Would you like to take a manageable sabbatical?

John and Colleen with bikes in New Orleans 2011 — John and I lived in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans for about two months in spring 2011, then another month in fall 2011.

Back in 2011, John and I spent about two months living in New Orleans temporarily.
It was such an incredible, inspiring, life-changing experience that we went back for another month later that same year.
We’ve since taken several extended trips to New Orleans, as well as one in San Francisco. We also lived in New York for a month before ultimately moving.
Every time, friends ask, “How do you DO that?”
Having pulled it off it multiple times, the answer is, “It’s not as hard as you might think.”
And each time, it’s gotten a little easier because we basically know the drill.

Because so many people have asked how we’re able to pick up and live elsewhere for a few weeks, I’m starting work on an e-book answering that question.

My goal is to not only share what I’ve learned, but to interview others who have taken what I call manageable sabbaticals for their perspective on how to do it, as well as why they did it and what they learned.

What’s a manageable sabbatical?

working from home in San Francisco — This is what working from home typically looked like during our month in San Francisco. Our bedroom had a coffee table near a big window that overlooked the intersection of Haight and Ashbury.

In the traditional sense, when I think of a sabbatical, I think of a professor leaving his or her job for a semester or a year to go someplace far away and tackle a big project.
By contrast, my focus is trips that aren’t so involved, around three weeks to two months. Maybe you keep doing your same job.
That part about continuing to work drew passionate pushback from a few friends who believed doing their jobs from a different place was a change of scenery but not a sabbatical.
I feel strongly that the massive transformation I experienced living in other places, even as I continued to work remotely, merits calling them sabbaticals. These weren’t vacations but immersion in different lifestyles and cultures.
That said, their resistance has given me fodder for my research: What’s the difference between working remotely elsewhere and a sabbatical? Is it the way you approach the trip or something else?

What do you want to know about manageable sabbaticals?

Questions I’m exploring:

What inspires someone to pick up and go someplace else temporarily?
How do you choose the place? Is it a beloved location you want to connect with more or a new place you’re discovering? Is it for adventure or relaxation? Giving relocation a test drive?
How is a trip with children different? How do they experience the change of locale and what do they need that’s unique?
Did the experience change the way you live back home? Did you discover a new food or hobby that you continued after the trip ended?
What would you do differently? What did you learn?
Once you’ve done one long stay somewhere, do you do it again? In the same spot or try someplace new?

I’ve heard from numerous people, including friends and friends of friends, who have offered to share their experiences. I’m looking forward to kicking off interviews shortly.
I’d love to hear from you if you’ve taken a long trip or if you’ve wanted to but found it too daunting. I’d also love to hear what information would be helpful to you if you’re intrigued but haven’t yet made your travel plans.