So we have been back in Sydney for a little over two weeks now. Since we still have tenants in our house we are technically homeless for another couple of weeks (we had planned to be on the road for eight months but the kids were really missing their mates and were keen to get back to school so we decided to cut things short by a month). Fortunately family has been great and we have been crashing with siblings and parents so far. Although being in our own house would have made things easier, we are settling back into Sydney life ok. The kids returned to school straight away and have been loving it. They slipped right back in, happily discovered that their friends hadn’t forgetten them, and got to show their classes the movies they made of the trip. We returned to the routine of drop off and pick up and really enjoyed catching up with mates in the playground that we bumped into throughout the week. We were both in a really relaxed state, helped by the fact that there wasn’t much we had to do, and no time pressures or juggling kids and work to stress us out. The unbelievably bad Sydney traffic (yes, we really did forget just how bad it is) didn’t even stress us out, although it smacked us in the face the second we pulled off the M1 at Wahroonga and has continued to amaze us even since. Kat headed back to work a couple of weeks ago, and I plan to get back into work in the new year, but will happily look after the kids until then. Our wonderfully empty calendars are quickly filling up, providing a stark contrast between the pace of life on our trip and life in Sydney. Although our life on the road was surprisingly busy, with days filled with set up, pack up, meal preparation and clean up, entertaining kids, planning the next steps and booking accommodation, it never felt frantic or rushed, and when things got too much and we felt like life was going too fast, we would just slow down for a few days. We are already seeing the pace of Sydney life trying to creep into our lives, but hopefully we can learn from our experiences over the last 7 months and find a pace of life somewhere between that and our pre-trip life in Sydney.
The kids
The kids have grown massively over the last seven months (and I’m not just talking about Oli’s hair and Em’s height). Yes, getting older has helped, but without doubt the trip has given them so much more confidence and independence. The way they shifted seamlessly from a life of routine at home with all their ‘stuff’, surrounded by friends, to the uncertainty of life of the road made us so proud of them. They have become more capable and easy going, with a maturity and ability to adapt that has constantly amazed us. Although they were already very close before the trip, their relationship with each other has become even stronger, and we never tired of watching them play together as we woke up each morning in the camper. They also became so much more capable of making new friends along the way, connecting with other kids in parks and playgrounds within minutes of arriving. They have allowed us to see the world through their eyes, showing us the meaning of fun. One of my fondest memories of the trip was when Oli and I were ‘surfing’ down a submerged, slime covered log at Bitter Springs. Oli said to me, “Dad, you are definitely acting more like a kid now” – I was thrilled. I was completely in the moment with him, with nothing else to distract me, and it really was fun.
The country
We discovered just what an amazing country we live in here. Having seen countless pictures of many of the iconic places in Australia over the years, nothing compares to actually being there. From the gorgeous colours of the Flinders and central Australia, to the spectacular gorges of the Gibb, and the stunning coastlines of WA, every turn presented another opportunity to stare in wonder at our wide brown land. What the trip made us realise more than ever is just how vast our country is, and how much there is to see. Although we covered many kilometres, we barely scratched the surface of what is out there, and we can’t wait to explore more of it when time permits.
Our family
Spending the last 7 months together was an amazing experience and one that brought our family closer together than ever. There were certainly times when the 24/7 lifestyle was challenging, but the fact that there was nowhere to escape to when things did get hard meant that we had to work through things rather than run away. The tears, laughter, screaming matches and silent times that we shared together taught us all so much about each other and ourselves, and we are all so much better for it. I am a firm believer that open communication is the secret to great relationships, and we have all become so much better at speaking our mind, as much out of necessity as anything else. Rather than bottle things up, we will now raise things as they come up, and happily talk about things that are bothering us. While that might create some momentary tension, it is much better than the alternative.
Our stuff
While at times we each yearned for things from home, such as a house, toys, space etc, by and large we were perfectly content living in our 5m x 7m footprint that was the camper trailer. We were happy wearing the same things all the time (although Em did frequently upgrade her wardrobe with trips to op shops along the way), the kids didn’t miss their toys, happily making fun with whatever was around them, and we loved the uncluttered existence we were living, with only the essentials in the trailer. It made us realise that we don’t need so much stuff, and that it is the experiences that we have in our life that make us happy, not the material possessions we own. While it might be harder to live the same simple life of the road here at home, we will certainly aim to reduce the stuff that we have.
The trip
One of the strangest things about coming back home has been how quickly the trip itself has faded from our every day consciousness. I don’t mean to say we have forgotten about it, but it does just feel like a dream at this point. There is no doubt in our minds that it happened, but it is as though it happened months or years ago, not weeks ago. I guess the fact that everything back in Sydney is so familiar, and that nothing much has changed here is very effective at tricking us into feeling like we never left. Fortunately, I only need to look at my children, my wife, or pour through the vivid memories that fill my head to realise just how much we have experienced. It truly has been one of the most amazing things that Kat and I have ever done in our lives, and something we hope the kids will treasure in their hearts and minds forever.
Overall our time on the road exceeded all of our expectations. We have all gained so much, and will forever see the world through different eyes. Although it has been great catching up with family and friends over the last few weeks, Kat and I still feel quite unsettled and yearn to be back on the road. It was just the four of us taking on the world, and we loved it. While it will take some time to adjust back to life at home, we are truly grateful to have had the time that we had together. Thanks to our families, friends and the school for supporting us through the preparations, the trip itself and our recent return. It was all a lot easier as a result.
Finally, for anyone thinking of packing up the family and heading off on a trip of your own, we say stop thinking about it and just DO IT! You won’t regret it and will treasure it always. Take as much time as you can, but don’t feel you have to take a year, or even 6 months, whatever you can get will be worth it. Hopefully our blog can inspire you to take the plunge with your own adventure, and if we can help with anything just call us or ask any questions through the comments section below. You only live once so head off and discover your own wide open space…
Wide open spaces 