Top Questions We're Asked About Our Gap Year

I found it fascinating to hear peoples first responses when we shared we were taking a 'gap year' but here's why it changed our perspective and i'd encourage you to do so. 

Over the last two years we started to share with people slowly the idea and immediately fear or excitement entered the conversation. The tone was either “woah…?” or “WOW!”! 

These were the questions that kept coming up in conversation. Some of these questions surprise me and some don’t. But all of them give a peek inside our mindset as to why we said yes to taking a Gap Year as a family! 

1. WHAT IS A “GAP YEAR” REALLY AND HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT?

A Gap Year used to be taking a year between college and real life when you would pack a back pack and hit Europe for a year before you put on your big girl pants. Now I see it a little differently. I see people or families pushing the pause button on their crazy lives. I believe it was the pause, the slow down, that called us in to explore the idea. 

This idea has been in the works for a few years now. The crazy “coffee talk” or “bottle of wine” big picture dream that is bright and shiny. A pipe dream. But then we said why not, we won’t get this time ever again. My job is mobile and we can afford (and choose to afford) this opportunity, why would you not say yes to yourself and the adventure. The “real world” will always be waiting for us. 

2. ARE YOU GOING TO SELL YOUR HOUSE?

This is really the first question 70% of people asked and it surprised me. It wasn’t around money or time or “How are you going to do this?”. It was around what you called home. The four walls that end up defining and shaping us as we grow up and then help to grow humans. It is a place of stability and safety so I can see why this question comes up. 

The short answer is no. For now we are going to keep it. See how the first few months of travel go. Our idea for the short term is for trips looks like this. Travel for 2-5 weeks at a time and then come back and reboot or repack. Then see what we need our house for and how often. Then we will decide if we are keeping or selling it! Until then it is our flexible base camp!

2. WHAT ABOUT WORK? HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO DO THIS?

Well this is how beauty weaves into the mix. The short answer is that as a Clean Beauty Boss my job is mobile. The demand for high performing, safe products has created an income for us that allows us the flexibility of time and money for our family. So I will continue to work on the road while we travel.

Dean was able quit his job 2 months ago and now is in the transition to becoming “Mr. Dean” the kids teacher and lead navigator and for our adventure. 

But I have to give Beautycounter the credit it deserves as being a huge part of the reason we are able to take this trip. The opportunity of this business opened up time and money for our family but I almost missed saying yes to it.

I was a Creative Director by trade and have always been in the creative field. You see, I was never looking to “sell” something, not my gig. But when I met Beautycounter, it just felt different. 

From day one, I knew I found something special in Beautycounter, I had been given new information that impacted my health and my families for the better and I could not keep that information to myself.  Plus, I could spot a beautiful campaign a mile away + all things beautiful and this brand totally fit the bill. 

It wasn’t about selling, it never was. It was about empowering & educating and then giving a solution through high performing products. People WANTED this information and I was happy to help them open the door to making better choices for themselves and their families. 

What I know is we all have one thing in common, we want the world to be a better place where we do not have to wonder if what we are putting on our skin is affecting our health.  

But what I love best is leading, inspiring & coaching women to create successful businesses that work within their lives. Today I lead hundreds of women in business as voices for Beautycounter across the country and as well travel I will be able to go where they are! That is so exciting to me! 

I can go see them in person in California, Maine, Iowa or Texas and continue to do what I love on the road. I can work behind a screen anywhere, from my phone or computer, by the ocean or the mountains so you better believe I am going to take full advantage of my mobility through work!

3. ARE YOU HOMESCHOOLING THE KIDS?

We are going to homeschool, roadschool actually. The kids will be in 2nd and 7th grade for our travel year. Prime age to learn and absorb in my mind. We are not involved in a ton of sports or activities (one activity for each child right now) so we are not tied to club ball or large commitments. And the kids are super excited! (Blog post to come in the future from the kids perspective!)

4. SO WHAT IS “ROADSCHOOLING”?

Roadschooling is a growing trend in which families pack up their belongings and hit the road to take the trip of a lifetime. Rather than teaching what is dictated by textbooks or state curriculum, these parents teach their children based on where the road takes them.

Our vision is what better way to write a report on the Grand Canyon than being at the Grand Canyon? Walking in it, on it, touch it, take in all the smells and see it with our own eyes rather than in a textbook! We are definitely all hands on learners so theoretically this should work well. We can’t screw them up that much within a year right?? This is where you nod your head yes.

We will all have our own travel journals (blog and traditional pen and paper) to document the adventure and learn simultaneously!

But don’t worry, these posts are about to get good when I report on the “real, real” that happens. And I will report on that as well here because I know it won’t be all unicorns and rainbows! 

5. WHERE ARE YOU GOING ON YOUR FIRST TRIP AND HOW ARE YOU PLANNING FUTURE TRIPS?

Our first trip is June 10th! We will be in Colorado for 2 weeks, connecting with my bestie’s family and exploring some of our national treasures and forests! The thought process was this- Go somewhere where we have support (aka... real house with beds to fall back on) so you can test it out. We don’t have to be 150% prepared and can work out the kinks and find out what we need (and don’t need) for our future travels. A trial run of sorts.

From here on out we hope that we let our curiosity guide our planning. What do we want to see and where have we never been. We also hope to pair education around these experiences too. 

Our hope is to help shape our families perception of experiences over things through how you feel and what you feel. You know that feeling you get when you think of your last vacation or your favorite place, I want more of that in our life!

Like Beyonce said, “If there’s one thing I am willing to bet on, it’s myself!” So today we are making a new definition for a Gap Year and will turn it into our own story!

So there is your peek inside! Join us for the ride.We are in the camp of life right now ready to explore, be bold and brave. This experience will not come without questions, surprises or challenges. But we excited to hit the road, create our own adventure and report back! 

Are these the same questions that you would would ask? What questions do you have around this topic? Is it something that has been on your mind? 

XOXO- 

Kelli