The Preparation
In this blog post, I want to cover some of the preparations I made before embarking on my journey and set the stage for my plans.
I've been living in Nashville, TN since August 2015. I've had an amazing time here, from the wonderful people I've met to the late nights; it has been a significant part of my life. However, despite the great memories, I felt an itch to do something new, something different.
Starting in 2021, I began traveling frequently and realized that by streamlining some aspects of my life, I could live on the road or anywhere. The idea of getting rid of everything and living abroad became more appealing when I worked from Cabo, Mexico, and Mexico City for a week on two separate occasions. After experiencing that, I knew I wanted to hit the road and live somewhere other than Nashville, though I wasn't sure where exactly. Then, one day, my sister invited me to join her for a trip to France for a week. It sparked an idea - "What if I booked a one-way flight to France and figured things out once I got there?" That was the nudge I needed, and I was determined to make it happen.
Several factors aligned to make this dream possible. Firstly, I'm fortunate enough to work in a fully remote position. Secondly, I didn't own a car, so I didn't have to worry about selling it or car-related expenses. Thirdly, my apartment lease was ending just three weeks after I was leaving for France, so I wouldn't have to pay regular bills while traveling abroad.
With everything falling into place, I knew this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. It would be borderline irresponsible not to take this chance to embark on this journey. I saw no downside to it. If Europe turned out to be amazing, I'd forever be grateful that I took the leap. On the other hand, if I didn't enjoy it, I could always book a flight back to the States and find another apartment.
Feeling determined, I informed my apartment that I wouldn't renew the lease and would vacate it in July. The plan was to get to France on July 8th, 2023, and stay until at least Thanksgiving before considering a return to the States. I discussed my thought process and idea with my family and employer, and fortunately, everyone who mattered was supportive of my semi-crazy plan to explore Europe for the summer and fall.