A couple of years ago we wrote a post called “The Coffee that changed our lives” which told the story of how we came to the joint decision to leave our old lives behind and wander off on a life changing adventure. It described how we came to the conclusion over a couple of black coffees that we had to quit our jobs, sell the car, get rid of all of our possessions, give notice on our house, and go travelling.
The Coffee that changed our lives
What if we had never had that coffee and thus never had that discussion?
Quite a dramatic question and probably not really a valid question because it really wasn’t just the coffee that prompted our decision to change our lives. We had ‘sort of‘ decided that we were going to do something and had discussed travelling but it was that ‘coffee chat‘ where we said ‘Lets Go‘ and highlighted the date of June 1st.
But, say for arguments sake that we hadn’t gone for a coffee that morning and had never said ‘Lets Go‘ to each other. What might have happened?
What might have happened?
We had sold our family home and already got rid of 90% of our possessions but we were in a nice comfortable little rented house with a few odds and ends and a few bits of furniture. Still working full time too. So as I have already asked, what might have happened? Let’s imagine a few scenarios then for the past 6 and a half years.
- The Rental – stayed put in our little rented house and kept working in the same jobs. Probably upgraded our Renault Clio to a flashier 4-wheel drive and splashed out on a 50″ TV. A few new household items along the way but essentially just treading water until retirement.
- The House Upgrade – returned to the housing market and bought a new home in the Maidstone area. Somewhere a bit smaller than the family home that we sold but lots of new white goods and a fancy three piece. How exciting! Once again a bit of treading water.
- The Relocation – back in the housing market again but in a completely different place. Who knows where but a different part of England and perhaps looking for new jobs too. Huge changes of course but changing jobs at our age would have been so difficult and traumatic but a real adventure.
- The Cappuccino – the inevitable return to a cosy little coffee shop where we have a life-changing conversation about quitting everything and heading off into the sunset.
What’s the conclusion?
These are realistically the four different paths that we could have taken. Between you and me though I’m not sure that any of the first three options would have left us feeling content or satisfied at all. The big question of ‘is that all there is‘ would have remained.
So I suspect, in fact I don’t suspect I know, that we would have ended up somewhere drinking a cup of coffee and coming to exactly the same conclusions.
Any regrets on the decision that we took all those years ago? None whatsoever! I guess that we are now taking Option 5 where we look for a new home somewhere completely new after a brief seven year adventure. No chance of a 4×4 or a 60″ TV though!
06/11/2021
JWalking 
I believe life changing moments happen for a reason! We, just by chance, stopped at a community last spring and visited a couple open houses on a trip to North Carolina. Since then, we bought a lot at this community and are going to build our retirement home there!! ( Incidentally, we currently live in Iowa).
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A lot of life is just chance isn’t it? Just depends on what you do with the opportunities and how you handle those decisions. Sounds like you’ve got a big adventure coming up.
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I agree! And yea, we have a big undertaking coming up! We have some time though as my husband doesn’t plan on retiring for 3-4 years yet. Gives us plenty of planning time!
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Three or four years gives you a while to plan everything for sure. Could be a wonderful adventure.
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I’m certain you chose the path that was right for you and nothing can take back all those memories you made along the way of the people you met and the pets you cared for. Life is all about change and I think it’s best to embrace it.
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We wouldn’t have it any other way and don’t regret our choice one bit. Memories are so much more important than things!
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It’s amazing what one little cup of coffee can lead to isn’t it!
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All that trouble from a bit of caffeine.
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But most definitely worth it!
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Back in the 1980’s a bunch of us planned a weekend away in Tasmania. One couple pulled out because she wanted to buy a microwave. They were a big deal back then. We still laugh our heads off about that crazy weekend and I’ll bet Shirley can’t remember her microwave. So yes you did make the right decision.
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Love that story as it’s exactly what I meant. Possessions are not worth memories and experiences are they?
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On that trip one possession added to the laughter…my brand new yellow bikini which turned out to be see through when I jumped in the hotel pool!!
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That could have been what swung it for you then! Did you get many requests to wear it every time you visited the pool?
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In hindsight I should have gone swimming everyday, I had a figure 8 back then, now it’s a 0.
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Have you seen the movie, Sliding Doors? My guess is you would have ended up on the same pathway, just entering through a different gate. And my guess is you will still get your 60” TV, and you’ll still get a lovely home to put it in. We retired 8 years early with the expectation that meant any houses in the future would have been sub standard and barely a roof over our head. Our present house is exactly what I would have wanted if we’d kept working for that eight years and our TV is a good size too. There’s some amazing bargains to be had, and you’ve both learned a mass of skills in the past 7 years. You’ll be able to see the potential in a bargain priced hovel and then use your skills to turn it into a dream home. And when you do, I expect progress photos….
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Sliding Doors is a great film, seen it several times. You are so right Chris about having ended up on the same pathway. I think we would always have changed our lives in this way.
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Everything works out how it’s meant to and you’ve had the most wonderful adventures.
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We really have had the most amazing 7 years of adventures which we wouldn’t have changed for anything. All goes to show that these small moments can change your life.
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Congratulations for seizing the day! Life is what you make it.
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It really is, you have to make the most of every opportunity don’t you?
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Absolutely!
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For me, chucking in a job I detested thirty five years ago, without another job already lined up, led to a total change of life, lots of traveling, completely new career and divorce!
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Only live once don’t you? Shame about the divorce but the rest sounded great.
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Yeah, it was a little messy…
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I love that you cal it a “brief” seven year adventure!
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Ha I don’t like to show off too much so always tend to talk it down a little.
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Mate, you were always going! You’d been talking about it for ages. The question was just when you were actually going to go for it. Best choice you could have made too.
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I guess so, perhaps thats my point in that the coffee chat would always have happened at some time.
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Good for you to be able to move forward with no regrets and having had such an adventure. who knows what the future holds but you will always have those years of travel to reflect on.
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We’ll never regret making the decision to leave and cherish every single memory we’ve made. Another adventure ahead now .
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Very important coffee!! It was definitely the right move at the right time. Now just the relocation 🙂
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Yeah sounds so easy doesn’t it?
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Interesting to think about other paths you could have taken, but it sounds like you chose the right one! I often feel as though I’m treading water, but I’m nowhere near retirement age, so there’s quite a lot of it ahead of me. I think I’ll have to find my own alternate path one of these days!
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Life is full of opportunities cropping up when we least expect them isn’t it? Just need to make the most of those options I suppose. Different for everyone as we are all on varied paths.
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You chose the best path, you should be proud !
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I think we did, not regretted it for a moment and had so many amazing adventures.
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Totally agree, we have never regretted travelling fulltime for four years, longer if you include our motorhoming years. I think the out of your comfort zones makes for more resilience to life’s curve balls. I also believe there is a reason why things happen, though some are harder to work out than others.
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Everything seems to happen for a reason doesn’t it?
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You’ve certainly made the most of your seven years and i look forward to seeing where you go from here. Life is an adventure in my book so take it and run.
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It certainly is a big adventure Debbie. Just need to appreciate that and make the most of it.
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