Hell, No! Don't Go. Don't even think about it!

I officially decided to take a "Gap Year" after I completed my second masters degree.

Although, for the most part I enjoyed my classes in high school and college and I had friends and co-workers, I was just tired of studying and working, then working and studying. Not even to mention the traveling back and forth between the two. Working the whole time I was in college and grad school enhanced my savings and may have contributed to my tuition and any extras I may have wanted. But OMG, I really needed a break.

I really didn't expect it but was scorned and warned by:

My peers (mostly millennials). Hey aren't we all suppose to be looking for as much time off as we can?

My instructors who tell us everyday to find ourselves in this noisy world - remember you cannot make career mistakes before the age of 35- EXPLORE, find your niche.

My co-workers - you would love to be me with a good job, no kids and the ability to save.

And my extended family that thinks if I have "so much money", I should pay my parents back for my tuition. After all, with all that education and the U.S. job market as strong as ever, why on Earth would I even consider a gap year now?

So then, I discussed it with the one person that I knew would give me the real scoop - Debbie, my mom. She thought it was a great idea, although that would not have been the case if I had decided to go before my undergrad college degree was in the vault. I actually think she may have been more excited than I was about planning what I was going to do with my time.

I am not the person that wings-it, I am a planner and so once I decided to do this, it was time to plan it! Scary and exciting!

I decided that to fulfill everything I wanted to do, I must do three things.

1. Learn more that would support my career once I returned to the job market,

2. Volunteer for worthy recipients and finally,

3. Have FUN!

And the plan was....