Gap years are for those under 25 right? Traditionally yes, but gap years were not really a thing when I was that age and trying really hard not to sound like my grandparents, we did not have the money and things were different back then. After months of planning and careful consideration we took a deep breath and jumped into our gap year. Who are we? We are an Australian couple who call Melbourne home. We were working in corporate jobs, and like most others our age, we have a mortgage. We have a network of great friends and a comfortable life-style. Tanya worked for the state government as a communications advisor and Craig as a retail specialist in the fuel industry. Our interests are in food, wine and the great outdoors. Four years ago our plan of working hard towards retirement was shaken when Tanya was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This shocked us both and made us reconsider what is important to us; and what we wanted to do while both still healthy and active.