There are some points in life at which a significant change in direction is called for. If you’re finding that your current day-to-day routine is not providing you with satisfaction, then it might be time to think about a new way to live life.
For couples, this might mean making a decision together to set aside their lives as they currently are and to go out and seek new adventures in a life of travel and exploration.
Making the Decision Together
Before you take a step as significant and bold as this one, it’s worth making sure that you’re both on the same page. Sit down together and discuss your expectations and your reasons for seeking a change of this kind. Treat it like a business project you’re embarking on together. Once you have your cards on the table, you can start to think about where you’d like to go, and for how long. If you don’t communicate openly, then you might end up concealing your true motivations and wants – and, in the long run, this can lead to frustration.
Financial Planning and Downsizing
Once you have an idea of where you’d like to go, and how you’d like to get there, you can start to think about how you’ll find the necessary cash. Budgeting for a life of travel might mean releasing assets like your home or car. It might be that you can find hundreds of thousands of dollars through downsizing. At the same time, you might cut the cost of travel by looking for cheaper accommodation. House-sitting and long-term rentals can often be effective.
For guidance, you might consider the example of Debbie and Michael Campbell, whose blog, the ‘Senior Nomads’, charts their experience since selling their home in 2015.
Embracing the Nomadic Lifestyle
The nomadic lifestyle, whose adherents forgo a fixed home in favor of a string of rented properties, might not be for everyone. To flourish, you’ll need to be willing to adapt to new customs and cultures and put the effort into touching base with your friends and relatives at home.
Your experience may vary, of course, depending on your preferred mode of transport. Backpacking might provide a very different experience than traveling the world in an RV. You might look to get around via water. Look for yachts for sale near you and make sure that you’re qualified to actually run the vessel you’re investing in.
Navigating Legal and Logistical Considerations
Traveling the world involves crossing over national boundaries, which can mean having to contend with immigration law. Since January 8, 2025, for example, US-based travelers to the UK will need to secure an Electronic Travel Authorization before heading out.
In some cases, travel can pose a different kind of challenge. You might need a special permit to drive on foreign roads, for example. There are also health risks present in some parts of the world, which is why appropriate insurance, and the right vaccinations, can often be crucial.
