The Shadow Diaries
Real women - slightly unhinged - get real about the daily chaos of motherhood, business, relationships and everything that comes from life. From airing out the dirty laundry to actually washing it, we dive into the messy, beautiful, and hilarious reality of navigating life.
The Shadow Diaries
#56 - Choosing A Different Path with Guest Jess Gilpin
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Welcome to Unhinged and Unfiltered. Who Gave them a Mic. We're your hosts, steph and Lorinda.
Speaker 2:Warning getting triggered is not only accepted but encouraged here. This podcast will dive deep into conversations that make you really think about life. No top level BS here.
Speaker 1:Where real women get real about the daily chaos of motherhood, business relationships and everything that comes from life. From airing out the dirty laundry to actually washing it. We dive into the messy, beautiful and hilarious reality of navigating life.
Speaker 2:Tune in for unfiltered conversations, practical tips and tools that actually work and are easily applied, and a whole lot of laughs as we navigate the ups and downs of being a woman together.
Speaker 1:Hello, hello and welcome to another episode, and today's episode is super special in so many ways because I actually have a guest on today. It is also a very special day for her. It is an anniversary of what we're going to be talking about and also I met this person at my retreat and since then I feel like there's been like this instant connection. You know, when you meet somebody in life and you're like either I've met you in a past life or we just instantly connect. I feel like that is what I have with Jess, so I'm going to introduce her from my perspective.
Speaker 1:My perspective of Jess is she is a ray of sunshine. She is a ray of sunshine, but also like the ray of sunshine that you need when you need the truth, when you need, yeah, like the answer. You know, when you meet those friends and you're like I'm not gonna ask you because you're gonna give me the truth. Well, just really give you the truth wrapped up in sunshine. That's how I find her. She is also someone I also really admire, because she lives her life in a way that's in alignment to her, a way that's in alignment to her kids, the way that he's in alignment to what she really wants for herself. She is a go-getter, and I just really love that about her. So, jess, I would love if you could also introduce yourself.
Speaker 3:Oh, thank you for that. So who am I? I am a coach, a mother, and I a wife. God, it can't be a mother without one. And we live in our van caravan 24 7, and it's amazing, it's a lot, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I feel like you have so many different roles and like the exciting part about today is we're actually going to be talking about what you mentioned of like living in a caravan 24-7. And I just love that you have so many different roles and you're still living in a life that's in alignment to you. To kick this straight off, how did you even get to that decision? Is this a dream that you've had for a really long time, or is this something that just came up to you in adult life?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I reckon it came in adult life. I always said let's go travel the world and we'll do Australia when we're older, like when we can go travel, blah blah. So I've always traveled. Like I've worked in um the travel industry, I've worked in hospitality, doing travel, like it's travel is just a big part of who I am. Like we went to Europe for three months for our honeymoon, like it's just that's what we do. So to be traveling with the kids isn't doesn't really come as a surprise, but to be doing it long term, I think, is what the surprise side of it is.
Speaker 3:But yeah, so we brought a caravan when our first was like six to eight months old and it kind of was like had been a pipe dream but back then and it just kept evolving. And then the thing that made us go all right, we're actually doing this is that we'd been chatting with some friends and we were both like you know, we'd say, oh, yeah, we'd move back to this state, da la, la, and you know, you talk about this for six months to a year but nothing was ever happening. And then we went away and we came back and when we came back they told us that they were moving, stuff had happened and they were moving and within two months they'd moved. And when they'd made that decision, I said to adam and I was like, well, if they're doing that, why what is stopping us from traveling? Like, why are we not doing this? Um, and from then the ball got rolling. It took us. So we decided the january, maybe february, that we were going to go, and by the time everything was sorted was august.
Speaker 1:Yeah, wow, so, yeah, crazy. So I guess, for the people who are listening, there's probably a lot of people who are like, oh, I really wish that I could do that. What were some of the reasons that you guys were hesitant to do?
