2020 has been quite a year. Like many people, there were plenty of things that went wrong. We could dwell on those things, or we can think back on all the things that went right. When we remember 2020, the following are the things we will choose to remember:
We went to Disney World!
In January, before COVID, we spent 11 days at Disney World and Universal Studios. We rode Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which is incredible. We celebrated Michael’s 40th birthday with Michael’s family, Mickey Mouse, and all of his friends. My stepmom’s health was good enough that she was able to spend a week with us in Florida. She rode the Woody Woodpecker roller coaster several times. It was an incredible trip.
We had good health.
In 2019, Michael was diagnosed for the second time with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He had it for the first time 10 years ago. We never expected to have to go through that again. Luckily his treatment went well and by December 2019 the cancer was gone. He started 2020 with a clean bill of health.
We made it through the year with no major medical issues. Also, other than a strange virus that kept Judy down for a few days in March, none of us has even had so much as a cold. We like to believe that our new lifestyle has helped us stay healthy. Lots of vitamin D and less stress is just what the Watkins ordered. 
We traveled to Central America.
We didn’t make it around the world like we originally planned, but we did get to spend seven wonderful months in Central America. We had great fast-paced adventures in Costa Rica and Panama. Boat rides, ziplining, hiking, and meeting new people.
Our one month in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua turned into six and that was one of the best surprises of 2020. It is a beautiful country with warm, welcoming people. Lucas and Henry still play Minecraft with their friend Tyler, who they met there. We had a lot of family bonding time, just the four of us.
We spent quality time with family.
In addition to seeing family in January, we have been with family for the last several months. Getting to spend that last three months of Lois’ life with her means so much to us. We are also happy to be able to be with Judy’s dad during this time. Lucas and Henry have had quality cousin time. We have seen siblings, aunts, and uncles, which has been a blessing in a year when many families are not able to be together. Family is important to us and it is the driving force behind the big life changes we have made in our lives.
We started living our new adventure.
2020 is not the best year we could have picked to start living our new nomadic life and traveling the world. But what is important is that we did it. If we did not pick up and leave when we did (before COVID) we would have delayed our start and maybe we would have never done it.
2020 did not go as planned, but we got through it. We were able to have an incredible year despite the setbacks and the heartbreak. We have proven to ourselves that we can do this and we have discovered that we love it.
We are cherishing the time we are spending with each other. Other than our Atlanta friends and Judy’s mom, who we miss dearly, we do not miss our old lives and the “grind” we were churning through day after day, week after week.
We have no idea what is in store for us in 2021. We hope that we can safely resume traveling. We would like to see family and friends who we were not able to visit in 2020. We are excited about our adventures ahead of us, whatever they may be.
Happy New Year!!!
