Feb 2011 - Our normal Saturday morning routine is typically one whereby by we "squeeze" in the laundry, grocery shopping and 3 dance lessons. One morning in February I paused between classes and instead of rushing back home to hang out the wet laundry I sat outside the girls' classroom and cast my mind to "happiness". Was I happy, was my family happy, what would make me happy - without making my family miserable. There began some of the best blue sky thinking I'd done in years.
While I contemplated a change in management at work and what that might mean for me I began to think about a change in employer, city and career. Nothing excited me. I then cast my mind to what would make me smile and get excited about "our" life. That's when the concept of packing the family up for 12 months started to evolve.
On arriving home I could hardly contain my self. Steve was sitting in the living room and I just came out with it "what would you think about having a family gap year next year?" He, in his normal nonchalant way said "ok!". So there laid way to some adhoc discussions, day dreaming and research until 9am on Wednesday, September 13 2011...