Speaker 3:it. The big one would have been money and some money and the comfortable, like staying in that same comfortable lifestyle, like we weren't enjoying, like honestly we weren't enjoying life. Um, we were not in a good place. It just felt like groundhog day he was working long hours, wasn't seeing the kids much, and then he'd have all this time and it just, and then we weren't seeing each other, like it just it wasn't working and we knew something needed to change. We'd been doing stuff and then I think this was the final straw, that we're like, yeah, and it's so much better yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:So I can hear, like the groundhog day, like doing the same thing over and over again, for you guys, that's not something that you really value, it's not something that you want to be doing all of the time. Apart from the money and the comfort zone, was there anything else that's like? Because for me, when I hear that I think I'm a very routine-based person I'm like oh my god, can I go traveling with the kids? Is that going to be good? Is there any like societal conditioning that came in during this decision? Or even like slightly for you guys?
Speaker 3:yeah, definitely. Or, um, it's like, how are you going to school them? Um. And then it's like, what social things are they going to do? They're not going to be seeing those same people, they're not going to be seeing their family, they're not going to be like doing all that.
Speaker 1:So it's more like the societal things around the kids, not around us yeah, yeah, okay, and I can imagine like that would have played a huge impact. Did you guys have a lot of support in this decision?
Speaker 3:um, mixed. Some people were really supportive and some people were like, how is this going to work? More like that fear of the unknown, because it and it wasn't something that they valued and was on their radar, so it didn't make sense to them. So it was more like that kind of hold back versus the what are you doing? Kind of yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:But I just I just knew that travel was it was always going to happen, like it just it was a matter of timing, I think. And then making those decisions go like yes, that's happening, let's keep going.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. And I guess, when it comes to the kids and like how are you managing living in a caravan with them all the time?
Speaker 3:Some days are better than others. But the way I look at it is that even if you're at home, your kids are still going to tantrum. The kids are still going to have these things, they're still going to have their explosions. They're still going to have that because, at the end of the day, they're still human. Like we just now get to do it in a better environment or a better scene, and it's not the same scene every single day, which is so cool. So you know, like we get to do that, which I love, um, which I don't know if I'm jumping the gun here, but it's I've.
Speaker 3:I can see the difference in them. Like before we left, um, our daughter was like that shy, anxious person, um, to the point. Like her brother is two years younger than her, so when we went and did her kindy orientation, he was off playing with the kids before her. So she's had that like held back reservedness about her. Um, at christmas time we're at a random playground and she went up to a kid and was like hi, my name's blah, blah, harold. And like how old are you? She wouldn't have done that the four months prior to when we left. Like there was just absolutely no chance of that.
Speaker 3:And then with our son, he was not a water kid like at all. He would go swim, but if he like he'd jump in the water but you'd have to catch him so his head wouldn't go under. Like if we went to the beach he would play in the sand and we'd all be in the waves, like he. Just water was not his thing. Now he's like he's figured out how to swim on his own now, without a vest or anything. Um, and just the other day they were jumping in the water and he swam to the other side of the pool and I was just sitting on the edge of the pool and didn't have to be in with him. Like that wasn't going to happen back home. Like it can, and I'm not denying that, but it he wasn't interested at all. Like it was, swimming lessons were a lot. Yeah, so it's I can see.
Speaker 1:That was going to be my next question about how they've changed, but how? I would love to know how have you and adam and your relationship like? You mentioned that you guys weren't exactly in a great place while living the conventional lifestyle. What about now?
Speaker 3:There's always work to be done, so it's not like we have a perfect relationship. But in saying that, it's just nicer. We talk more, we get on better, we joke more. It's just that fun has come back.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, I love that. I feel like in relationships, the first thing that tends to go is fun. So to hear that like yes, there's still things to work on, but like the fun and and all of that have come back, especially because in relationships when you have kids, the friendship tends to be all around the kids, but you guys have other things. Now you've been doing this for a year today. Yep, a year today. I would love to know in that year, do you have any main core memories?
