Linsey Lanier
Sally Kilpatrick
Sia Huff
Romily Bernard
Darcy Crowder
Marilyn Baron
Tami Brothers
Sandra Elzie
Carol Burnside
Debbie Kaufman
Maxine Davis
Tammy Schubert
Susan Carlisle
Pam Asberry
Lindy Chaffin StartRunning Away From Home
Do you ever dream of running away from home? I do, all the time. And lately, NYT best-selling author Eloisa James has unknowingly been enabling that fantasy by blogging about her sabbatical year in Paris.
This is nothing new. Back when hubby and I were dating, we talked and dreamed about living on a sailboat. Then came the reality that raising children is difficult enough without the hazard of them drowning every time they step out the front door.
We put away our dreams and settled into a perfectly ordinary life of work, diapers, mowing the grass and dinner on the table at 6:00 every night. I worked, my husband worked. I still dreamed of being published, but it was just a pipedream. For the time being, writing was only a hobby, something I did in notebooks that were stashed under the mattress or in my work bag.
It wasn’t many years into our marriage that a movie came out about a reclusive and timid romance author who travels to the jungles of South America to rescue her sister from the clutches of some dimwitted bad guys trying to get their hands on a treasure map.
Once more, my dreams surged to the surface, but I kept them to myself, not daring to voice them to anyone for fear they’d tell me to get real and dismiss me with a roll of the eyes. Once Romancing The Stone and its sequel, Jewel of The Nile, came out on video, I hurriedly bought copies and watched them every chance I got—in between binge writing sessions done while the kids were at school.
Fast forward twenty-plus years. It’s now not only a new year, but the start of the second decade in a new millennium. I am approaching my fiftieth year on this planet and have suddenly gone hurtling into the throes of my own personal midlife crisis. A vague sense of dissatisfaction and ennui has engulfed me. I long for something that is just beyond my mind’s eye.
To quote Shirley Valentine: “I’ve lived such a little life and even that will be over soon.” I suddenly realized that my viable years are getting to be fewer and fewer and If I’m going to do something, I’ve got to do it pretty damned quick.
Finding a book in the travel narrative section of Borders on New Year’s Day clarified that something. I showed it to hubby and as I shook the trade paperback beneath his nose, I said, “We can do this.”
After much thought and discussion—mostly on my part, we’ve come up with a plan. In five years—no more than seven—we are ditching the mortgage, pulling up stakes and running away from home. Not forever, mind you, but for a while, until we tire of the expatriate life, run out of money or we become so infirm we need the assistance of our nurse daughter to see to it that we take our meds and eat on a regular basis.
Friends and family will come to visit and there will be plenty of visits home to see the kids and grandkids. We will be living a dream, something that many are too timid, too purse-poor or too lazy to pursue.
Given the sheer numbers of Americans living abroad, I know I’m not the only one who has this dream. Have you ever lived abroad, or dreamed of doing so? If you have, was it a good experience or a bad one? If you could live your life over, what would you change if anything?
Tags: A Day in the Life..., Cinthia Hamer, Petit Fours and Hot Tamales, PFHT, romance writing, travel
About the author
 |
Cinthia Hamer | Novelist pursuing publication. Active PRO member of Romance Writers of America and Georgia Romance Writers. You can find me on Facebook listed as Cinthia Hamer.
|
February 1st, 2010 at 2:09 am
I can’t say I’ve ever wanted to live abroad. Travel there, yes. Perhaps such a life doesn’t appeal as much to me because we’ve moved so many times and lived in some wonderful places (Dallas, Denver, D.C., Hawaii, Atlanta, Okla City, Austin, Little Rock, Mississippi and that’s not all.)
I do know what you mean about putting things off. Hubby and I are changing that too. We’re celebrating our anniversary this year with a Mediterranean cruise. We’ll get a taste of Spain, France, Italy, Corsica, Malta, & Tunisia (N.Africa).
I guess Hawaii was the closest I’ve come to “living abroad.” Of course, it’s part of the US and doesn’t feel like a foreign country, yet it definitely doesn’t feel like the mainland either. I enjoyed my time there.
