Yeah, I did it today!

[Bulldog]

Today I did the following: gave notice, 3 months, my job is hard to replace, bought airline tickets for my wife & I, reserved an apartment for 1 month in Buenos Aires. How liberating! 9 months ago our 12 year old son died unexpectedly and since then we've been in a daze, searching for meaning in our lives. Like many of you, we've decided to take a year off and see what's out there. We would appreciate any tips and/or advice as we prepare for our journey.
Bulldog
PS Thank you Tim for the book and positive thoughts.

[webgal]

Wow. You needed something. That is one tough life scenario and I a supremely sorry for your loss.

[Livingit]

Today I did the following: gave notice, 3 months, my job is hard to replace, bought airline tickets for my wife & I, reserved an apartment for 1 month in Buenos Aires. How liberating! 9 months ago our 12 year old son died unexpectedly and since then we've been in a daze, searching for meaning in our lives. Like many of you, we've decided to take a year off and see what's out there. We would appreciate any tips and/or advice as we prepare for our journey.
Bulldog
PS Thank you Tim for the book and positive thoughts.

Wow condolences and congrats at the same time. I can't imagine a better way to do some soul searching and recover. Have you been to Buenos Aires before?

[Bulldog]

Wow condolences and congrats at the same time. I can't imagine a better way to do some soul searching and recover. Have you been to Buenos Aires before?

Yes, we just spent 10 days in SA; Montivideo, Corduba and BA; we think BA will be best initially as we work on our Spanish and aclimate to our new lifestyle. We plan to travel south as the weather warms up in BA and then travel the western side of the continent.
Bulldog

[Sven]

Well done! Stuff like losing a loved one makes you think about what realy matters, doesn't it? Enjoy your change and good luck.

[captaink]

Oh my god. My condolences to you.
I hope you will find new meaning in your lives.

::captaink::

[dking]

My deepest condolences.

That said, wont leaving the country s soon after the death of your child cast suspicion on you for his death? I'm not saying you did, just wondering how that works.

[Sven]

I feel that this is totally irrelevant and may actually be painfull to read for the family.

Just grieve as you feel is right, no one can dictate this at any level or in any form.

[JFrenzel]

Sorry for your loss but live it up. Take advantage and experience all the beauty this world has to offer. I admire you both for taking action and doing something. : )


Best

Jose

[coollikeme]

To you. Hope you find what you are looking for.

[Bulldog]

My deepest condolences.

That said, wont leaving the country s soon after the death of your child cast suspicion on you for his death? I'm not saying you did, just wondering how that works.

My son died of Amebic Meningitis, contracted while he was at summer camp, so no I don't think anyone will be suspicious, but thanks for pointing that out.

[JFrenzel]

Yeah, that comment about "suspicion" was totally uncalled for and to be frank ignorant and insensitive. I usually don't jump to say something like that, but it was quite apparent that no forethought was mustered into that comment.


Siempre

Jose

[MuseBuilder]

Bulldog,

I am sure the best is yet to come. Congrats my good sir....!

[webgal]

Oh my. I would've removed that "cast suspicion" comment but I must have missed it despite reading every post. I don't think the poster was purposely insensitive but it's inappropriate given your situation and I have to apologize for not removing it before you saw it.

But to be sure, when something so devastating happens, people often say the wrong thing. I'm sure you've heard some doozies. You just have to realize it's so overwhelming a thought to people, they goof. So do forgive them.

While I did not lose a child, I had great support when I went through a serious illness. But I sure got some really thoughtless sounding comments, too. I had to simply write them off because some people have a difficult time expressing themselves in really emotional situations. And others simply don't understand the absolute, heart-wrenching gravity of losing a child.

It's really difficult to fathom such enormous personal agony and how someone could cope. And to be sure, you and your family simply must pursue what will help you find some peace and healing. No one can tell you what that is. And what you're doing is not a wrong decision. The only wrong thing would be to put off your grief or ignore it. You need to support each other and help each other through this. And you will.

If I could send you a fast forward button, I would.

[dking]

My "cast suspicion" question was just that; A question. I did it respectfully, and I dont think he took it as insulting as he knows i did not mean anything "bad" by it, and simply wanted to pint it out to *help* him.

