You're doing WHAT? Well, honestly it's not much of an original idea. After starting our research, we were both surprised and relieved to find out that thousands of other people have travelled around the world and have posted their travelogues, experiences and photos on the Internet. Granted, it's not exactly all that common an occurrence, and I'm sure many round-the-world travellers initially felt the same trepidation, uncertainty, and excitement that we're feeling right now.

So how did this happen anyway? Well in June of 2002, we had just finished an incredible visit to China with our friends Scott and Rochelle. On the way back from Beijing to Seattle, we had a layover in San Francisco. Scott and I sat down in the airport lobby at SFO to have a cup of coffee while the ladies went off to get some tea.

In a rather sudden moment of clarity, the thought occurred to me that Jen and I always felt the most fulfilled when we were in a foreign country. I realized that I mark the passage of years by the trips we took: China this year, Malaysia the year before that, honeymoon in Egypt and Kenya, then there was Jamaica and Mexico...

Well that's not much of a revelation, of course you're happier on vacation. Ok, but then why then do we allow ourselves to be confined to the system-mandated two or three annual weeks? Do we really have to accept that? Why not experience more of the world? We were just getting into a groove in China when we had to turn around and return home.

Of course, returning from an inspirational trip like that leaves little room for logic and a lot of room for passion, especially in moments of such fantastic lucidity. Thoughts of mortgage, career, family are far and few between in moments of epiphany such as those!