Speaker 3:do you have any main core memories? I snorkelled on the Great Barrier Reef for my birthday last year, so that was really cool. But I think it's like we've seen some amazing things, like we've been up to the tip of Australia, we've seen all of Roo, we've seen the amazing beaches, seen so many crocodiles, like and they're amazing and I love them. But it's the random, like when we were in Cairns and Matilda's walking along and she's just dancing, you know, like it's those random things that make sense or make sense. And like having the kids just randomly doing something and giggling. And even just recently, um, the we've just. We were off grid for 22 days and we ended up in a convoy of four families and the fun that we all had, all the kids getting on, like that's the stuff you remember is making those friendships and like being able to travel together and yeah, yeah it's a little bit yeah, now, I guess, from here today, what would you tell them?
Speaker 3:There was an airplane going over just then, so it was that. I know I can hear it. That's so funny. We're so close to the airport, so is that? What would I say to somebody who wants to? No, what would you say to the?
Speaker 1:past version of you that, jess, that started on this trip.
Speaker 3:Just do it Like, you won't regret it. Yeah, it's life-changing and you knew it would be, but in ways that you didn't expect.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's life-changing and you knew it would be, but in ways that you didn't expect. Now, I guess the other thing that I'd love to talk about, if you're open to talking about it, is how do you guys do all these amazing things and ensure that? Well, how do I word that? A big thing that stops a lot of people is finances, and how have you guys managed to do that while also living in a caravan? I feel like that's a big topic that a lot of people don't talk about?
Speaker 3:Yeah and it is, and I think that's there's no right or wrong way. Like everyone does it so differently. And once you're on the road, you start chatting with people, and everyone does it so differently. So for us, um, we had two houses and we sold our investment house, so that has funded it for us, um.
Speaker 3:But then I've got others that have businesses and they go and work. Those or like can have residual income, or like they're the owner. So then they've got all their workers, um. And then there's others that will go and just work and they'll go and say, pick, they'll work.
Speaker 3:Some people work one day, some people work four days, and they just stay put for that, and the others go off with the kid, like the other parent will go and do stuff with the kids or whatever it is, um, or you just stop and pick up work, which is what I think we're about to go do, as, like my coaching gets going off, we'll get that going and he'll go, and one of us can go and do some work and pick up work, um, and you just stop for a couple of months or a month and you just do that. So it's. It's what works for you, because there is. Everyone is so different and every like, even in the travel community, who we're all like-minded in that we're all traveling and living in our van. Even how we're doing it is so different.
Speaker 1:How we're funding it is so different for everyone yeah, I think I love that you talked about how this is something you guys know with other people, how they've been able to do it and there is so many ways, and I think that just really shows that once again, there's a break of conditioning here, right, because a lot of people are like cool, like let's, you guys obviously have a different story, but a lot of people like let's save up, and then saving gets really hard because life gets really expensive and then it just keeps going back on the back burner, where a lot of people that you've spoken to is like, okay, cool, let's do it and let's figure out a way.
Speaker 1:Do I need to go and pick up casual work? Do I have a business that I can make online? And I think that's really cool, that this is something that you've been able to talk about with other people. You've just mentioned, like you guys, going to this next chapter. Obviously, the investment house funded the last year. Tell me a bit more about what that next chapter looks like for you guys.
Speaker 3:Oddly enough, I was actually thinking about this this morning, because we're in that limbo phase of like are we going to make this work and do it full like indefinitely, or are we going to be home in, say, february? And I was thinking about it this morning. I was like, well, right now we're in limbo, but until we actually make that decision, it's not going to happen like we're waiting to get work to go and say, yes, we can keep going, but I'm. Then I was like, actually, no, we just need to make that decision that we're going to stay on the road and go get work. Like it's um, so we're in that decision making stage of what we want to do.
Speaker 3:I don't want to go home. Um, the thought of going home will excite me, but it does not excite me right now and I'm so okay with that. Um, I love how much time we get to spend with the kids. Yes, they annoy me, or both of us. We get to do it like how cool that we get to see all these moments and we get to help them and all that like and it's yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:I love that, and I guess the other question I have for you then is with the kids and their schooling and stuff like that in this next chapter, because obviously you have young ones but in this next chapter, how do you want to do that? What does that look like for you?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so our daughter has missed prep because they don't need to be registered till they're six, so we don't need to worry about that. However, we will need to do year one. So there's lots of online programs. The main one I think I'll look at is School of the Air, but even if traveling is something you guys want to do, there's a page called Caravanning with Kids Australia and on there you can go like you put up your questions, and there's so many different options of ways to do the homeschooling whether you do it like a distant ed and you have someone else give you the curriculum, and there's like you can do it through your school, like if you're going for a year, you can do it through your schools at some people.