February 1st, 2010 at 7:26 am
I am currently living in Lausanne, Switzerland with my husband (and writing instead of working, yes!) so I can tell you that it is, without a doubt, completely worth it. It’s a little scary at first, but after 6 months, I feel like I’m settling in. The ability to run off to Paris on a moment’s notice should NEVER be underestimated. Money-wise, things are tighter, but experience-wise, we both know we’ll never be richer. Good luck!
February 1st, 2010 at 7:47 am
Ash,
That’s great. It sounds like you’re having fun. Thanks for visiting our blog.
Cinthia,
Yes, I am wholeheartedly in your court. I hope your dream comes true. I lived in Florence, Italy, for six months while I was getting my Journalism degree. It was one of the best experiences of my life. During that time I traveled all over Europe and caught the travel bug. Since then, we’ve gone back to Europe many times. Would I like to go back there and live again for a time? Yes, but my husband, who travels for a living, would never do it. After our last trip to Australia and New Zealand in November, he said he was never leaving the U.S. again. I think it was the exhaustion of traveling all that way. Of course, he’s said many times, he was never going back to Europe and we always go back because I talk him into it.
So, even though I wouldn’t move to another country permanently, going there for an extended trip or living there for a year or so is something I would definitely do if the opportunity presented itself. Don’t give up on your dream.
Marilyn Baron
February 1st, 2010 at 8:16 am
Good morning, everyone! Glad to see I was actually able to make this thing work. LOL!
Ash, how wonderful that you’re able to live in Switzerland for a time. You’ll have to write a travel memoir (if you aren’t already!) about your experiences. Thanks so much for visiting and sharing.
Carol,I’ve been to some interesting places in my own travels, but can you believe it? I’ve never been to Hawaii. Always wanted to go and I even lived on the right side of the continent for 30 years, but never went. Someday.
Marilyn, I had to chuckle at your hubby’s grumbling. My dad was a grumpy traveler. And since he wouldn’t fly, we were stuck with road trips…oy. Three women at the mercy of one man who had admirable control of his bodily functions.
February 1st, 2010 at 8:33 am
This is very inspiring. I have similar dreams, and since I am single and my youngest will graduate from high school in five years, I think it’s time I put a plan in place to make those dreams come true. Thank you for reminding me!
February 1st, 2010 at 8:44 am
Cinthia, I used to wonder if I was weird because I wanted us to run away, but my husband is so practical, but at least he does love vacations!
The first time I went to Europe, I absolutely loved it, but it was different, and I was ready to kiss the ground when I got back home. Of course it didn’t stop me from more trips.
I’ve always lived in Ga., Carol. It’s hard to imagine me living somewhere else – full time. May try the part-time thing in a few years.
February 1st, 2010 at 8:47 am
Pam, I say “Go For It”…life is too short to have regrets. Even if you decide six months later that it isn’t for you, at least you’ll be able to say “I did that”. KWIM?
Marilyn, I love traveling and being in different places, with different people. For me, I think it’s the exhaustion of getting from point A to point B and back again that does me in.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:40 am
Ash, I’m jealous! Pam, plan, plan, plan, now!
I have often wanted to live abroad for a time. I’m going to settle for traveling in a few years as I hate to miss anything with the grandchildren and my youngest still has 2 more years of high school.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:53 am
Cinthia–I applaud your bravery, and I say go for it. I lived for six weeks in Puebla, Mexico, and I loved it. I don’t think I would want to live abroad, but I do advocate extended trips. I guess I like to know I’m coming home at a finite time. As long as I know I’m coming home, I love to travel.
I would like to say that we often forget that traveling to other regions of the US can almost feel like a foreign trip. My mom and I took a 2 week odyssey through the Sothwest, and it was awesome.
As my mother-in-law and I have often discussed, I would much rather travel and make memories that spend my money on, say, a new couch. Which is not to say that I don’t need a new couch.
Ash–you KNOW how jealous I am. Just keep writing while you wear your beret and drink your coffee and eat your Toblerone. : )
February 1st, 2010 at 10:06 am
What a great plan! Good luck Cinthia. I’ve traveled abroad twice, enjoyed it thoroughly, enjoyed coming home even more. Loved France, speak un petit peu francais, but oooo–too cold & too far away from family. No, an island home is our dream–not too far from GA, big enough for future grandkids to stay a while, with a larger city within driving distance for cultural events.