Additionally, we are all here to do what it says in 4hww, and part of that is coming outside your comfort zone and being comfortable with yourself enough to be able to ask such questions, just as you would be comfortable enough with yourself to lay down on the sidewalk and rest for a few minutes.

[webgal]

Thanks for clarifying that dking. Different people read things different ways and often not how the poster had intended. That's an especially salient point here as we have quite a mix of people from all over the world. That's a lot of cultures in one spot.

[padma]

Today I did the following: gave notice, 3 months, my job is hard to replace, bought airline tickets for my wife & I, reserved an apartment for 1 month in Buenos Aires. How liberating! 9 months ago our 12 year old son died unexpectedly and since then we've been in a daze, searching for meaning in our lives. Like many of you, we've decided to take a year off and see what's out there. We would appreciate any tips and/or advice as we prepare for our journey.
Bulldog
PS Thank you Tim for the book and positive thoughts.

I am so sorry, :(.

I feel like talking about my own children is unfair, but if I were to lose one I don't know how I could continue living. I am sure your family could use the time for so many things. Good luck and I hope you find peace ;)

[badhank]

Oh my. I would've removed that "cast suspicion" comment but I must have missed it despite reading every post.

classic "welcome to the internet" moment, as much as we have a good community, your morals and expectations dont line up with everyone else in the world, and what is offensive and intolerable to you is laughable and insignificant to others. Just like u said tho, brush it off and ignore it.

[Padraig]

Good for you! As you no doubt know, BA is an amazing city! I was there last summer and it snowed for the first time in like 90 years. It was ridiculous. I rented an apartment in Ricoletta for next to nothing. I really fell in love with the place.

If you haven't before, be sure to pop over to Colonia in Uruguay. This place is a little gem, charming as hell. The ferry ride is an hour and a half at most.

Good luck to you both, enjoy yourselves!

[JFrenzel]

Why not close this forum. I am not one to judge but being insensitive is just plain garbage. No wonder our society is getting corrupt.


Jose

[Bulldog]

Thanks to all of you for the kind words of encouragment. I've been out of the country for the last week fufilling one of my dreams to sail around the British Virgin Islands. Thankfully one of my friends own's a boat and allowed my wife and I to tag along. Highly recommended.

Regarding the post earlier about being under suspicion after the death of my son, I cannot worry too much about comments such as that. I've heard so many in the last 10 months. My favorite was a few weeks after my son passed away. A friend told me that he knew just how I felt because his dog had recently died. Later he apologized explaining that he really didn't know what to say; that has happened quite a bit.

Any advice about other countries in South/Central America would be appreciated.

Bulldog

[badhank]

I've been out of the country for the last week fufilling one of my dreams to sail around the British Virgin Islands.

This is relevant to my interests, could you please tell us more about this? what size boat? where did you stay/dock? I would like to hear as much about the technical side of this as possible, also your impressions of the BVI and the cruise! very exciting!

[froldt]

This is relevant to my interests, could you please tell us more about this? what size boat? where did you stay/dock? I would like to hear as much about the technical side of this as possible, also your impressions of the BVI and the cruise! very exciting!

On my todo list is "learn how to sail". The definiable point of this is "earn my license". There is a school near where I grew up (moved away for school) and I can go for a 4-day course (Thurs-Sun, I believe) and receive my boating license, and my Coast Guard boating license (one of which is internationally viable). The cost when I last looked it up, about two years ago, was around $650 per person, so not bad at all.

I definitely want to sail, a lot. No specific destinations yet, as it is a couple of items down the list. However, I am going to go to the sailing school, get experience and certification that will allow me to rent a boat just about anywhere in the world. Then I can start trying out different locations.

badhank, I'd recommend looking up sailing schools. This one is only 4 days, that's not even a mini-retirement, but just a long weekend! Once you know what you're doing (which is what I assume you mean by the technical stuff) then you can take a mini-retirement and travel up/down a coast for experience, then set off on your dreams.

[Bulldog]

http://www.panamasailingschool.com/index.html

I'm considering going to the above mentioned school while traveling South/Central America. Their rates are lower than schools I've researched in the States and it gives me a good reason to visit Panama.

[badhank]

wow great stuff, thanks all for the input

[froldt]

http://www.lighthouselanding.com/sailing/school.htm

Here's the website for the school that is near to me. It is located in Western Kentucky. They don't seem to have as many options. However, since I'm sort of fixed geographically for the near future, this works better for me.