What comes next?
The Panama Canal touches every part of life here. We live a two-minute walk from the Museo del Canal Interoceánico de Panamá. It’s one of the many beautiful buildings we enjoy on our walks. Jon Hull
Each weekend, Jessica and I walk the streets of Casco Viejo and chat about the future. We recently submitted letters to the International School of Panama to signify our official departure in June. The next chapter excites us, but moving on from Panamá begs more questions than it answers.
This Year
We still have several months left in Panamá and a long list of places we want to visit. We are heading to Guatemala (we hope) in November; there are Stargardters — Sandy’s brother and sister — in Colombia whom we’d like to see; Patagonia, Mexico City, and Panamá’s coffee-producing countryside are all intriguing.
I recently heard of a 4-day sail from Panama to Cartagena. An image solidified in my mind: I’m at the helm of an old trusty sailboat, the hull skips smoothly over the surf, there is salt in my beard and a thousand-yard stare in my sun-strained eyes. I may have gotten a bit carried away with that dream… the list goes on.
We will never have such easy access to Central and South America again. Quick trips here and there will help us make the most of our time.
Next Year
Jessica and I align on our long-term goals but have a distinctly different vision for next year. I am ready to return, and she is not. This short-term difference may lead to a year or two of long-distance love.
Jessica and I want a small, cozy New England home with personal touches. The question is, “When do we want it?” I am dead set on returning to the U.S. next year. I am ready for my New England homecoming. My dream for the past several years has been to build or renovate a home with my dad.
World travel is something I enjoy. The past three years have added so much to my life. I am grateful to have had this experience, and I think we will do it again someday. But the dream of driving nails into boards with my dad only intensified when we moved abroad.
Jessica has wanderlust. I did not always understand her urge to travel. I am a homebody at heart. Now that I’ve tasted this lifestyle, I understand completely.
Living abroad is climbing a mountain. There are moments of intense struggle and surprising peace. The learning curve is steep and unforgiving. Often, despite the pain, the next peak beckons as soon as the last is finished. I am ready for a rest — a different type of challenge.
Jessica studied abroad in South Africa and London. We lived abroad in Finland and Panamá. For her, travel is and will always be an integral part of life. She is ready to conquer another peak before she joins me in Connecticut for a while.
What it Means for Us
We are seriously considering a long-distance relationship next year. It is not traditional for a couple of nine-plus years to move apart, but we often eschew tradition in favor of what makes sense for us. I spend time on Realtor.com while Jessica scans the web for international teaching positions.
We aren’t sure what will happen next year, but we know that we’ll make the decision together.
