Can We Really Do This?

After the excitement of saying yes to the dream, reality set in.

Could we actually afford to take extended time off? How long should we go for? What would we do with the house, the car, our stuff? It was time for a serious look at the logistics—and a big dose of practical thinking.

How Long Could We Take Off?

Originally, we thought we might take a three- or four-month break. Just enough to reset and travel without completely upending our lives.

But the more we planned, the more we realised: this might be a once-in-a-lifetime window. The kids are independent, we’re still healthy, and our careers are in a place where stepping away felt possible.

So… we extended it to almost eight months.

It felt bold, but right. And once we gave ourselves permission to really go for it, everything else started falling into place.

Making the Finances Work

We weren’t looking to live in luxury, but we needed to be realistic. Could we travel for eight months and still be financially secure?

Here’s what we looked at:

• Long Service Leave: We both had it, and it became the backbone of our financial plan as we would be paid for part of the leave. .
• Unpaid Leave: After the paid leave ran out, we planned to dip into savings.
• Renting out our house: This was a game-changer. Listing our home for rent gave us the ability to generate income while we’re away—and gave us peace of mind it wouldn’t sit empty.
• Selling the car: We wouldn’t need it while we were away, so selling it helped free up extra funds and simplify life.

Packing Up Life at Home

Once we had the finances sorted, we had to start preparing for life on the road—and life not at home.

• Packing up the house: We decided to store our personal items and rent the house out mostly furnished. That meant sorting, storing, and letting go of a lot.
• Finding a local manager: A trusted neighbour offered to manage the Airbnb for us. That helped us feel more comfortable leaving everything behind.
• Cancelling and redirecting: Utilities, mail, subscriptions… there were more details than we expected, but one spreadsheet kept it all manageable.

The Logistics of Leaving

Beyond the house, there were all the things we needed to travel safely and smartly:

• Travel insurance: This was non-negotiable. We needed coverage for health, cancellations, gear, and more. As it was a longer period , we didn’t expect it to be cheap. Shop around for what you need this to protect. Along the way we will be travelling manly by train but also renting vehicles along the way as well as travelling with computers and cameras so we needed additional cover.
• Banking and access to money: We made sure we had travel-friendly accounts, multiple cards, and backups.
• Health: Making sure we had all medical check-ups and prescriptions sorted before we left.
• Packing: How do you pack for eight months across multiple climates with a 20kg luggage limit? (That’s a whole episode of its own—coming soon!)

Reality Bites… and Then It Lifts

There were definitely moments when it all felt overwhelming. The planning, the financial decisions, the logistics of stepping away from work and routine.

But every time doubt crept in, we reminded ourselves why we were doing this.

Life is short. The time is now. And we’d done the work to make it possible.

Next up: We’re getting into the good stuff—how we planned our route, chose our starting point, and figured out how to travel slow, not rushed. Plus, what it’s really like to pack up your life into a suitcase.

#ThePauseProject #ExtendedTravel #TravelPlanning #SlowTravel #TakingABreak #LifeReset #LongServiceLeave