About

DSC00703We are Mike and Tracey from Sarasota, Florida, USA.  We are taking a sabbatical from our work and “living” around the world for the next five years.  Mike is taking a break from management consulting and Tracey is taking a break from work in finance. We sold our house, two cars and purged much of the “stuff” that uselessly fills the house and its closets.

We have entered what we are calling the “flipside” of our lives.  A life with the freedom to learn, travel, explore opportunities and follow our passions…where ever that may lead us.  We are not sure if this is the “A” side or the “B” side.  But since we like the unconventional, sometimes the “B” side (or the “less familiar aspect of something”) brings the best.

Why We Travel

We like to get entrenched in different cultures, new ideas, meet new people, make new friends and see new lands…and learn how the locals live. We think this is a most rewarding part of traveling.

  • Its an amazing planet we live on, a vast place with an incredible variety of beauty in life and landscapes.
  • We travel to see the beauty. Beauty is everywhere from the cities, big and small to the landscapes, near and far. It is in the people, in the stories, their kindness, smiles, tears and hopes of those we meet.
  • We travel to be humbled by the history, by the trials and tribulations, the harshness and resilience of this planet and the life on it.
  • We travel to learn about the current state, what’s happening…whats working and not working.
  • We travel for learning and inspiration from the optimism, innovations, hopes and strengths of others.
  • We travel to look, to see, to explore, to learn…to live around the world.

We are over three years into our five years of “living around the world” and now have traveled to over 40 countries!

Our first adventure, “Living Around the World 1.0”, launched in New Zealand for 4 months, then on to Australia for 7 months, then to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. We lived in Japan for 3 months. After a few months in Sarasota, Florida, we spent two months exploring Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

Living Around the World 2.0

Our second adventure included a fantastic ten-month journey around the globe that started in January 2018 with a 29-day, 3,000 km bicycle ride across New Zealand (Tour Aotearoa) and ended with a 6 week stay dog sitting in Budapest and a brief five-day tour of Lisbon in October. We also lived part of the year in some amazing places, including Tasmania, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Denmark, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Germany and the Czech Republic. We landed in the USA in late October, visiting family before returning to Sarasota in November.

And… Living Around the World 3.0!

Our eight country trip across Africa began in May 2019 and included Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda! What an amazing continent…much more to see!

If you wish, please join us on our next journeys as we document them in words, pictures and videos!

11 Comments

    • Thanks! No dog on the adventure…maybe when we grow roots somewhere. I remember talking to you both about your NZ trip. We are headed to the South Island Sunday on the ferry! Where are you both headed next? Any more Asia trips?

  • Thanks for the reply. We are headed to the Dominican Republic for 8 days on Tuesday and then likely Sarasota for the remainder of February and March. In the last two years we were in Greece, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Estonia on trips with a niece and 3 nephews. We are looking forward to “just us” this next trip.

    You will love the South Island. We were able to visit Christchurch where our hotel had a small fire, then took a train to Greymouth. Then we rented a car and visited the beautiful Hokitika Gorge, Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier. We finished our trip in Queenstown. I know there are a lot of sheep in New Zealand but I did my best to reduce their population.

    Enjoy your travels.

  • Hi guys, firstly, welcome aboard to the Land of Oz. i have read some of your posts here after meeting Mike in Metung today. i love your writing style, it is so easy to read and makes me feel like i am there with you. i look forward toreading all of them when i get time and ones in the future.

    Have a great time here and keep safe. Cheers adrian

    • Adrien, thanks for the warm welcome, the nice chat today and sharing the great scenery. It’s great to converse with someone in a “similar boat”. We are headed to the Mallacoota area tomorrow for a couple nights. Look forward to our paths crossing again at some point! Mike

  • Sitting here in Scottsdale sipping on my Cuppa Joe . . . and reading your latest adventures. The photography, the stories, the people, the places are all so enchanting. Looking forward to your next chapter!

  • Such an inspiration!! Living the dream for us all ! Thank you for making it possible to day dream through your travels ! Much good fortunes ,Health and happiness to you both!

  • Hi Mike its me Peter from Malaysia we meet at Belfast during the summer..i lost your business card but manage to recover it accidentally. how are you there..best regards.

    • Hi Peter, great to hear from you. We are in Budapest Hungary through October. Any travel planned? All the best!

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