February 1st, 2010 at 11:13 am
Oh, yes I would run away. I love to travel and love to see how others live. I took my four children to Europe for a summer and exchange my home with a family in Wales for two weeks and a family in Germany for three weeks. It was great to live there like everyone else. Wonderful cultural experience. When you travel to another country you learn to appreciate the US.
February 1st, 2010 at 11:15 am
Great post, Cinthia. Hi Ash. How cool to have a reader in Switzerland! I’ve never thought of writing as a hobby. It’s a passion. It’s who I am. I’ve lived aboard for a bit and wasn’t that keen on it. Of course, I was working at the time. I’d love to run away, but would stick here in the US. Good luck on your dream, Cinthia. Hope it comes true.
February 1st, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Cinthia, you are my soul sister! My hubby and talk about “running away” after our kids are out of the house. We’ve lived overseas twice–courtesy of the U.S. Navy–and loved it! We’ve even talked about the whole sailboat lifestyle, and joke with our kids, “don’t call us, we’ll call you.”
Your plan sounds wonderful. You will not regret it!!
February 1st, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Cinthia -\
I love, love, love your adventurous spirit. I did try to convince my husband once to sell the house and buy a big boat (with motors and bedroom and living room and such) to live on, but he wasn’t much for that idea. I’d grown up on boats and could easily live on one. However, we’ve always stolen time for ourselves along the way. We have some spots we want to travel to in the future that are in other countries. I’ve traveled a bit more than he has (for business and books) so I want to go to new places with him and not work.
I hope you’ll blog when you do this adventure so we’ll get to see it through your eyes.
February 1st, 2010 at 3:55 pm
I lived in South and Central America for a total of 5 years, then the UK for 3. I have traveled extensively in other countries, including Canada. I watch the TV show House Hunters International and I am so amazed at the naivete of Americans buying homes in Central America. I keep shouting to the TV “Don’t do it!” Living in Europe is more expensive than some of the central and south american countries. However, the conveniences in Europe are much greater. Frankly, if you haven’t traveled in an area and don’t really know it, don’t squander your money. Many Americans find them selves victims of robbery and it is a sad situation.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Ash,
I forgot to mention that my daughter spent two weeks in Lausanne on a high school trip with her French class and loved it.
Marilyn
February 1st, 2010 at 4:38 pm
I could live abroad and, in fact, it’s one of my dreams. Whenever we’ve traveled out of the country I am always so thankful for what we have in this country. I have friends who teach abroad and have visited them. The expatriate community is a microcosm of the world. I love it!
Great inaugural post, Cinthia! You rock!
Ana
February 1st, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Good evening, everyone!
Sorry I ducked out for the day, but you all know how work is…they get cranky if you don’t show up.
Thank you ALL for the lovely comments. Gannon, you know how jealous I am that you lived in Italy. I tried convincing Hubby to stay in his 20 years, but he wasn’t keen on the idea.
Dianna, one of the first things I thought of when we talked about this was “Gotta have Internet!” So, you know I’ll be blogging from South of the Border.
Susan, your summer home exchange sounds like it was wonderful. You’ll have to tell us more about it sometime.
Sally, I agree 100% about memories being more important than “things”. Sofas wear out, but memories are forever.
February 1st, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Great post. I’ve never wanted to run away from home to live abroad. Visit for a couple weeks, fine, but not more than that.
Hubby & I spent 6 months in a 39-ft 5th wheel trailer in 2006 seeing the U.S. and I was in heaven. There is soooo much to see in the U.S. that I don’t feel the need to go out of country. There is so many different cultures, foods, experiences to try right here that I don’t have much desire to go abroad.
Having said all that, I’ve got to add that if your dream is to live abroad, then girl, get packing! I’m all for everyone realizing their goals and dreams in life.
Hey, we’ll miss you, but when you go in a few years, don’t forget to drop us a post now and again. :>))
Sandy
February 1st, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Hey Cinthia! I can definitely relate to your story. My husband and I have looked at what our “Dream Motor home” would be. We priced the new ones, have priced the used ones, and have adjusted our savings plan accordingly. Now just waiting on the kid to graduate…grin…
I envy those that have lived outside of the country. I’ve always wanted to travel like that, but hubby is kind of like Marilyn’s and after a trip the Jamaica in a hurricane, he say No Way No How. I think I might be able to convince him to do some more traveling but it will have to be some serious sweet-talking.