Who We Are

Pride Parade 2016

My name is Tracie Lambers, I am a guidance counsellor working for a public school board in Toronto, Canada. I live and work within 5 km of where I grew up. My husband and I met 15 years ago...like most romantic love stories, we met in a bar. He was here visiting from a city about an hour away and we did the long distance thing for a few years. All the while travelling where we could...I had a little boy Jesse at home (from a previous relationship) and was just finishing school, so we could never go for long, but it doesn't mean we didn't go far! From Bali, to Thailand, Cambodia to Hawaii, BC to Dominican Republic we made sure that travel was an important aspect to our relationship, always knowing that we would see the world together. Next came our careers, and more babies (2 little girls to be exact). We managed to get some short trips in here and there, Cuba, Florida, New York, New Orleans, Florida again and again. We were lucky enough to buy property in Northern Ontario (Close to Algonquin park), spending summers there is paradise (really it is, if you have not spent any time in Ontario I encourage you to go). However we never really lost sight of what we both always wanted out of life. To see the world...really see it. Giving our little ones perspective and understand how truly lucky they are to grow up in Canada.  

 As it happens Johnny works for the Province and both our jobs have an amazing program, for four years you work at 80% of your salary, the fifth year you take off while receiving 80 % of your salary...pretty great huh? We would be fools if we did not take advantage of this, but timing was everything...We just happened to have very good friends Nick and Kath make a decision to do their own travelling adventure...they were our inspiration...the year they started planning was the year we put in the papers and jut decided to go for it. A lot of our trip is actually following in their footsteps!

Stewie

Lots of factors had to be thought about. I know some just say, "do it", while others have to have a long term plan...For us, we had to think about my son Jesse, he would be in his last year of University- so there would be no way he could come (except maybe to join us here and there along the way), our parents are starting to get older, I have a Golden Retriever named Stewie. The girls will be missing a year of school. What about the house? The property? Oh my! So much to think about! In the end, we figure it will all work out, people can come visit, the house will get rented, Jesse will take Stewie to university with him, the property isn't going anywhere, and I can home school the girls.





So there you have it, how a "normal" family packs up and decides to leave all the comforts of home for a year of the unknown...I will let you know how it goes;)

Me and the Girls

Jesse