I see where I was going with my “Bored Solitude” post. My 7 year old was asking me yesterday “where Gapyear was?” because he was definitely going to go there after school as it sounded really cool. I was tempted to tell him that “Gapyear” was an island far far away that costs a huge amount of money to get to, causes a vast amount of stress and worry for parents and creates a generation of young adults who pretend they are more grown up and mature after their experience, but really all they learnt was how to have loads of sex with random strangers, how to take drugs, shear a sheep and maybe build a well or a school.

Anyway, I have developed my initial idea of a week of solitude for all, to a whole “Gap year for grown-ups”. I may need to call it something else, because technically we wouldn’t be going in a “gap” at all. We would be going during “full on, no space in our life” time. Maybe “Long Overdue Year” would work. I like the idea of a gap year. I didn’t have one between school and university (yes, I know I only went to a polytechnic, but it’s a university now). I think my children would understand, especially if they came out to meet me from time to time (as long as they didn’t cramp my style) in places like Uraguay or Vietham.

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7 Comments
  • GoneBackSouth
    May 30, 2008

    I’m in. And by the way I loved the video on the last post – I used to fly into Kai Tak a lot when I had to go to China for work and it was brilliant and mind-blowing.

  • Expatmum
    May 30, 2008

    Me, me, me! I regret not taking a Gap year before uni, but I had an inkling that if I went I’d never come back and then regret the lack of degree and “prospects for good job” that they sold you on. Ha -that’s funny now isn’t it.
    So do we plan it all out and get really anal about sticking to the itinerary, or do we just wing it. I can do either as long as I know what’s expected.

  • leftforofficebike
    May 31, 2008

    Loving the blog!
    I’m in but can my 17 year old son come as he cant afford it on his own?

    Ialso missed the whole gapyear thing for career, boyfreinds etc. Regrets? Loads.

  • Working mum
    May 31, 2008

    I’m in! Love a year off ‘doing up the house’!

    I didn’t do the gap year thing either, well, I had a year off after university, oh, no wait, that was called ‘unemployment’!

  • Casdok
    May 31, 2008

    Oh yes please! Just what i need! When do we leave?!

  • Frog in the Field
    May 31, 2008

    Me, me! Pick me!
    I quite fancy the Carribean though first, just to build up my energy levels.
    Obviously then we’d have to go shopping somewhere because I have nothing to wear.
    Then we’d need a holiday to get our energy levels back up, oh and we’d have to practise drinking again, gosh! Can’t wait.
    Shall I come round tomorrow or will you pick me up?

  • family affairs
    May 31, 2008

    This is great – obviously a very good idea – I shall order a coach and come and pick u all up x