Speaker 3:But yeah, for us, I think I would look into School of the air and just do it that way. And I've also heard people now saying that chat gbt is their best friend when it comes to like spitting out their curriculum for them and stuff, and I was like why not? Chat gbt does everything. Let's get it to make that for us too, like so cool yeah, yeah, I love that as well.
Speaker 1:How have you changed? I feel like I just have so many questions that come into my head. But how have you changed as a mother since going from living that conventional lifestyle to living in the caravan and this life?
Speaker 3:I've always said I was a patient mum.
Speaker 3:I'm not. Yeah, I think so, yeah. So I think I've got a high tolerance of patients for them. Now I still snap and I'm still human and I'm still learning and growing, but I definitely have more patience for them. But I also get to know them more intimately as well because we're with them so often.
Speaker 3:But then the downside of that is that you don't get to miss them. So when we've had our little like I've gone away three times and it's been interesting seeing how they've responded and their reactions, and like they're not wanting me to go, and things like that, so that's been really nice and adam's had two or three trips himself. So we've had I suppose we've had that missing in that bit um, but yeah, it's just that we get to be with, like you get to know them better because you get to see all those little aspects of them more often rather than just seeing it here or there, or like you get the after school hours of them. You know we're getting the whole day. So we're getting the whole day of emotions and the whole day of like learning and growing and yeah, so I think as a mother I'm my patience is there, but also it's more the the learning and understanding them more yeah, I love that and I love that.
Speaker 1:Like, yeah, spending the whole day with them and also getting the range of emotions, like you're not just getting like the after school, like frustration or annoyance, but you're getting it through the day, but also the happiness and and how they respond and how they react, and I think that's so beautiful and I also think it's really cool for you just to be like, yeah, I we've had trips away because, like, my biggest thing is like I mean I'm with my kids majority of the time, unless they're at school, but I'm like spending all my time with them and not not knowing that, like in that year I'm going to have time by myself. But you've just mentioned, like, as it's gone away, you've gone away. How have they responded when you've left and come back?
Speaker 3:the excitement I remember the first time I went away. I was crying at the airport when I got to see them. It was so I was like, oh, I had also just been away for a week of school, so that was a big curve, so I think that was also part of it, but it was just yeah, it was really cool coming back to them and then the other times, like they've not wanted me to go and which is a nice feeling, that they don't want you to go and they don't want you to leave, because that they got used to us going and like you know, we're going to work or we're going and seeing our friends or whatever. So they'd gotten used to those things. So it's nice that it's that.
Speaker 3:But it's also hard because they're so used to you being around that it's like, oh, what do we do now? But the other parents are so fine, like there's no issues, the parent has them and they're okay, like we even um, we actually went away three days for a wedding and left them with um, his parents, and they had the best time. Like it's so nice that they get to have that one-on-one time as well, like yeah, yeah, I love that.
Speaker 1:the other thing that you mentioned earlier that just popped into my head how the heck do you manage living off grid?
Speaker 3:We upgraded the caravan Because beforehand I'm not even kidding that's the main reason we upgraded. So, yeah, we were one of the crazy ones that upgraded mid-trip. So beforehand we would go three, maybe four days once a month off grid and we had an inverter, which is because I had no idea what this was, is basically the thing that you can get power to your van when you don't have power to plug in. So our inverter was very tiny. We could do the kettle once and we could do the toaster, and that was it. So we only had gas cooking, no TV, no microwave, like none of that, and that was fine, but it wasn't feasible. And then we upgraded and we got an off-grid van which now has lots of solar and has a bigger inverter. So now we can have the power on, as long as the solar's keeping our battery going, and we can have the TV on if we need quiet time, we can do the kettle, we can do the toaster, we can charge our things and it's it, and we can cook, because we don't have gas cooking in this van. So we're able to do all those things and it's just keeping the solar up to topped up and, worst case, you have a generator. We don't have one and we've not needed one.
