One year, on Christmas morning, I ran from my bed to the tree and found a new bicycle. It was gleaming cobalt, big and curvy, with tassels on the handlebars and a big white ‘S’ on the matching blue pleather seat. With stars in my eyes, I gasped in wonder and joy. “Wow!” Santa even…
Author: Five Backpacks Family
Not all who wander are lost — we are living nomadically, exploring, and wandering to learn about the world, its people, and ourselves.
Chris and Holly Santillo are not your regular authors.
They are the epitome of the Latin phrase “Mens sana in corpore sano,” which means “A healthy mind in a healthy body.”
Having strong backgrounds in Martial Arts with Chris being the founder and Head Instructor at Potomac Kempo in Alexandria, Virginia, and Holly being a Senior Instructor, they have managed to develop the principles of Martial Arts into a cohesive parenting methodology.
They believe that children (and parents) with broader horizons and an open mind can sow the seeds for future generations of confident, strong, and resilient adults.
Now, you can find them gliding through the Siberian steppes on the Trans-Siberian Railway, visiting the buzzing markets of Samarkand on the Silk Road, or wondering at the vastness of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. They have decided to live a nomadic life and explore the world with their three boys in order to bring back memories, ideas, experiences, and a fresh view on life.
Join their epic journey at www.FiveBackpacks.family, visit www.ResilienceParenting.info for more information on their book, and www.PotomacKempo.com to learn about their Martial Arts teachings.
The Lazy Environmentalist – Don’t Buy Stuff You Don’t Need
As we wander the globe, we carry all of our possessions from place to place. Onto a bus; walking to a hostel; onto and off of planes. Day in and day out. It’s a lifestyle that clashes with the goal of being lazy, yes; many apologies for the blatant hypocrisy. But it does encourage us…
Giving up at 15,000 ft
I once read an interview with an ultramarathon runner who was asked about whether or not she ever considered giving up. She said that she gave up all the time—but continued to explain that the secret is to keep running even after you’ve given up. I smiled and shared this anecdote with my children in…
The Little Engine That Couldn’t
To enjoy being a traveler, I think you need to enjoy modes of transport. Planes, trains, and automobiles. Some complain about that part—the “getting there” part—and see it just as a rotten means to a worthwhile end. Perhaps that’s why some folks never travel at all; it can be hard to stomach the time spent…
The Galapagos Islands – Stepping Back In Time
What comes to mind when you hear ‘The Galapagos Islands?’ Darwin’s sketches of finches with slightly different beaks? Nature documentaries with volcanoes spouting lava and slowly breaking down into sparkling sand? Vibrant blue and red feet of Blue Footed Boobies and Red Footed Boobies, respectively? Chris asserted several times as we boarded the boat that…