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'Someday' Is Now For The Pritts Family

Jeff and Marci Pritts will spend the next year with their family in an RV they've named "Someday."

"There's one overwhelming response I think that we get and we have  kind of brought that into our trip a little bit," said Marci. "People often say 'I'd love to do that someday.' For that reason we named the RV 'Someday.' It's kind of a statement that that today can be someday. Just do it."

On June 13th Jeff, Marci and their kids Wayne and Dorothy, along with two dogs and cat leave on what will be a year-long trip around the nation.  Jeff is the General Manager of the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Uptown. Marci is the director of a national non-profit foundation established by someone she calls a "future hall of famer athlete."  Both have given notice.

Most of the reaction they've received has been positive, except for Jeff's father.

"He doesn't get it. He just doesn't understand how you give up a good job and leave that job and not know what comes when you come back," said Jeff.

Their house is rented for a year, so they could return to Normal after the trip, but both said their future location is dependent upon their career path.

During Sound Ideas, Jeff and Marci told WGLT's Mike McCurdy the planning  has been going on for about a decade, including saving money.

"I handle the investments and Marci handles all of the day to day money, so she knew the investments were going out there and I remember getting a phone call one day and sort of getting on me because we bounced a check and she's like 'we have good jobs what is going on?'" said Jeff. "So then I stopped investing quite so much and once the dust settled I brought it back up and kept going."

Wayne and Dorothy will be 'road schooled," and both Jeff and Marci laughed when asked if they were ready. Marci says she's been leaning on friends who home school for tips and curriculum. The trip will play a role in their science and history education.  Wayne and Dorothy will also take a break from their youth sports schedules and Jeff and Marci think there's an upside to taking a break.

"I think completely shutting it down for a year and let them just be kids was a big desire of ours," said Jeff.  "For me it's about the passion. The passion is either go ten-fold or its going to wane and they'll say 'basketball wasn't my thing' and I'm okay with that."

The family departs June 13th, heading east. They're traveling no more than about 200 miles per day. Nearly the next 6 months is planned, down to campsites and Marriott hotels, which Jeff and the family can utilize for free as a 25-year employee.

"That was her last caveat. She said 'okay, if the money is there and I can escape the RV and go into a nice hotel," said Jeff

"And get a real shower," added Marci

"Then I'm in," said Jeff.

The trip is also built around the location of friends and family around the country. The Pritts family plans to to reach San Diego in time to spend Christmas with Marci's family.

Follow their adventures on Marci's blog.