Secrets for a Permanent Vacation
August 26, 2013
Is it possible to take a permanent vacation? YES! We've been on an endless vacation for 8 years and loving it still. We sold our California dream home in 2005 and decided to take the risk of retiring early to travel the world and educate our ( now fluently trilingual) child with world schooling.
“Let your home be you mast and not your anchor.” Kahil Gibran
For us, it's been the best decision we ever made and I do think it is a doable goal for almost anyone who wants to do this. Perpetual travel is actually easier and cheaper than most people realize..even for RTW families...but like most things in life, it takes planning, sacrifice, and calculated risks.
We travel the world for less than we could live at home..on just $23/day and have seen 45 countries on 5 continents so far. We think we're giving our child the best possible education and love our time together.
BEST TIPS FOR LONG TERM TRAVEL OR PERMANENT VACATION
HOW TO DO EXTENDED TRAVEL
HOW TO TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD AS A DIGITAL NOMAD FAMILY
AROUND THE WORLD TRAVEL - BEST ADVICE
TOP PACKING TIP FOR LONG TERM TRAVEL
MINIMALIST FAMILY- BEST FRUGAL TIPS
8 REASONS FOR A FAMILY WORLD TRIP
KIDS FRIENDS AND TRAVEL ON THE ULTIMATE FAMILY ADVENTURE
LONG TERM FAMILY TRAVEL = HOMESCHOOL, ROADSCHOOL, WORLDSCHOOL
TRAVEL HEALTH SECRETS FOR LONG TERM DIGITAL NOMADS
LONG TERM FAMILY TRAVEL - MOST IMPORTANT ITEM
BEST FAMILY TRAVEL TRAVEL EDUCATIONAL TIPS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT SOULTRAVELERS3 FAMILY TRAVEL
WHAT OUR FAMILY TRAVEL LIFESTYLE LOOKS LIKE
“Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving
through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get
to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house
you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.” Goodman
WANT TO LEAVE THE RAT RACE?
Recently a long time reader commented that "I've also
wanted so much to be able to do what you're doing with my little family
of three. I've tried figuring out how we could earn the funds to do this
but can't seem to find a viable way."
HOW CAN I TRAVEL THE WORLD LIKE YOU DO ?
“It is the preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else that prevents us from living freely and nobly.” Bertrand Russell
In case others want to know, I don't want this lost in the comments, so reposting much of it here to make it eaiser to find for others looking:
SECRETS FOR CREATING YOUR OWN PERMANENT FAMILY VACATION LIFESTYLE
Don't
get disheartened ...I know planning a long term trip can seem daunting
and totally overwhelming...but there are now a TON of people doing
it...even many families...so YOU can too. If there is a will there is
always a way!
Alas, there are as many ways of doing it as there are people doing it..so each must find their own route.
I think the first step is saving money, living a frugal and
minimalist life, clearing out "stuff" ( make money on your used items)
and finding out ways to make a living on the move.
TEACH ENGLISH TO FUND TRAVEL ...AND MORE
Have you looked into teaching English? This is one of the easiest and
most popular ways to do this.Or if you or your husband have college
degrees ..get jobs teaching at an international school in places like
China or Korea and save up for a year or two from that base ( where all
expenses and housing is covered)..plus vacation travel the area....then
use that money earned to travel/live for a while.
If you own a home...some sell to get money, others rent it out to pay for travel.
PICK LOW COST AREAS
Asia and South America are low cost living areas...so one finds a TON
of people in these areas living this life and backpacking types living
on little successfully.
Some even get rich ( like Tim Ferris or Chris Guillebeau...who have fab books on this topic with great tips...although both are based in the US and just travel part time).
BUT most don't get rich...they do it for the freedom.
SLOW TRAVEL TIPS
If you live simply in a cheap place ( or even expensive
place)...rural areas are cheaper too and more family friendly as is slow
travel...this is really doable for most anyone. You don't have to make
the same kind of money you do in the USA or other expensive countries.
I've known a family of minimal means with 8 kids who did it, a single
mom with 5 kids and parents with handicap kids who have done it, even a
guy who did it for years on absolutely no money ( before the internet) ...so truly if there is a
will there is a way.
HOW MUCH SAVINGS?
I think it is good to have some savings to back you up, but some do
it without and travel the world...some with kids...never knowing where
the next buck is coming from.
Much depends on your comfort levels and goals. Like most people who
retire early, we sacrificed for years and lived under our means...and
still do...we watch every penny...as we know that is the key to our
freedom...as we are not trust fund babies.
