We go around the world because we thought about it and we talked about it and we realized we were going to regret it if we didn’t do it.  We’re not prone to regret but we didn’t want to look back on this as an incredible adventure that we only talked about.

We also realized this was our last chance:  Franny’s eighth grade year.  We knew if not this year, we would lose her to high school and college and life.  So we’re effectively stealing an extra year of childhood from our daughter — even though she gave up childhood a year ago.  We thank her in advance for her participation.

Finn, who is spending his fourth grade year on the road, is more willing.  In preparation for the trip he has learned how to ride a bike which he looks forward to doing wherever he can.  He admits to some trepidation but he says he’s excited about the challenges ahead.

Our itinerary is insane, crossing six continents.  For school, were going to teach it (something we feel we can do for one year max).  We’ve made a curriculum based on our journey.  We’re studying religions of the world, writing everyday, sharing Family Book Club, looking at how climates effect countries’ economies, and a host of other things.  We are boning up on fourth-grade math so we can teach Finn.  We were going to try and relearn eighth-grade algebra so we could teach it to Franny, but Franny sensibly requested a real tutor (who will be Skyping weekly from NYC).  We rented out our house and took down the board which has been the kiosk of our lives for the last 10 years.

We got shots (with needles) and shots (with cameras).  We booked tickets.  We arranged visas.  We made itineraries.  And we made friends with other families who have been so crazy as to attempt the same round the world adventure.

We all seem to share the same want:  to show our children the world, to learn about the world ourselves, and experience it as a family before everything changes.  Because everything changes.

For us, we also wanted a year to learn, a year to be together, alone, a year to think.

Unfortunately, we’re not great at just thinking so along the way you can check in here where we will try and post thoughts, observations, little movies, songs, pictures of friends we make, and scary cautionary tales that make you think “I’m glad they’re traveling so we don’t have to.”  And for periods of time, you won’t hear from us at all.

If you want to travel with us online, click that little *FOLLOW button on the lower right of the blog and you’ll get an email whenever we launch a new post.  If you happen to be in Istanbul in January, let us know.  If you happen to know a good place to stay in Cambodia in November, please let us know even sooner.