It's not. It's not going. But that's okay!

Since the last check-in, the following things have happened:

Mike gave notice at work...
But then has had to work approximately 90+ hours a week to get all his stuff done, and also go to China.
Which means I'm working about the same, because I'm trying to prep my team for my being gone.
Which means we have spent a total of zero minutes planning the trip.
My parents moved from Bakersfield to San Diego, so we now get to spend a month in San Diego and skip Bakersfield entirely. I consider this a win. (No offense Bakersfield. But, kind of.)
My bff is planning on moving from Austin to England, which... isn't exactly an easy detour. So again, less time in Texas.
But we have had zero time to update the itinerary, nor even send nice emails to all of our loved ones politely asking them whether we can park in their driveways and use their bathrooms for a month at a time. This has also led to about a dozen awkward conversations that went like this:

Me, to someone I talk to ALL THE TIME and somehow haven't mentioned the trip to yet: <Fill in the blank such and such thing> won't really matter anymore soon, anyway, because of the trip.

Them: ...

Me: ...You know about the trip, right?

Them: What trip? Are you guys going to be traveling again?

Me: Oh, shoot... yeah! We're going to take a van trip around the country for a year!!

Them: WHAT. Why didn't you tell me??

Me: I'm so sorry! I thought I had!

Them: That's so awesome. When? Where are you going to go?

Me: Uh... well... so... can we stay at your place for a month in February? Surprise!

Sorry, loved ones. But in our defense, our plan was to write you very nice letters about three months ago politely informing you that we'll be in your hometown and we'd love to spend time with you.

So the plan is, once work settles a little bit, itinerary will be updated, letters will be sent, and van will be procured!