Concurrent with packing up, I regularly discussed my career break with my children to help prepare them for my absence. My daughter would be away at college during the period I had allotted and my son would be taking a semester at a boarding school. I could be available anytime to them with face time and I would have a card for my phone so I would not have to rely on crappy wifi. It was important to me that they did not feel that I had fallen off the face of the earth. Chatting was perfect for staying in touch with old friends and new ones that I met on the road.