The Roaming Egg and Bar

…there were two sisters who liked to travel very much.

During Christmas week of 2022, we went to the Dominican Republic for a few days of sunshine and rest. When traveling, I always love to read a book set in the place I’m at. So, a few days prior to leaving I googled “classic books set in the Caribbean”. There weren’t very many options, but one instantly caught my attention. I purchased it on Kindle and barely waited until we landed to begin reading.

The balcony where we spent most of our week reading.

An Embarrassment of Mangos proved to be as fascinating as the title led me to believe, and as I read about Steve and Ann leaving their home in Toronto and sailing to the Caribbean, the restlessness I’d been feeling all fall exploded within me. I basically looked up from reading, and said, “I could quit my job and travel for a year!” Egg, always the gypsy soul, said, “Well, yeah, of course.” That thought had never crossed my mind before, but now it didn’t just cross my mind, it took firm and instant root. I’d been working in the family business since I turned 18, and even though I loved my job, I was tired and restless and ready for a life with no calendar and meetings dictating my every day.

The rest of our week was filled with brainstorming and praying, and before we flew home we had a Pinterest board, a Google map full of places we wanted to visit, and an Excel sheet with top priorities and to-dos. We initially thought about traveling around Europe, but when we started talking logistics, we decided it made sense to start with the beautiful scenery in the USA. We discussed RVs, and I discovered that Egg had a life-long dream of living in a camper van. I had not shared this dream previously, but I was sold on the cost effectiveness and it didn’t take me long to agree.

In January I told the guys this would be my last year working with them, and Egg began the hunt for a manager to run her cleaning business. We told our family and friends, and their (mostly supportive) comments might be a post for another time.

During this time, we listened to Cageless Birds by the Helsers dozens of times, particularly the intro, which I’ll copy below.

“Standing on the shore of decision. Looking into the face of adventure. Desire to abandon all I know. What pushes me is rooted somewhere between misunderstanding and knowing. Knowing that what I want to understand is not within my reach. So I ponder my escape.

Not knowing what lies ahead. Adventure in theory is full of excitement and bleeds with passion for life. But adventure in reality is full of breathless moments, silent nights, and wounds that leave scars and memories on our heart. Can I go the distance? Can I give all my mind to get what the Messenger is saying? Can I surrender my knowing? Will I survive the humility of ignorance to obtain the treasure that earthly gold cannot buy? Will I ask the question of honesty even if the answer convicts my soul and sends me to the land of repentance?”

-Cageless Birds

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