Speaker 3:We've had a couple of close calls, uh, we've had. So our battery system beeps at us when it goes to 24. We've had that a couple of nights. So we like, quickly, go turn um the 12 volt, 240 volt, whatever the other battery the other source is, um, turn that off so that it will stay on overnight and then get the charge up the next day. But yeah, it's so good.
Speaker 3:And I think when we did the 22 days, we had, I think two, oh no, we had a six day stint and then we had two three day stints and then everything was one or two days. So because you are moving a bit more, you can charge it up. There was, although, one of those one-nighters we'd parked in the shade and then we didn't leave until late in the afternoon and we're like, yeah, we'll be fine because we're going to drive the next day, like it's not an issue, and then we didn't leave till the afternoon and yeah, so that was a bit hairy, that one. But then the next day it will pitch back up and it's just, it's part of the cat, is part of the off-grid life. Like Adam is constantly on this battery system, like he's like oh, can I do that, can I do that? Like, yeah, it's that's. He's like if we're off-grid, that's his thing, like instead it's not blowing mowing lawns anymore, it's checking what the battery system's at. Yeah, thank you.
Speaker 1:I think that's a really cool thing, because I was just like. It sounds like it's literally just a moving house and you just have to be really resourceful at times, and I think that's funny. It's like I've traded this for this. So can you run us through what like a day like?
Speaker 3:I mean, your day is different all the time, but like if there is some form of pattern that you guys have, uh, slow mornings they are our general thing, like it's um, yeah, I half the time we're not out till 10 o'clock because we're not out till like 10 am, because we're just enjoying breakfast and having nice slow mornings.
Speaker 3:We'll go do an activity and then come back and chill, or we'll go like have a whole day activity, might go out for dinner, maybe once every two weeks, I reckon, we'll do dinners and, yeah, we just yeah, but it changes every day depending on, yeah, where we are as well, because there might be spots where we are in the chill zones and then there's other spaces where we're just in the activity. Like, we've just like, when we were in the 22 days off grid that was, we were doing hikes, we were going to gorges, we were like you know, but then we had um in the middle, there was like a three-day stint where we were just at a river, so you were chilling and you'd just go do a splash in the water because it wasn't a deep river, you know. So it's got both and I think that's what I like the most is that, no, two days look the same yeah, I love that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I guess, with all of these things, what has been the hardest lessons? Like those moments where you're like, oh, this is really teaching me or it's really pushing me, because there's so many like positives and, like you've talked about, like the duality of like. Yeah, there is moments where it's a bit hairy and it's a moment where I snap at my kids, but like, has there been moments where you're like, wow, this is showing me a lot right now?
Speaker 3:there have been moments where you're like, wow, this is showing me a lot right now. Yeah, so we had I remember we've had my worst week. We went to this amazing town and we did the off-grid stuff because we're like the caravan park was ridiculous. So we just went to this off-grid place but was such a weird vibe like it was just bizarre. So then that's put us in a weird mood and then it's raining all for three, the three or four days plus we're off-grid, and so it was just weird. And then I found out my friend passed away. So that whole week was just like this. It was just.
Speaker 3:It was just one of those horrible weeks and neither of us had patience for the kids and it was. And then the kids needed all our attention but there wasn't really anything for them to do because there was no playground or there was no other kids around. But then we weren't like so that was a really hard week, um, and then it's just you have, you'll have a random day because you're a human and you just have an off day and you've got no capacity for anyone else. But there's no escape. Like, unless I try and go for walks, I had stopped for ages. I've just got back into them and that's how I find my. I can get myself, get my own time. So it's about finding your way to get your own time, just like when you're at home. You need space from everything, like, yes, you might be away from the kids all day, but then you're focused on your work or your business, so then it's how do you get your space? It's like just doing the same thing. I reckon yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:And how is it to be like away from like, like, obviously, like with your friend passing and all of that? Is it something that it's come up a few times for you? Like damn, I actually just miss home because of the people, or I miss home because of the stability. Like, has that come up for you?
