Kick-Ass Hosts: Mike & Catrell Cooney
All of our local kick-ass Meet, Plan, Go! hosts have inspiring stories of their own career break travels. In the time leading up to our National Event in October we will introduce them to you so you can see why they are part of our team.
Meet our Kick-Ass Orlando Hosts: Mike & Catrell Cooney
Cashing In On Your Dreams
After receiving an appraisal on our Orlando home in 2005, Catrell and I came up with a great idea. Based on its market value at the time, we would sell our house, pay off the mortgage and use the balance to take our three teenage sons on an around the world trek. However, for various reasons, we did not want to begin our odyssey until 2008, and delayed putting it on the market until then. Of course that just happened to be when the real estate market was imploding, which meant our timing could not have been worse.
The proceeds from selling the house were the only means of financing our ambitious plans. What to do? What to do?
We had made our sons a promise and were committed to making the trek a reality regardless of the sacrifices required. Fortunately, Catrell and I were of like-mind so it wasn't a question of if, but how. The housing market continued to worsen and we could see no improvement in the immediate future. Lacking a fat savings account, our only other asset was my retirement, which was loosing value almost as rapidly as the house. With no regrets then or now, we cashed in most of my retirement to make our dream a reality.
The first leg of our trek began on August 25, 2008 in Cancun, Mexico and lasted for nearly four months until we flew home from Sao Paulo, Brazil on December 12, 2008. We returned to our empty house in Orlando, and enjoyed time with our family over the holidays. In January 2009 we began planning the second leg of our trek, and cashed in nearly all of the remaining balance of my retirement. Our house finally sold a week before we departed, and we cleared one-tenth of what we had originally expected. However, we were happy to be rid of it and all of the financial responsibilities that go with what everyone lovingly calls home ownership.
The second leg of our trek began on March 1, 2009 and lasted for seven months. We spent two months in Southern Africa, two months in Southeast Asia, two months in Australia, two weeks in New Zealand and two weeks in Fiji before returning to the U.S. in late September. Combined with the first leg, we traveled to six continents, trekked through 22 countries and logged more than 61,000 miles by plane, bus, camper, van and car.
The purpose of our hair-brained idea was to expose our three sons to the world before starting college. As I always like to say, we spent the funds for their Ivy League education up front. Our philosophy then and now, is that "Travel is the ultimate education." The knowledge they gained, the people they met and the cultures they experienced were not something they could learn from a book. It could only occur by being immersed in a journey that taught all of us more about the world in which we live.
And in the process, Catrell and I believe we helped create better global citizens who have memories to last a lifetime, and will make travel apart of their future as well.
You can read more about the Cooney's family travels at Cooney World Adventure.
Leah on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 8:12 am
I really enjoyed reading your post. I am thirty-two soon and have itchy feet that are ready to try out foreign soils.
It is a fear of leaving the security of the day to day grind of paying the bills and living a safe and non-challenging way of life that has put me on hold for some time.
I hope (as it has I) your post will inspire others to go and follow their bliss – Leah 🙂
Patricia GW on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 8:54 am
Travel and experiencing a new culture really has put it into perspective, and filled that void with purpose (and joy).
In three weeks I’ll be moving to Paris myself for one month. I have the same feeling – the incredible surreal realization that I’m going to be living there…. it’s thrilling!!
Abby on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 2:11 pm
Oh, Jenny! Escargot isn’t palatable — it’s delicious! I love your writing style; it’s so fun and energetic. Can you believe how far we’ve come? Everyone, Jenny and I were in the exact same industry and have known each other online and via work emails for years and years. But we’ve only met once, many, many years ago. And one of those jobs she was sleeping next to her BlackBerry for was one I’d just left. And now she’s 33 and living abroad, just like I was last year. Kindred spirits. Jenny, you’re a true inspiration — I can’t wait to see how your adventure unfolds!
Debbie Beardsley on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 3:22 pm
Your life in Paris sounds ideal. It is nice to read about people who follow their dreams instead of wishing they had! Enjoy the rest of your journey.
Terriaw on Tue, 7th Jun 2011 1:40 pm
Wow, fabulous and well said! I love your new outlook on like. After experiencing career burnout and feeling a little lost and purposeless lately, you have encouraged me. I look forward to seeing Paris someday!
Jenny on Tue, 7th Jun 2011 6:50 pm
merci for all the sweet comments! @abby we are soooo kindred spirits! well except when it comes to our differing feelings on escargot…;) and congrats patricia on the move! thrilling indeed!
shawna on Thu, 9th Jun 2011 1:32 am
you’ve reawakened my travel bug. must. return. to. france. (someday.) eat a croissant for me!
Weekly Travel Blog Links — LandingStanding on Mon, 13th Jun 2011 6:16 am
[…] how badly I want to go to Paris… If only we could afford living there for an extended period of time during our travels! Any […]
G. Michael Schneider on Sun, 19th Jun 2011 3:36 pm
I am a firm believer in living and working overseas, just as you described. However, many of us actually like our jobs and our homes and are simply looking to renew and refresh our lives, not change it. However, you can have the same type of cultural experience without having to reach into your own wallet and without having to quit your day job–by taking what I call a “working vacation.” My wife and I have done this 15 separate times, from Australia to Zimbabwe, Turket to Tibet, Mauritius to Mongolia. I describe how to do it in my blog otherguysdime.wordpress.com and via Twitter at @otherguysdime. Learn how to have fun without having to have burn any of your bridges behind you.