I’d been dreaming about a round-the-world trip since college. But life got busy—careers, rent, bills, relationships. And then, one morning in February, I opened my laptop, looked at the endless emails, and thought: If not now, when?

Six weeks later, I had a one-way ticket to Thailand, a loose itinerary that would take me across four continents, and exactly 12 months to chase the experiences I’d always wanted: diving in the Philippines, hiking Patagonia, sipping espresso in Rome, and maybe learning to surf somewhere in between.

But before I could jet off, I had to do something that no travel blog really warned me about—pause my life at home and check travel advisories. That meant quitting my job, subletting my apartment, and figuring out what to do with everything I owned. Spoiler: it wasn’t as easy as throwing stuff into a closet and locking the door.

PURGING VS. PACKING: DECIDING WHAT REALLY MATTERS

As I started to plan my escape, I faced a challenge I hadn’t expected: my belongings. After 10 years of post-college adulting, I had accumulated furniture, keepsakes, a record collection, three bicycles (don’t ask), and boxes of old photos and journals I couldn’t part with.

Some people sell everything before long-term travel. I seriously considered it. But emotionally and practically, I wasn’t ready to start from zero when I returned. So I made a list:

• What I could sell (furniture, old electronics)

• What I could donate (extra clothes, books I’d never read)

• What I couldn’t part with (heirlooms, art, favorite kitchen gear)

That last list wasn’t long—but it was important. I needed somewhere safe, dry, and accessible to store it all. That’s when I started looking into storage options near my hometown of Phoenixville, PA.

FINDING A STORAGE SOLUTION THAT WORKED

I visited a few storage facilities, but what won me over was the ease and professionalism of https://phoenixvillestorageunits.com. I didn’t need a massive garage or climate-controlled luxury—I just wanted something clean, secure, and easy to access for when my sister needed to grab a box or drop something off.

The process was surprisingly seamless. I rented a medium-sized unit, packed everything carefully into labeled boxes, and even left a small area open for my winter clothes (which I’d be mailing to myself halfway through the trip for a leg in New Zealand).

Storing my stuff wasn’t just about convenience—it gave me peace of mind. I could leave the country knowing my life back home was on pause, not unraveling.

SETTING UP FINANCES FOR LONG-TERM TRAVEL

With my belongings squared away, I turned my focus to money, and the Lonely Planet site was a great help. Twelve months abroad is a financial puzzle—especially when you’re dealing with different currencies, foreign ATM fees, and unexpected expenses.

Here’s what worked for me:

• Opened a travel-friendly bank account with no foreign transaction fees

• Set up automatic bill payments (for my storage unit, phone plan, and student loans)

• Built a digital emergency fund accessible from anywhere

• Researched cost of living in each destination before booking flights

Using tools from sites like MyTravelMoney.com helped me get real-time currency exchange rates and compare prepaid travel cards, which saved me hundreds over the course of the trip.

CLOSING LOOSE ENDS BEFORE DEPARTURE

You don’t realize how much your daily life runs on autopilot until you try to hit pause. I had to:

• Cancel or freeze subscriptions

• Update my voter registration to absentee

• Redirect my mail to a friend’s house

• Create a “just in case” folder with digital and physical copies of ID, insurance, and key contacts

I also spent a few hours setting up travel alerts with my bank, scanning important documents, and organizing my gear into a single backpack I could carry comfortably for a year.

By the time I was done, I felt lighter—not just physically, but mentally. I had tied up the loose ends. Everything I needed for my journey was in my pack. Everything I loved was safely stored away.

THE FREEDOM OF BEING UNANCHORED—BUT PREPARED

I’m writing this now from a little café in Croatia. It’s been six months since I left home. I’ve eaten street food in Chiang Mai, hiked alone in the Andes, and spent an unforgettable week in Morocco. And through it all, I haven’t once worried about what I left behind.

That’s the thing about preparation: you don’t think about it when everything goes right. You just enjoy the freedom it gives you.

If you’re planning long-term travel—whether it’s six months, a year, or indefinitely—don’t just book your flights. Plan your departure from home just as carefully. Store what matters. Set up your money. Tie off the details.

Then, go. Chase the sunrise on the other side of the world.