Speaker 3:a lot during this year. No, however, we have a very different situation in that his family was a five-hour drive away and mine was in a completely another state that we had to take a three-hour flight to, so we didn't have that family support before we left anyway. Take a three-hour flight to, so we didn't have that family support before we left anyway. Um, and so, because of that, for us this leap wasn't as hard. Um, we still don't have that like. We don't. We don't have access to go see them. Like that.
Speaker 3:His family was five hours away, so it's not that big of a drive. If something's going on, they're there like, or we're there like it's not a thing. Um, and yeah, like you know, like I said, mine's a plane right away so we can still access each other even now, like you're still in the same country. So if anything goes wrong, you can get, you can get home, you can get to wherever, like, you can drive. If, worst case, you can hightail it and you with be from. I reckon you could be from Brisbane, no, broome, queensland, top of Lake WA, down to Melbourne, not that we're from Melbourne. You could be down there if you were hightailing it. You could be down there in four days to a week, you know. So you're never that far away from having the support. Just don't come onto the screen please, okay.
Speaker 3:Kid life, yeah, yeah, so it's just that it wasn't really a thing, um, but you do miss being able to just go back and see something really easily and then back home, our friends and stuff. So we'd started to get the communities, you know the, the mum community and stuff like that. But also we're also busy. We all lead such different lives. It's like you see each other once every couple of months anyway, because that's when suits for both of you.
Speaker 1:So we haven't missed that like we do miss our friends, don't get me wrong, but it's not like it's do or die for us yeah, that makes sense, and I think what you said was really important because I'm like oh, I have like a little base where I am now, but how often do I actually see them, how often do we actually get to spend time together?
Speaker 1:And it's like, it's almost like for me. I mentioned at the very start like I'm very much routine based, like I'm very much like I love my home and I'm a little hermit, so I was so interested to chat to you, but it just really feels and sounds like it's it's similar and it has its different problems, but they'll always be good and bad to both situations, right. Like me, living at home means that I don't get to see certain things, and is it, and like even you mentioned, with the kids, like my kids go to school. Your kids are learning through experience, which I think when we went to Canada last year, it's like, oh, I understand why people do this, because the things that you know my kids were seeing is things that we don't get to see in the place that we are. So it's like really like beautiful to hear you talk about these things and the good and the bad Like come up, just like someone is like, yeah, cool, I live this freedom lifestyle.
Speaker 1:Now, something that I wanted to talk about as well, and this come up at the retreat Is that the projection part of this right, the judgment, part of like living this way? And how many people have you found that have judged you or projected onto you, because we had my beautiful support person who ended up sharing at the end that, like, yeah, there was a little bit of like judgment at the start, but it also came from a place of like you're living a life that's in alignment to you and people get jealous of that. So does that come up for you during this time?
Speaker 3:honestly, no, like even with that one, I've actually I'd already forgotten about it, I think, because it doesn't impact me like I'm going to living. That is like some judgments will impact me. That is not one of them, like I just I'm like, cool, that's your opinion, um, and I think, like I was saying at the beginning how, like about leaving, how we had some of that and that was more like that fear of the unknown and like that, and it'd be these judgments and the values differences. So I think there was some of that at the beginning and the worry about how schooling's going to look and things like that. But I actually more get messages, especially late, like the past couple of months I've been noticing like that appreciation or like the oh my God, you guys live such an awesome life. I'm getting more of that than I am of the how could you do this? Like? And if they are, if they have those judgments, they're not passing it on to me and if they are, I've obviously forgotten all about it.
Speaker 1:So yeah, and I guess that's like what happens when you start to really live in alignment with what you want, right, because it kind of like well, this really doesn't bother me, like this is not something that activates me, I'm doing it and it just also sounds like the gift. Like from everything that I've been listening, it's like the resourcefulness, like there's always a problem but there's always a solution. Like you mentioned the kids schooling okay, we can go online. Like you mentioned, work okay, we can go and get one. Like it just do you feel like that's changing your personality as well, or is that something that you've always had and now it's just like tender, because you have to be in resourcefulness all the time?
