It’s decision time, do we head home as planned in August or do we indulge in a second year of travels?
We left the UK last year with a vague plan to make it up as we went along, to sample different experiences, spend time together and see what works for us. Ten and a half months have flown by and we have taken twice as long as anticipated to get where we are today, mainly due to regular down time, much needed with 3 youngsters, and spending longer in places we have really liked (there have been plenty!). Our plan is working as designed or perhaps I should say not designed?
Can we do another year? There is no shortage of places to visit and amazing things to do. Financially we can find the cash, maybe we will have to retire later or work harder when we get back, and if needed live very cheaply while away. Educationally we are getting into the groove with home schooling and they are still at the age where catching up and reintegrating should not be a problem.
Basically we have the opportunity, should we take it? It is said that you regret what you haven’t done the most and on a personal note I have often posed the question to myself of “where would I rather be or what else would I prefer to be doing?” and I don’t think anything beats the times we are having together.
Just a few of the many happy memories so far…
So yes, as you probably guessed from the intro, we are returning home in summer 2014 after 2 years away.
And what about a third or fourth year? Perhaps but unlikely, home, family and friends are in Blighty and there is a lot to be said for your own bed, traditional schooling and Marmite. Plus we can only let our house for 2 years thanks to our ‘flexible’ mortgage and I just don’t see us getting a new mortgage that easily. I can see the application now – Occupation: Vagabond, Address: Changes weekly, Income: What’s that?
To everyone that is missing us, we are also missing you. There is a solution, you can visit us :). I am sure the next year will pass in a flash and little will have changed when we return!
Ben
Lara
Martin Clark
Mo
Zoe
The Clark Family's Amazing Adventures 
Jun 05, 2013 @ 05:43:50
Yay – I am not surprised at all. Really hope we can meet up when you finally make it home as Tilly has been following with interest and would love to meet your three. Happy wanderings xx
Jun 05, 2013 @ 08:31:21
Hi Siobhan, That’s great, so pleased and we’d love to too:) Mo xx
Jun 05, 2013 @ 06:17:51
My advice would be to do what you’ve decided. Keep going west on the trip you’d planned. A permanent life away wouldn’t be ideal with the kids, but you need to finish what you started before you get home.
If the Ben and Zoe need a bit of help catching up when they get home, I’d be very happy to help where I can.
Jun 05, 2013 @ 08:55:01
Hi Rick, glad of the vote of support and wow, thanks, great offer for Kids too – theyre working so hard now with their world school studies, with any luck they’ll be ahead rather than behind:) x
Jun 05, 2013 @ 08:10:00
Good choice.
Jun 08, 2013 @ 23:58:27
Is this Bill (wears safety sandals on events) Cook, Bill (borders and Laphroaig) Cook ? If so, hello Bill nice to see you, to see you nice. If this is another Bill Cook I can thoroughly recommend Laphroaig. Keith.
Jun 05, 2013 @ 10:18:29
SO are you still coming to Australia?
Jun 05, 2013 @ 17:47:15
Hi Liz
Almost certainly, our only difficulty is just how long to spend in Oz? Really tricky as we would love to spend a couple of months but this would mean less time elsewhere and more time 1st world. We are aiming for more developing countries that you can’t visit so easily on a holiday.
Jun 05, 2013 @ 12:25:48
Yes Martin, Mo and BZL, do it. Continue your fantastic family adventure (sorry, AMAZING). Really, straight up. For you guys and the kids. DO IT. Following you and with you all the way. Just be careful Ben doesn’t eat too much of the food he seems to enjoy so much, or he will end up your size (Martin, not Mo, obviously) in no time !!! Love to you all. Continue the adventure. K
Jun 05, 2013 @ 17:49:18
Ben is as skinny as a rake, we worry when he steps over drains. He should be alright for a few years until the genes take over 🙂
Jun 05, 2013 @ 12:47:26
Go for it! Life is too short. Spend this wonderful time sharing the world, and all it’s wonders, with your lovely family. Everything will still be the same when you get back! Have lots more fun!
Jun 05, 2013 @ 14:13:46
Absolutely wonderful, and we back in blighty can look forward to another year of Clark Family Adventures 🙂
Jun 05, 2013 @ 20:41:46
Now that’s really cool! Envy you so much and wish the five of you all the best and another simply great year full of interesting, funny and exiting things to discover!
Jun 05, 2013 @ 22:56:56
It’s not a surprise matey. Any one of us would do the same thing in your situation.
Keep on rockin, blogging and enjoying!!
Jun 07, 2013 @ 07:23:20
Fantastic opportunity, I still look back on travelling as one the best times of my life, make the absolute most of it, must be great with the kids! When I went we spent quite a bit of time in Oz (before South America, so we went the other way), although as you say places like South America and Asia are much more of a culture shock and interesting, but there are some very cool things to do in Oz, shark diving, Fraser Island, Whitsundays, Wet n Wild Waterpark to name a few, New Zealand was good and in hindsight would have spent more time there, Bali was amazing as well which was on the way for us, are you going that way? Keep up the blogging!
Jul 20, 2013 @ 17:01:16
Our little family of four took time out to travel the world in 2007. it has very much changed all our views about what we want and will accept out of life. It makes returning to the UK so much easier if you have a house to return to. We did the first but not the second time. Wishing you good luck and take a look at my blog if you’re interested http://www.travelwiththestrings.wordpress.com. Where has been your favourite place?
Jul 22, 2013 @ 11:47:27
Hi Janice,
Great to hear from you and we’re now enjoying your blog too. So interesting to see and think about the future after travel as I know it will be strange to adjust and I’m sure we’ll have a
lot of new goals for a new life back home! So hard to call out a favourite place. We loved the Galapagos, not just for the unique natural wonders but especially because we integrated and really felt part of the local community:) So many wonderful places – Peru, Easter Island, Iguazu, Patagonia, The Falklands.. Loving New Zealand now too:)
Jul 22, 2013 @ 12:26:43
Hi Janice, Great to hear from you and so thought provoking reading your blog and thinking about the big adjustment when we return home (happy its not for another year!) – I’ve a feeling it will be easier for the kids than us! So pleased you found us, we’re enjoying starting to read about some of your adventures… we’re very like you teaching the children to negotiate on the price of a room for example and enjoying seeing their building confidence in so many life skills:) Favourite place is tricky! We are loving New Zealand right now. Its like a slice of home with friends, fabulous nature, the great outdoors, adventure, heritage, cuisine and lifestyle. I had my first girls night out for over a year this week – superb! One standout from the first year is the Galapagos – not just for the amazing wildlife but the experiences we had living, working and going to school there. More faves listed in Nine months, nine countries… Where is your favourite place? Best wishes, Mo