Having worked in project management for twenty years, I’ve become well acquainted with an emotion I refer to as muted alarm.  As we prepared to launch our life on the road, muted alarm became an all too familiar emotion.  Gaps in our thinking were (are?!) everywhere.  On reflection, I feel like we could be a case study in cognitive biases.

We landed on a few criteria that helped us clarify our intentions, which have guided our choices to date and will continue to do so. 

Over the course of five years of preparation for a big life change, a few lessons stand out. 

1. Set a goal. 
2. Start early...years early.
3. Try before you buy. 
4. Don't create misery. 

It started in August 2010 when Wendy read this article, which planted the seed of an idea.  Made it seem like a definite possibility....and potentially a necessity.  As if not doing life differently would be a missed opportunity.