A Life Without Borders

Book excerpt: What? Quit our jobs, sell everything, and take the kids on a 4 year adventure through the Caribbean and South America? Are we crazy? You will laugh out loud as you read the inspiring true story of a family who abandoned their crazy, stress-filled days to live a life of adventure. Carla and Dan were living what was supposed to be the American dream-the big house, successful corporate careers, and two young, wonderful children. But it all came at a cost-the constant stress of the weekly morning race to work and school, the tired weekends, a family headed in different directions, the struggle to keep it all together as effortlessly as everyone else seemed to be doing, and the overwhelming fear that the struggle to live this life was costing them a life of happiness. They knew they had to make a dramatic change, so over the objections of family, friends, and co-workers, that's what they did-they made a big change. Though not proficient sailors, they sold their house and most of their possessions, bought a sailboat, and with their six-year-old daughter and ten-year-old son, left on a four-year adventure, sailing through the Caribbean and backpacking through South America. "Everything that defined who we were was gone. Now it was time to find out who we are." They sailed down the Caribbean, battling the fears of storms, pirates, and homeschooling. Surviving those things and more, the foursome were not only surprised to still be talking to each other, but were inspired by how strong they had become as a team. Encouraged and emboldened, they left their sailboat in Aruba and backpacked through South America where they: Fought off biting ants in the Amazon Reveled in the beauty of Machu Picchu Observed penguins in Chile Hiked to a glacier on top of a volcano in Ecuador Stood star-struck in the remoteness of the Atacama Desert Wanderlust still not satisfied, their expedition branched out to the US. The family crossed the country by train and RV, where they became schooled in the art of RV parking by German tourists and learned the dangers of mistaking a fellow camper for a potato chip eating bear. The best part of their odyssey was connecting with other cultures and reconnecting as a family, learning they will always be stronger when they are together. Whether you can sail a boat, ride a bus, take a train, or just cross the street, Carla and her family will inspire you to live a life without borders.