Crime and I. We keep coming back to this idea about globe trotting, where we might live three months here, three months there for a year, at least. On the agenda - three months (at least) in New Zealand, three months in Tasmania (in the summer), three months in Bali, three months doing the rounds of our family and friends in Europe. three months in Costa Rica, three months, minimum, in the States.
There's a component of reality to these mental wanderings in that P-i-C works from home and can run his business from anywhere with an Internet connection. I am unburdened by paid work (though, of course, I work very, very hard, etc, etc). At her young age, Hushpuppy just goes where we go, and we are even considering home schooling, for many reasons, including the ability to make travel a big part of her education.
So far, however, there's always a period at the end of these discussions. It goes like this ... "...but, where do we end up?". Aye, there's the rub. You may recall my desire to not "end up," and that's really, really nice and true for the long term scheme of my life, but I can't divorce myself from the reality that we have stuff that I'm not willing to part with forever and, moreover, we have a child who needs a home base. I feel that it's selfish of us to cart her around the world with no mooring when we don't have jobs that require us to do so.
For me, I've learned from this move how much of a commitment it is to move to another country. It's completely amazing to see more of the world, to be immersed in a new culture, to expand your horizons, to meet fellow adveturers, and to build an unbreakable bond with your little family. It's also hard on families, hard on friendships, hard physically, financially, and downright draining emotionally.
On the other hand, I don't believe that Sydney is our forever home. Awhile back, I wrote about how we almost left once. And, I would say it's likely that a move is in our someday future. It has always been my intention to move back to the States one day, though when that day is remains very open to interpretation.
Oh, what a splatter painting this is turning into - or, to use my favorite Aussie phrase, "a dog's breakfast." I could write in circles around this topic all day and still get to exactly nowhere. Do I think we'll stay in Sydney forever? No. Do I think we'll travel extensively? Yes. Do I think we'll ever live in another country that is is not Australia or the U.S.? Truly, I hope not. Until I change my mind again.
I'll know it when I see it.
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| Hushpuppy's ready to go see the world, even if I'm a little reluctant. |
When I was a kid, I always wanted to travel, but my family wasn't in the place for that. I think that if you are, you should do it. I don't think your child will ever regret or resent that. I think she'll thank you for showing her the world and for the experiences you'd share together.
ReplyDeleteIt is worth noting that Hushpuppy, at the ripe old age of 1, has two passports and is eligible for a third. I did not have one passport until I was 22. I know for sure we'll travel with her. I just don't know if it will be our life or a recreation.
DeleteCute photo, and I say, go for it that plan if you can! We lived in the U.K. for 18 months with a 2 year old and 1 year old. It was tough from the point of view of traveling with toddlers, but they never missed a beat when we moved back home.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, *ahem* "carting your child around the world with no mooring" is an invaluable, resilience-building proposition (refer to all posts by yours truly). Untraditional, yes, but thoroughly character building. There are MANY benefits to being a "gypsy-kid" (politically correct term being TCK) and you'd be doing your child a service and giving her a gift of multi-culturalism, appreciation of other cultures, instant-global-mindedness (you, of course, know this).
ReplyDeleteIn my estimation, you'd be EXCELLENT home-schoolers. I don't know PiC personally, but you, alone, could traverse that terrain with poise, grace, and quite honestly, more insight and clarity than a huge portion of career-educators. So much so that I'd enroll my kids in your home-school and offer to co-teach! It's hard, but it can be SOOOOOO rewarding. And, I don't need to divert your attention to the recent Coke-ad quagmire to show you what kind of alternatives exist back "home"....(shudder). I'm sure you'll figure it out....bravely, together....just don't forget the example of your predecessors (if I may be so bold to offer myself, DM, and April Sanderson Campbell to the mix of your Brenau sister trail-blazers) and defer to the wisdom of the incomparable Stevie Nicks, who reassures you, "You can go your own waaaaaaayyyyyyy...." ;). Love and hugs...always.
Ah, Kimi, you raise some very thought-provoking (and blush inducing) arguments. And, you put me in some very stellar company - might I call myself an honorary Suite sister, trail blazer? I suppose I do have fears about the long-lasting effects of raising a TCK/gypsy. In one of our fantasizing sessions recently, I think I found my sticking point. If we owned a house anywhere - somewhere that we could always return to, somewhere my dining room table might reside - I would be eminently more comfortable with the rambling for the sake of rambling.
DeleteI've taken to heart your very kind words about home schooling. It's something I really do consider, and am mostly hung up in whether I have the skill and fortitude. I'm ready to take on the Little Pricarditas if you're ready for the Hushpuppy. It's a deal! :-)
And, yes, that kind of ignorant nonsense is just the thing that keeps us from moving back to the States. I. Just. Can't...
Oh, and quoting Stevie Nicks to me ... I'm sure you know - always effective!
DeleteMy husband is like you, would love to travel and not have a home base. Hushpuppy is so friggin' adorable!
ReplyDeleteLol. Hushpuppy is totally ready! More seriously, you know, I think I could live in Sydney for the rest of my life & still not call it my "forever home." Home is where the heart is & my heart lives on two different continents - pretty tough to call anywhere my "forever home" when this is the case. You know what - I think I wrote a blog post about this that I never published. Lol. Anywho, now I am rambling.
ReplyDeletehaha. i rambled in my comment too. but you're right, it's funny. i still call NJ "home." I think it always will be. i read an article once talking about the expat life and how once you leave you can never quite go back to what things were.
Deletethat is exactly my feeling: i could go around and around on this topic, talk about it again and again and every time i get exactly no closer to when i started. Husband and I are both loving this lifestyle right now both for our traveling itch but also because it gives us a freedom that the states would have never allowed us. then my mommy brain kicks in and i think shouldn't we just give our kids ONE home? a place they could grow up and just be? and then i look back at Husband and I - both forever residents of NJ and think, "I never lived anywhere besides my parents house which they've had for over 30 years. I had that life growing up and loved it but I still left. I realize that making a home base for our kids doesn't mean they are happier or not happier it's just what i've always known and doing something different to what I've known is the hard part. And end ramble. told you around and around and around.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading all the comments from friends on this topic, I feel like if I wrote this today, it would be totally different. And probably different tomorrow, too! Maybe that means that we're ramblers, at heart - can't keep us from rambling. ;-)
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