We left 100 days ago.* As a teacher I suppose I should organize a 100 day celebration. We should don some 100 day hats and count various objects to 100. Earlier in the trip we could have easily counted 100 bug bites. We can easily count 100s of Chilean pesos or 100 chips. We don't have many things with us, maybe 100 objects of clothes between us. Perhaps we should just count 100 blessings. That would be an easy list.
I've read many travel blogs and it's easy to agree on many things. I've mentioned before that travel is not always easy. We deal with many of the same problems when we weren't traveling and some unusual travel issues arise that would never have happened if we hadn't left, but after the drama they make for great stories.
Here's my 100 blessings list in no particular order:
1. Spending all day, every day with my family
2. No work schedule
3. No work drama
4. Meeting amazing people from all over world.
5. Learning a new language in that country or some of it anyway
6. Learning new cultural practices.
7. Sleeping in regularly
8. Only setting alarms for a new travel adventure or excursion
9. Hiking in rain forests
10. Hiking cloud forests
11. Exploring international beaches
12. Hiking a volcano
13. No house payments
14. No house - yes a blessing nothing to maintain, clean, organize, fix, etc.
15. Horseback riding in cloudforest
16. Freedom
17. Flexibility to schedule what we want, when we want
18. Experiencing new foods
19. Watching my children play with new children and animals
20. Marveling regularly in the wonderful human beings they are becoming
21. No junk mail
22. No car drama, payments, breakdowns, rush hour daily excursions
23. No meetings of any kind
24. Opportunity to provide education to my children
25. Control of curriculum and text they are exposed to
26. Experiencing relief on daughters without daily torture of class and homework.
27. Ability to stay or leave places
28. No schedules
29. No commitments
30. The views, ever-changing and amazing
31. Kindness of strangers and fellow travelers
32. Receiving valuable advice from experiences travelers and hosts
33. ATV
34. Not cooking daily.
35. Great tour guides
36. Excellent driver on our tour in chile
37. Appreciation of a hot shower
38. Natural exercise free of the gym
39. Off season travel prices
40. Off season lack of tourists
41. Travelers with excellent contacts for us
42. Ipad distractions for long travel days
43. Skype
44. Viber
45. SIM cards
46. The simple fact that a dog or cat can alter any bad mood
47. No homework
48. iMovie
49. The discovery of Maeve's photography talent
50. Liam's ability to charm fellow travelers
51. Appreciation of paved roads
52. Ability to view varied museums from several countries.
53. My like minded husband/travel and adventure life partner:)
54. Varied fauna
55. Two summers in one year...no winter
56. More hugs and cuddles
57. Supportive family abroad
58. No hip pain
59. No hives or need for Apple cider vinegar regularly
60. Homestays
61. Supportive and generous friends who let us stay in their house
62. Random emails from friends
63. Keeping connected through FB
64. Blogs
65. Wine country visit is no longer Napa
66. Lake and river excursions
67. Father and son trout and Salmon fly fishing excursions
68. Supportive blog comments
69. Naps
70. A working keyboard.
71. Good wifi
72. Food served and included on short South American flights
73. Quality flight service (Avianca)
74. Free downloadable books
75. Khan Academy/academic websites
76. Pisco sours
77. Good weather for our Machu Picchu experience
78. Chilean wine
79. Argentinian wine at such low prices
80. Increased 'just go with it' attitude. If a shower doesn't happen or no clean clothes oh well.
81. Constantly planning the next adventure.
82. Witnessing my children become best friends (even good friends argue)
83. Waterfalls
84. Experiencing minor earthquakes, glad they were minor and a gentle reminder of the power of this world
85. Always receiving positive feedback when we share our story
86. No makeup
87. No real wardrobe decisions
88. Black Sheep Inn experience
89. Trip Advisor
90. Airbnb
91. Being able to take my children to parts of the world many their age will never see
92. REI quality gear
93. Thermal hot springs
94. Being able to carry whatever we need from country to country
95. Minimizing
96. Friendly hostels, ecole
97. Floating islands on Lake Titicaca
98. The Panama Canal
99. Knowing the world has endless opportunities for my family
100. The ability to sit on a bus, travel through Chile and reflect on my many blessings!
Waterfalls in Chile
*Well, that was a few days ago. Today is my birthday and yet another blessing to celebrate with my family in another country with a warmer climate. Life is good.