#NerdsUnite: The journey is the destination
<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Ali. She and I bonded on Facebook a few years back over our love of everything Pete Cashmore. ::SIGH:: so dreamy. She is here today to talk to you all about her new adventure which included quitting her job and hitting the road. Pretty rad right? I only have one more thing left to say ... HIT IT ALI!!! </editorsnote>
#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @lifeon4wheelsUK
Hi! I'm Ali, aged 27 and I've been living in Nottingham UK for the last 8 years, stuck in a job going nowhere and a crappy run down flat. In the early hours of New Years Day 2011 on my way home from a party I witnessed a brutal, violet murder on the main high street in my fair city. That's when I drew a line, something had to change. I couldn't settle down in a city where this kind of thing happens, I had to get out.
My boyfriend and I had always chatted about going travelling but never settled on any sort of plan or route. As soon as we got home that awful night, we set about planning and as the sun began to rise on New Years Day an idea started to emerge. We'd get a campervan, we'd travel the coasts of Europe, we'd wake up every day to the sounds of the ocean. It sounded so beautiful and romantic but also so far fetched, neither of us could drive, never mind knowing the first thing about campervans!
We didn't let it stop us though. We hit the internet hard, studying up on the likely costs and what we could afford to do. We learnt about leisure batteries, solar panels, chemical toilets, inverters, insurance, breakdown cover...the list was seemingly endless. And we saved, oh god did we save! Every penny we could get our hands on went in the 'sunshine fund' and everything we could sell got sold. It was terrifying but liberating at the same time. We found a van on eBay in December 2011 and after some clever bartering it was ours. This crazy dream was finally becoming a reality.
I made a website and an Adwords campaign for a driving instructor in exchange for lessons and Chris and I both passed our tests first time. With that the final hurdles were gone. On Friday 13th January 2012, I quit my job. After 5 and a half years there I was terrified, so terrified I had to wear my Batman t-shirt for added bravery! It was all awesome though, in fact my boss seemed genuinely really pleased and excited for me. I worked my notice period, emptied the flat and am currently at my boyfriend's mums house making the final preparations on the van.
It feels like we've spent the last year climbing the steps up the high diving board and now its pretty damn scary standing at the top. On Monday we set sail for France with our little camper and we make our dream a reality.
We're writing a blog along the way at www.lifeon4wheels.co.uk and I'll be writing an exclusive weekly (pending wifi) blog for TNTML about our life on the road. You can also follow our blog on twitter @lifeon4wheelsuk or our facebook page.
I hope you enjoy the ride!