Speaker 3:I think it's something I've always had like and I'm gonna relate it back to travel. I remember in year 12 I went on a China trip. I had no money. I would book trips all the time and I had no money. But yeah, I somehow managed to make them work and I'd get the money thanks bank of dad for some of those but I still had the money. I still made it work like it's. So I think that's always been a part of me and this like it's.
Speaker 3:But yeah, now it is, it's a lot more tenfold and it's, I suppose, now the other part aspect of that is like back then, when I was always doing that, it was about me, it was only I only had to think about me, whereas now we've got the family to think about, we've got the kids to think about, so you know, if something doesn't happen, what, what happens next with them. It's that kind of it and I think the security in that for me is that, no matter what, we've always got somewhere to sleep, like we've got our van. We've got somewhere to sleep, even if we can't get into a caravan park or we can't get into a hip camp or an off-grid or a wiki camp or whatever. There's always somewhere to sleep. Um, even you know you pull over on the side of the road, you go into random stops, or if you're in a town and you can't get any, you go, pull on the streets. No one cares like you. Just if it's for one or two nights, you're okay.
Speaker 1:So yeah, yes, nope nope, uh, first off, so freaking hilarious, did you say dad, like bank of dad? Yeah, when you were talking yep, that's so funny. Thanks, dad, um, but yeah, it's just yeah, that makes so much sense because it's always like if you want something bad enough, you'll figure it out and like that doesn't happen.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and that's it travel like.
Speaker 1:if you want something bad enough, you'll figure it out, and this comes into my next question. You mentioned at the very start, when you introduced yourself, that you were a coach, and I want to know how that journey has been for you during this travel, during this change of lifestyle, during all of this. How has that journey been?
Speaker 2:going.
Speaker 3:It's an interesting journey. So just before we left I'd started doing a modality, like I'd been using a certain modality, and I did one call once we'd left and that was good. And then I was like okay, I want to get used to travel. And then we did um the cape, and I was like I am not doing any calls up there, like that was just too insane for me to want to try that. And then um and then post that.
Speaker 3:I just kind of kept having so many excuses for anything and everything. And then when I went to the retreat with you, it was reflected back that I was already a coach and I'm just blocking myself. So now it's, I'm like, nope, it's done, I'm a coach, let's get this going, because I have so much to offer. I have such different perspectives and no one's the same anyway, like it's. So it's just doing that and I love that. When I do the calls that I can, I can do them in the van and I can do it on the road, and it makes absolutely no difference to where I am. I can still do them in the van and I can do it on the road, and it makes absolutely no difference to where I am. I can still do them, like you know. I just like look at at the minute. We've got a big, huge palm trees in trees in the background.
Speaker 1:How amazing is that, like you know, so yeah, yeah, I think that's so beautiful, especially that end piece of like how many times I don't know if you've had this, but like you've been approached and you're gonna live the freedom lifestyle and like, and then it just somehow bumped you down into like working at nine five anyway, because it's like things that you need to do, but it's kind of just like your journey's been the opposite of like I'm living the freedom lifestyle and now I get to integrate coaching in, because it's kind of like in my opinion, you did a really beautiful thing of going cool, let me just get settled in.
Speaker 1:Let me get settled into the life. Let me get settled into this. Now I know that I can see that I'm settled. Where am I avoiding it? And now you're not. Now you're like cool, I'm settled in all these ways and I get to bring more of me in, because I guess the benefit of traveling long term is that, even though it's like chaos and there's a different day and it's never the same, there's still a rhythm that you guys are having.
Speaker 1:There's still, like you know, a relaxation into this because I know the first couple of months may have been a little bit hectic and it can be hectic at times but now you're able to integrate different things laptop power so that is so beautiful. So I guess for you in the next, yeah, like what do you want your next 12 months to look like?
