As I sit here writing this, I experience a mix of heavy emotions. Last Tuesday, I was laid off after seven years of working for the same company. It seems there are a lot of layoffs across several software companies recently. I was making good money. But now, without that regular income, we’ve got a major problem. This change has thrown a curve ball in our lives, as my wife and I have been relying solely on my income to support our family. Our regular living expenses will suck my savings dry in no time. I need to do something quick or we’re headed for real hard times.
Thankfully, we do have a bit of a cushion, as I’ll be receiving some severance and we’ve saved some money. But there’s more to this story. I believe this could be an answer to a prayer for guidance. Something I’ve been praying about for a long time.
You see, my family and I are RVers. We love to travel and explore new places. My work was remote, which allowed us to live this nomadic lifestyle, in smaller doses. Here’s how it would work.. During the weekend we would drive. Then, we set up camp and I would work during the week, while my wife homeschooled our two girls. We spend our off-hours exploring the area, meeting new people, and forming new friendships. We’ve been doing this for years, but last year was the longest we’ve ever been on the road – over four months. This year, we had planned to travel for six months.
The thought about renting out our house to fund our travels had come up several times. But now, this decision has been thrust upon us. Looking for the positive in all of it, this layoff may be the push we needed to start a new chapter in our lives. It’s uncomfortable, terrifying actually, but I believe it could lead to great things. I trust in God. Sometimes I feel it’s the only thing I truly have. Maybe this is all part of His plan for us.
There’s a lot to do now. We need to get the house ready to rent out and move out of the home we’ve lived in for over seven years. It’s scary, and I can easily get overwhelmed if I think about it too much. But, with each step, we will walk and hope that we’re on the path the Lord has laid for us.
Well, this is the first post on Nomadic Novaks. There will be more. I hope you’ll join us on our journey.
Fingers crossed.
~Sean