Balancing Act: Navigating 9-5, Parenthood, and a Passport Stamped with Adventures
In the picturesque coastal town of Newcastle, Australia, our family has embarked on a unique journey of balancing the demands of full-time work, the joys of parenting a one-year-old baby boy, and an insatiable wanderlust for travel and adventure. This blog post is a testament to our pursuit of a harmonious life where financial stability coexists with weekend escapades, nature immersion, and family exploration.
The 9-5 Hustle:
Working full-time has become synonymous with adulting, but we've embraced the 9-5 hustle not just for the pay check, but for the possibilities it opens up. It's the foundation that allows us to weave dreams of exploration into our reality by providing us with annual leave, this means when we are away, we can keep paying our bills. Nick and I working full time means we are lucky enough to have money to spend on what we love, adventure! We see work not as a barrier but as an enabler to doing what we love.
Maximizing Weekends:
Weekends are our sacred windows of opportunity. From the sun-kissed beaches of Newcastle to the lush hinterlands, we've learned to maximize every weekend, turning ordinary moments into extraordinary memories. Whether it's a coastal hike, a last minute camping trip, a picnic in the mountains, or simply chasing seagulls on the beach, our weekends are a canvas for adventure and we like to fill them to the brim as much as we can. It is not unusual for us to take off to the Watagans for a fire and a cook up or even head to the Blue Mountains for a day trip just to get our favourite pies and go for a hike. You’d be surprised how much you can fit into a weekend. We do make an effort to do all the “boring jobs” through the week like cleaning, shopping and yard work, this leaves the weekend free for adventure.
Weekdays can be Extraordinary too:
Too many people write off a work day as a “crappy day” but there’s time in the day to make it special. One of our favourite things to do mid week is go and cook dinner outside! It’s so easy and really helps end the day on a positive note. If that sounds like too much work, what about a stroll through the local bush or a bike ride on the lake? We spend too much time at work for those to be bad days, try and find a little pocket of time to make it great.
Annual Leave as a Passport to Adventure:
We've discovered that annual leave isn't just a break from work; it's a passport to adventure. By strategically planning our vacations, we've transformed 4 weeks of annual leave into many extraordinary journeys. Long weekends are a favourite meaning minimal leave for more time off as well as booking trips around public holidays to stretch our days off a bit further. From the snowy peaks of the Australian Alps, to the gorgeous South Island of New Zealand, the tropical wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, and so much more, we've shown that a having fulfilling life doesn't mean you have to give up your day job.
The Not-So-Secret Weapon: A One-Year-Old Travel Companion:
Parenthood brought us a newfound sense of wonder through the eyes of our little one. We've learned that nappies and baby wipes can coexist with hiking boots and camping gear. Our baby boy is not a hindrance to our adventures; he's the catalyst for new discoveries and the heartbeat of our family travel tales. It’s so true what they say about seeing the world through a new set of eyes. So many people ask us “why do you bother, he won’t remember anyway?”, and to that we say, it will be a part of him, it will be part of his humanness. Our hope for Owen is that he is happy, kind and adventurous. We feel that spending time with him going on adventures is time well spent! On a side note, it is what Nick and I love to do, its important for us to continue doing what we loved as a couple before being parents, and in turn, Owen gets to see his mum and dad happy and doing what they love.
Inspiring Others to Redefine the Narrative:
Our journey isn't just ours; it's an invitation for others to redefine their narratives. It's proof that you don't need an all-or-nothing mentality. You can build a career, nurture a family, and explore the world—all in harmony. It's about embracing the small victories, finding joy in the ordinary, and recognising that adventure is not reserved for a select few. We see so many selling everything and getting a caravan and a 4WD and taking off for the lap (and don’t get me wrong, that sounds AMAZING), but for us, at least for now, the plan is to have a bit more financial security than that. We hope to retire young(ish) so we can continue adventuring throughout the rest of our lives. The important thing is, that there is no one size fits all, you just have to be true to what you really want and what brings you joy.
As the sun sets on another week filled with laughter, exploration, and family bonding, we stand as living proof that the dream of work-life balance, financial stability, and a passport stamped with adventures is not just a wishful fantasy—it's a reality waiting to be embraced. Here in Newcastle, Australia, we've unlocked the secret to a life well-lived: weaving the ordinary threads of daily life into an extraordinary tapestry of love, growth, and adventure. Join us, and let's rewrite the rules of what it means to be in your 30s with a baby and a world to explore.
