I have a crazy idea. Crazy and a little bit scary.

I think I first saw the post a month or so ago where Heidi said she had no free weekends from now until October and that she and Sal were going to New Zealand. Then she revealed that she was organizing a trip and more details became available. Now I have all the information - dates, itinerary, cost, answers to my questions. So, what's next? Where do I sign up?


I've always wanted to go to New Zealand, primarily because I have friends there who have invited me many times to visit, but it just seems like one of those impossible things I'll only talk about but never actually do. First of all, it's expensive to fly there and takes like 3 days to get there. That's like, far. And I wouldn't go for less than two weeks.



This trip is so cool, it even has its own website.


It's a good time to go. I need this. I need a goal. I need a reason to save, to get in shape. Sure, I'm already signed up for Cycle Oregon in September, but I could do that every year. Going to New Zealand is on my bucket list. That is only for the stuff you want to do before you die.


Seeing the numbers on paper makes it a reality, but is it possible? I'm trying to change my thinking from "no way!" to "YES, it can be done."



But, how? I have a number of ideas.

Start a charity? In this economy? Out of the question.


Have a garage sale? That's more reasonable.


Put together a savings plan? Absolutely.


This has now turned into a campaign to completely overhaul my life. Is it time to sell the house and move to a condo or townhouse? Perhaps. I already drive a car with 210k miles on it, so I hope that it lasts. I'm looking around for things to sell. Skis I no longer use. A tent. Furniture. Bikes? Nope.



The to-do list is being assembled, categorized, revised, updated. What can I do without? How can I save? If you have ideas, or want to hand me a check for $5,000, let me know. Mmkay?

Here's the scary part. How can I afford to take two weeks off? I'm sure I won't have enough vacation time accrued by then. What if I can't get into shape by then? What if I can't keep up?