There are days that I feel like maybe I am done with traveling. Long term travel is so very different from a “vacation” or “holiday” trip, it is like living real life as an expat for short periods of time. I still have to watch what I eat, we have to watch how we spend money more carefully, and Chad still works (albeit part-time, but still…). Some times this life we chose seems harder than it really is. Yes, we are truly so blessed to be on this adventure, but it is a ton of work both physically and emotionally much of the time.
Despite those days that make me feel like packing our bags for a final time and heading back to California, I find joy in what we are doing more often. I reel with the knowledge that we are trying to decide where to go next, if we should stay in Phuket, Thailand for three months or not, or if we should settle somewhere else for good. These decisions are amazing blessings, what truly wonderful things to decide between! I would be lying if I told you that it was easy all the time and we just float through planning and decisions without stress, but I do feel blessed to have such wonderful decisions to make. So I am in this journey for the long haul, good or bad, stressful or relaxed, pigging out or dieting.
On that note, here are my pictures for this Monday Montage. I hope and pray that all of you are having a wonderful week with amazing decisions to be made as well!
The street where our resort is… you can just see Phuket’s Big Buddha in the distance.
We have a hammock on our front porch and Z has made it her own.
Z’s first Monday Montage contribution. I see great photos in her future.
Everywhere we go, someone gives Z a toy or treat. Today she walked away with a tractor and a sunflower. Spoiled girl.
Chad feeding Z a piece of pizza bigger than her head. She ate two pieces! This girl has an appetite!
And Three To Go 
Long-term travel can definitely be draining. Your brain is doing so much work all the time – it’s exhausting! Sometimes you just want to head home and take a job at the drive-thru, or whatever strikes you as being the most simple and repetitive position you can find.
But then you remember how miserable you’d be at the drive through after your first fortnight. The stress of change vs the stress of boredom! Sometimes it’s hard to pace yourself correctly, but it sounds like you’re doing well. It’s definitely one of the best (and most solvable!) problems to face!
Exactly! Thanks! 🙂
Sweet photo by your little girl! She’s learning early 🙂 I wish I could say the stress of where do we go next ends when you settle somewhere.. but it hasn’t for us. The expat life always has the question of stay-or-go in the background. But you’re so right – it’s a blessing.. even to be able to consider moving or staying. Enjoy Thailand for now; it looks amazing!
Thank you! I agree, no matter where we are we will always be thinking of if we should stay. It’s a wonderful problem to have. 🙂
I was only thinking about you guys yesterday and saying to my hubby, I wasn’t sure how you did all the travelling. I hear you, it is tough! Of course it looks amazing, wonderful and all the rest but at the end of the day you still have to live and do the mundane things too…there what I find hard in another language.
I’m sure you’ll make the right decision for your family, after all your doing this for fun and adventure, right?
Well the nice thing is, we have experience in this now, do if we settle somewhere that doesn’t work out, we can easily pick up stakes and move again! 🙂
I always remind myself that no matter how hard decisions on the road can seem, it’s still better than being bored. 🙂
That is so true.
How do you decide how long to stay somewhere? Hope your thoughts and second-guesses turn to surety. Love the hammock. Zoe’s photo of you was really good!
It really depends on the house/apartment we can find and how much we enjoy the location. Price, of course, comes into play as well.
I have decided instead of having a bed for Z, I just want a hammock for her, she loves it!
I think I will make Z take more of the photos of me from now on. She takes good pictures.
When we go on vacation, the kids literally spend hours playing with a hammock if they have one! So simple. So amusing.
I am sure it’s not easy for such an adventure. I admire you and envy you too! As reader, I would hope you continue on and love to read your adventures, but as a friend, I understand your fatigue at times and hope you enjoy your life as it is now and I am sure you will not look back with regret!
Thank you so much! I think we have made our decisions for the next three months now (keeping my fingers crossed haha), so it should be smooth sailing until then. 🙂 I think I would very much regret it if we were to stop now.
Z is so cute in the hammock 🙂
I love it that she loves laying there. Gives me a minute to relax too. 🙂
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You’re doing a good job. It’s true that travelling can be exhausting but you go on ‘cos you love it and when it’s time to stop, you’ll know.
“Z” looks wonderfully cute by the way. 🙂
Thank you so much! 🙂