One Month Countdown starts....NOW!

This little adventure started as a fleeting thought over five years ago.  Kind of like walking from one end of the Vegas Strip to the other, the end always seemed simultaneously way off on the horizon, and right there in front of us.  And now, here it is, exactly one month away.

We have paced ourselves pretty well in our planning, and we feel like we're in pretty good shape for our departure.  The jumbled pieces of our 1000 piece puzzle are mostly in place and we can clearly see the picture now.  We're in that last phase of puzzle building where it goes fast.  The empty holes and their corresponding pieces are clear, and a couple extra trips to the store, a handful of conversations, and a little tidying up around here is all that is necessary (at least we think that now).  We'll see about that on June 20.

The last major piece was education, and that seems settled now.  Autumn will enroll in an online accredited private school (Laurel Springs), and the boys will enroll in the Nicole & Steve Academy of Learning....

One final piece: Bon Voyage party!  If you need one last fix of Long Family, join us for a Bon Voyage party on June 17.  An evite shall follow.

A little side note:
When we talk about the trip with folks, nearly everyone asks what will happen with work.  Are you planning to work?  Will they want you back?  Are they ok with it?

As a Nurse Practitioner, Nicole has nothing to worry about.  She was mostly working independently for the past decade, so she'll just pick up where she left off.... unless, of course, our trip inspires her otherwise.

As for me....  I am so fortunate to have found a home away from home at Dome for the past 18 years.  Everyone at Dome, from the CEO, to my fellow partners, to all those that make the business hum along, has been incredibly supportive of what we are about to do.  I will officially be unemployed during my absence, with an understanding that I will pick up right where I left off upon our return.  Admittedly, I have feelings of abandonment, as I have spent the past couple years solely focused on companywide improvements and employee development, and I feel like we're really moving in the right direction.  But I trust that everyone will continue on and make me proud when I get back.  A special thank you to Rob Lynch, our COO, for truly enabling our family to wander the Earth with the peace of mind that all will be well.