2012 = 5 Years of Doin’ It for Ourselves
Break out the champagne. 2012 marks the 5 year anniversary of our No Vacation Required life.
We’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about our path to this way of living – where we strive for fulfillment rather than subscribing to templated notions of success and happiness – and how much the last several years have changed the trajectory of our lives.
We feel very fortunate and are eager to take things to the next level over the coming year. It’s an NVR 2.0 sort of thing.
Running (absurdly far) = the change agent.
It’s hard to believe that it all pretty much started when we took a “traditional” two week vacation to run the Paris Marathon and to explore some of Europe. I’m still not 100% certain how we came back home with the resolve and determination to rejigger our lives and leave our old careers behind. (Well, dragon-like bosses may have had something to do with it!)
We both vividly remember walking to the marathon starting line early that morning. It was unseasonably warm in Paris, and somehow things just felt different. No, it wasn’t just the massive doses of vitamin B.
We hadn’t completely figured things out, but we knew that this event – and especially all the talking during crazy long training runs – was about a lot more than running an absurd 26+ miles.
Traveling = the transformation
Next came visits to the final destinations on our “hit all seven continents” list – Africa, South America and Antarctica. We’d always been crazy about travel, but those adventures, in particular, were transformational. While exploring, volunteering and checking out other cultures, we had the brain-space (for once) and time (finally) to figure out what was next.
After all that traveling, pondering and plotting, we embraced uncertainty and began to build and navigate a new reality for ourselves – what we now call a No Vacation Required life. Unlike so many world citizens, we’re lucky to have a life where we can share our voice and exercise choice. We owe it to those who don’t have the same luxury to maximize our life and, at the same time, fight on their behalf.
So, in honor of our five year milestone, we’re launching the NVR Project. Since we’ve already found the sweet spot, it’s not a big change. At the core of our NVR life, we’ll still be working virtually so that we can travel deliriously and live deliberately. The NVR Project is primarily about doing it all a bit more boldly and delving further into what motivates and inspires us so that others might be influenced to do the same.
The world = our motivation
Seeing the world has taught us a lot, and we’ve become interested in many things – from camping/hiking adventures (on the one end of the spectrum) to snagging luxury travel experiences at value prices. We’ve also become even more passionate about serious things like the hunger crisis that is crippling many people. We’re doubly committed to spreading the word about what we find out in the world. Both the fun and the heaveyweight.
In the coming year – and beyond – we plan to even more boldly speak our truth with the hope that it, in turn, motivates others to do the same.
You = our inspiration
In addition to being more bold about those things that we’re passionate about, we’re excited to bring you into the picture. In the coming months, we’re going to start collecting/sharing the stories of people who inspire us.
It’s easy to find (and pay attention to) the nay-sayers in life. We want to highlight and reinforce the importance of focusing on the positivity of inspirers rather than the negativity of those that try to constrain awesomeness.
So, yep, we’ve got a lot going on all up in here. We’re excited to share.
Thanks for being a part of our lives. It means a lot.
We’re plotting a big 2012. That includes some incredible travel. In the comments, please share your favorite travel destination (and why). Help us decide where to go!
Congratulations on your 5-year NVR anniversary! What a great achievement. We all benefit from that too with all the stories you tell.
Of course I will recommend New Zealand. If you want to volunteer, why not try wwoofing? You learn so much about the locals and their culture in a few days of working with them. If you fancy Germany, try Franconia, it’s beautiful. Especially Bamberg.
Congrats on the anniversary! What a great milestone!
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!! Such an accomplishment!
Thanks, Andi!
Congratulations. Pretty cool what you have both accomplished.
Congrats! Love your NVR philosophy!
Congratulations guys! Here’s to another five…
Congrats on your 5 year anniversary! That’s awesome that you both have kept up with your dreams for so long
Such an inspiration to me (and other aspiring long-term travelers). Being in France was also one of my initial inspirations to see more of the world. Now I hope I can get to “surf” the worlds beautiful beaches 
Look forward to continuing to follow your journeys!
Thanks, Harrison. I think France is an inspiration for a lot of people. Be sure Bali is on your list for surfing
That moment must have been really magical at the Paris Marathon under the Eiffel tower on that early morning… I’m looking forward to see what will happen in NVR 2.0;)
Eiffel Tower in Paris is really fantastic looking even in morning without the shining lights visible at night! How I wish to visit that place…
Wow, hard to believe you have been doing this for 5 years! I had no idea you had been going strong for this long. I can honestly say I never would have guessed this started with a marathon in Paris either.
I love the passion you guys have and love your desire to travel and see the world as a way of helping people. Continued success in doing what you are doing and best wishes on your travels in 2012!
Congrats for both of you that are very fortunate and are eager to take things to the next level over the coming year.
Awesome! Have you really reached the bottom of the earth, Antarctica? It’s pretty lifeless there. Congratulations to your 5th yr anniversary.
-Missy
Congratulations guys! Here’s to another 5 years?
Congratulations!! That is a great feat accomplished and here’s wishing you many more!!!
Happy 5 years!!! How very exciting…… and I love the shirts! I hope you wore them all around town.
Boys, Boys, Boys! Congratulations on the Big 5! Wishing you continued great success & fun trying to make the world a better place one country at a time. You are such an inspiration! Very cool! big hugs, Kevin & Orlando
Congrats on your 5 years – certainly a milestone in the age of “quick onto the next thing”!
Congratulations! I have enjoyed keeping up with your journey. It would be good to see a picture of you guys now as compared to when you started 5 years ago. It will be interesting to see how you have changed.
Congratulation! What an accomplishment. You really are living life to the fullest.
Thats great! Travel is truly transformational. Congratulations on your wonderful accomplishment. We’d love for you to share more of your adventures with us. Come visit us at http://www.travelandescape.ca Happy Travels!
That’s an incredible achievement. I also made the decision to do more travelling after running a marathon. Perhaps there’s something in achieving something you never thought possible that gives you that extra boost of confidence you need to change your life so drastically!
Well done on making five years. It serves as a inspiration for everybody who follow your adventures. Raise a glass to the next five years.
Happy 5th anniversary NVR! Congratulations to you! You sure are the best in what you guys do!
Wow 5 years – congratulations. We’re 8 months into our around the world trip, can easily imagine how your journey has lasted so long. I’d also like to suggest New Zealand. So far our other travel highs have been Japan and Cambodia.
Congrats on the successful five years. Keep thinking of the positives and ignoring the Nay-Sayers!
Congrats! What an incredible life you’ve created for yourself. Very inspiring! I love the idea of travel being transformative. I completely agree that it is. It’s transformed my way of thinking as well, that’s for sure!
If you haven’t been to Nunavut in Canada, might I suggest that?
Thanks, Andrea. We’ll check out Nunavut.
Met you guys in Glacier on the Iceberg hike and you don’t even know how great it was to talk to people who were pretty much living the way we are hoping to. Hope you guys are having fun and congrats on the anniversary!
So glad you stopped by and wonderful to meet you on the trail!
I’m working so hard to find my way right now. Currently cultivating my nomadic translator carrier, paying off all my student loans, and then I’m off! Will definitely be back here to read some more tips about the transition to this full-time nomadic lifestyle.
Congratulations and happy 5 years by the way! =)
- Maria Alexandra
Thanks, Maria!