Speaker 3:the first word that came to my mind was structure, which is so funny yeah, right, I know which is so funny, because we know how much I'm avoiding structure and that set routine, but I think it's more the structure of being able to do the freedom and the business and that finding what that looks like for me because it doesn't look the same for everybody, you know, and some people will do it from home and then go on holidays and still work and it's finding like what that looks like for me and figuring out how I get to be a business owner with the kids at home 24-7, and looking and just finding the structure around. That, I think, is what the next 12 months looks like. Yeah.
Speaker 1:And do you think you'll still be travelling in the next 12 months?
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, that's not even a hesitation, like I'm thinking about it, but I'm like that's not even a hesitation, I'm thinking about it, but I'm like that's not even a hesitation, like it's yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I can definitely see this happening. For a few years, you can homeschool and the way I look at it, like, let's say, for some reason they are behind in something when we go. If we, when we go, put them into traditional schools, you get a tutor, you know, but also they might be behind in book sense, but then they're going to have so much more street smart about them, they're going to have so much more experiences, they're going to have confidence in other things and you know. So then really that's going to lead to their ability to learn and be able to pick things up, because they've figured out other ways of like being doing that.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, that makes a lot of sense and I think, yeah, it's so beautiful to hear for you like this is something that's so alive that you're like I'm going to be doing this for years and I can see you doing it for years. So anyone listening, anyone who is currently like I'm living, you know, a very traditional, conventional lifestyle, but I do want to be traveling. What tips would you have for them? What would you want to say to them?
Speaker 3:it's figuring out why you want to do it and because, once you've got your, why you can go. You just the rest of it follows, like you know, like I said, we sold our house. Um, some people sell their main house and they will sell everything. Um. Others go and do, like the online businesses there's so many different types of online businesses. Or you can go get casual, like admin stuff, and do them online, like there are so many different ways. Or even if, um doing it that way doesn't work, then you go. Okay, we can travel for two months and then we're going to pull up stumps at this place and find jobs there for three months, like. Or you know, you could even try Woolies or Coles and then just get transfers for your things. Like there's always ways to do it. And when you think there's not, it's because you're stuck and you need to go do something else to figure out your way to get there. Yeah, because if it's what you want, you'll get there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like, what do you really want? If this is what you really want, how are you going to make it work? Because there is always ways yeah, and any like last advice or last words. You would want to tell that person, like, if someone's like I really like I really want to travel, like I really want to do this, aside from the money, what else would you tell them? What else did you need to hear?
Speaker 3:okay, I would say you only regret the choices you don't take. But that's not what I needed to hear, um, because our final pushing point was our friends doing their lifestyle change and it happened within a couple of months. So it was like, why aren't you? Yeah, why aren't you? What's holding, what is stopping you and what's holding you back, like what is your fear around it? And if it's other people's judgments, are they the ones paying your bills? Are they the one living your life? No, so just do it remember that.
Speaker 1:Let's do it. I find jess the sunshine, but she's the truth in the sunshine, and I think that was very like you went to go motivational and then it was just like just do it. And I love that. And I love the questions Also very coaching as well, like what's holding you back, what's the fear here? And I think that question is something that can go across the board.
Speaker 1:But, yeah, I thank you so much for sharing this, especially today, because I knew that we tried to make sure that it was on today because it's a year. So for me, I want to tell you congratulations, happy anniversary. You've had such a wonderful year. It's been so beautiful one to meet you in person, because that's very lucky, and also to be able to watch your journey as well. We've been actually following each other for a little while and it's just so awesome to see how you live your life for you. You live your life for your kids and your partner, and it's not in a way of sacrifice, it's a way of like abundance and joy and alignment. So thank you for being here, and if somebody wanted to follow your staff, maybe it's your coach staff, your travel staff. Where can we find you?
Speaker 3:Yeah, cool. So travel. We are jams like J-A-M-S under the stars and there's a dot between each word and for my coaching, it is underscore Jess Gilpin.
Speaker 2:Beautiful.
Speaker 1:And I'll put them in the show notes, but thank you for being here today. I'm so honoured to be able to share this with you.
Speaker 3:Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for joining us.
Speaker 1:We've absolutely loved being here with you today, and if you have enjoyed today's episode as much as we have enjoyed recording it. Please leave a review or drop into our DMs. We would love to hear from you.