Leon,
Your news is slightly sad but really, really glad! You've let one passion go to pursue another and to move on to another stage of your life. It sounds like you have it all really well planned and so I expect it to be great success.
I hope you are taking a small scope with you, or even a compact big one! Once you get out under those outback skies the bug will surely bite. Even if you just have the occasional trawl through the favourites it will be fun. You'll kick yourself if you don't.
When we were young and unsure of what we wanted from life we spent some years on a working holiday; initially mostly holiday but later mostly work. It took 3-4 months to relax and slow down enough to really absorb a place. I realized I was getting there one day when I watched an ant trail long enough to get sunburnt - in July. Forget thinking you'll see everything. We've left areas after a year in the place and still had to forgo seeing or doing some things. I remember meeting a bloke in Darwin who was ten years into an around Oz and still hadn't got to the west.
BTW yep, that is awesome glass
All the best and stay in touch!
