How this all started

First off, this is my life long dream.  Traveling the world has been my goal since I participated in a short 6 week study abroad summer in Germany back in 2005.  I had been planning it in the back of my mind but I never thought I would have such the perfect opportunity.

We, my co-workers and I, all found out in Oct of 2011 that our company was going to bought out sometime in the 2nd quarter of 2012.  With this news came news that there would be many staffing changes.  I never worried too much or even game much thought to the fact that I might be one of those changes.  However, the seed of the potential opportunity that I might be severed began to grow.  My mind went crazy.  What IF I am one of the changes and I am severed from the company?  I calculated the potential severance money I would be entitled to and added that to my current savings dollars.  I also made a spreadsheet of my expenses for an entire year.  When I saw the outcome I was very pleased with the potential!  I began day dreaming of all the fantastic things I could do and places I could visit on both the savings and time I would have.  I couldn't get too excited though, because chances are, I would keep my job and continue on in the work force.

In April of 2012 I got a phone call from a Director for the company that was buying my company.  They had a job for me in Texas, super close to home, same great pay, a moving stipend, with great learning opportunity to broaden my career.  Since the job offer included a relocation I was still entitled to the severance package.  All I had to do was tell the Director I did not want a job.  In a suffering/recovering economy am I really going to choose NOT to have a job?

When I hung up the phone I immediately phoned my father.  He always seems to have good real world advice. As soon as I told him what I had found out and what my options were I already knew what I wanted to do.  The decision was made.  I was going to travel the world!

The next day I phoned the Director back.  I told him I greatly appreciated the opportunity but that I had other plans in mind. Without any fuss, just like that, I was free!

Well, not quite free, I still had about a month to work.  They set our last day of work for May 25th 2012.  So I worked, finished open projects, and said my goodbyes to all my wonderful wonderful co-workers.  That, by far, was the toughest part.  I had to say goodbye to not only fantastic co-workers but people I called friends and people I really looked up to and trusted.

So that's how this giant trip came to fruition.  It was opportunity slapping me right across the face.  Thankfully I chose to take it!