Money, Money, Money

Expenditures to Date:

• Great Britain Lonely Planet: $12.09 (with Borders Coupon)
• Nepal Lonely Planet: $29.99
• India Lonely Planet: $29.99
• Spain Lonely Planet: $16.49
• Trek Nepal Lonely Planet: $23.92
• Cycle Britain Lonely Planet: $23.92
• 2 Round Trip Tickets from Minneapolis to London: $2,774.00
• 2 One Way Tickets from London to Dublin: $170.66
• 2 One Way Tickets from Dublin to Seville: $364.35
• 2 One Way Tickets from Alicante to London: $170.26
• Membership to Camping and Caravaning Club (Britain): $68.34
• Passport Photos: $24.17
• FedEx Overnight Shipping for India Visa: $28.85
• Consular and Service Fees for Regular Visa Processing: $278.60
• Travel Insurance for 2: $780.00
• REI Gear (This includes a Rain Jacket, Hiking Boots, Bicycle Shoes and Pedals, and Bicycle Shorts for Joshua, as well as a Biking Jersey for me. For the two of us, we purchased Saddle Packs, a Cyclometer, and Lights.): $226.51 (with $50 dollar Gift Certificate)

TOTAL: $5,022.14


Predicted Expenditures:

• Lonely Planet estimates an approximate 50 euros per day in Western Europe. This equals $118.86 for 2 people per day. Because Joshua and I plan to stay in Western Europe for 3 months, the estimate comes to $10,697.40.
• Again, Lonely Planet estimates an approximate $30.00 dollars for two people per day in India and Nepal. For three months, the estimate for two people is $2,700.00.
• We have yet to purchase our round trip plane tickets from London to Delhi. We estimate that this will cost us $1,300.
• We also have not purchased our one way plane tickets from Delhi to Leh. We estimate that this will cost us $500.
• Once we arrive in Nepal, we will be required to purchase Visas and passes for the Annapurna. This will cost $180.

TOTAL: $15,377.40

We plan to slim down our costs by camping, bicycling, and staying with family while we are in Britain, and while we are in India and Nepal, costs will decrease while we are trekking and camping. For now, the generous estimate for a 6 month trip for 2 to England, Ireland, Spain, Scotland, India, Nepal, and possibly France is $20,399.54.

Although this may look like a perfectly good down payment on a house, or perhaps a really nice car, or maybe even a good chunk of our student loans, I think it's actually quite reasonable. During the past year, my cost of living was very comparable to - if not more than - $10,200 every six months, and while I feel the pull and good sense to consider buying a home or paying off our student debt, it's time to have some fun.

That said, Joshua and I are in a great position, and I would never want to gloss over our privilege and luck. We already have quite a bit of gear for camping, traveling and recreation (namely, a tent, sleeping bags and pads, backpacks, outdoor wear, bicycles, paniers, and a camera), and over the past two years, we've been able to save a great deal of money. We have no kids and no mortgage. With our budget, we've managed to pay for a wedding, go to Greece for a month-long honeymoon, and plan a 6 month, multi-county trip. Clearly, two years of teaching were good to us financially, if not emotionally :)

Everyone makes different choices. For some, the financial cost is too much or other things are more important. I've met plenty of people who are ultimately disinterested in traveling, and prefer to stay among friends and family in the security of what is known, sure, and comfortable. I get that. I'm sure in the months to come you will hear about the wear and tear that comes from the many unknowns, uncertainties, and discomforts of traveling. Inevitably, Joshua will get spectacularly sick, I will probably shit myself in some horribly public scenario, and the two of us will get absolutely fed up with the choking smell of pollution. I'm sure that I will vomit multiple times while on bus rides with poor ventilation and even worse suspension. I'm also sure that Joshua will start to crave cheeseburgers, pizza, and onion rings. We will want nothing more than to spend just one night in our bed with our sheets and pillows. We'll want to watch a movie. We'll want to see a familiar face.

All these are true; they've happened before (plus an absolutely nightmarish sunburn). But for us, it's worth it. For me, it's living the story and then telling it to you. It's a challenge, and it's constantly new, and I'm curious about both: can I do it? What's it like? For Joshua, it's the adventure and the sights. It's like a 6 month orienteering course or maybe Planet Earth live. And, of course, we love doing all of it together. People ask us if we ever get sick of each other's company, and the answer is no. This is not to say that I don't get snarky and he doesn't get crabby; we do. But the truth is, even when Joshua's on my last nerve, I'd still rather be with him doing what we're doing, than anywhere else in the world. He's my partner in crime, love, and home. He's my best friend.