"You don't have to be rich to live a rich life." Tim Ferris ( about Soultravelers3)
TRAVEL WILL NOT TAKE PROBLEMS AWAY
Today there is no safe place to keep or grow your saved money really, so even with that option there are risks. We mostly live off our investments and grow them as we roam the world.
Whether one travels or stays home, there are always risks and choices in life...and never any certainties.
A travel life will not take all problems away, and in fact, will add
different ones and some will remain no matter where you are...as that is
life.
So like most things in life...the fantasy of a travel lifestyle is
different than the reality. You can't really know what that is until you
do it. Like every life, it has pros and cons.
For us it is a great choice..but obviously not every body loves this lifestyle..for this long.
CHOOSING A PERMANENT VACATION IS EASY ONCE YOU COMMIT
I will say, that the thought of doing this is MUCH more intimidating
than actually doing it. Before we left and sold our home, it seemed like
an impossible goal.
Like most things in life, you get a plan, research how others have
done it for ideas, then tweak for your specifics, then commit and DO it (
with flexibility and back up plans).
If it doesn't work out, you can go to plan B,C,D etc or go back home.
If we had not liked our choice...that is what we would have
done...gone back home and made up a new plan...but obviously we like
this better.
WANT A PRIVATE CONSULT ON HOW TO TRAVEL THE WORLD ON A LOW BUDGET?
I get so many questions and requests ( more than I can keep up with), so I am now doing private consulting via skype for $30/hr if you ever want to do that.
What would you like to know about living a permanent vacation?
Is it possible to take a permanent vacation? YES! We've been on an endless vacation for 8 years and loving it still. We sold our California dream home in 2005 and decided to take the risk of retiring early to travel the world and educate our ( now fluently trilingual) child with world schooling.
“Let your home be you mast and not your anchor.” Kahil Gibran
For us, it's been the best decision we ever made and I do think it is a doable goal for almost anyone who wants to do this. Perpetual travel is actually easier and cheaper than most people realize..even for RTW families...but like most things in life, it takes planning, sacrifice, and calculated risks.
We travel the world for less than we could live at home..on just $23/day and have seen 45 countries on 5 continents so far. We think we're giving our child the best possible education and love our time together.
BEST TIPS FOR LONG TERM TRAVEL OR PERMANENT VACATION
HOW TO DO EXTENDED TRAVEL
HOW TO TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD AS A DIGITAL NOMAD FAMILY
AROUND THE WORLD TRAVEL - BEST ADVICE
TOP PACKING TIP FOR LONG TERM TRAVEL
MINIMALIST FAMILY- BEST FRUGAL TIPS
8 REASONS FOR A FAMILY WORLD TRIP
KIDS FRIENDS AND TRAVEL ON THE ULTIMATE FAMILY ADVENTURE
LONG TERM FAMILY TRAVEL = HOMESCHOOL, ROADSCHOOL, WORLDSCHOOL
TRAVEL HEALTH SECRETS FOR LONG TERM DIGITAL NOMADS
LONG TERM FAMILY TRAVEL - MOST IMPORTANT ITEM
BEST FAMILY TRAVEL TRAVEL EDUCATIONAL TIPS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT SOULTRAVELERS3 FAMILY TRAVEL
WHAT OUR FAMILY TRAVEL LIFESTYLE LOOKS LIKE
“Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.” Goodman
WANT TO LEAVE THE RAT RACE?
Recently a long time reader commented that "I've also wanted so much to be able to do what you're doing with my little family of three. I've tried figuring out how we could earn the funds to do this but can't seem to find a viable way."
HOW CAN I TRAVEL THE WORLD LIKE YOU DO ?
“It is the preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else that prevents us from living freely and nobly.” Bertrand Russell
In case others want to know, I don't want this lost in the comments, so reposting much of it here to make it eaiser to find for others looking:
SECRETS FOR CREATING YOUR OWN PERMANENT FAMILY VACATION LIFESTYLE
Don't get disheartened ...I know planning a long term trip can seem daunting and totally overwhelming...but there are now a TON of people doing it...even many families...so YOU can too. If there is a will there is always a way!
Alas, there are as many ways of doing it as there are people doing it..so each must find their own route.
I think the first step is saving money, living a frugal and
minimalist life, clearing out "stuff" ( make money on your used items)
and finding out ways to make a living on the move.
TEACH ENGLISH TO FUND TRAVEL ...AND MORE
Have you looked into teaching English? This is one of the easiest and most popular ways to do this.Or if you or your husband have college degrees ..get jobs teaching at an international school in places like China or Korea and save up for a year or two from that base ( where all expenses and housing is covered)..plus vacation travel the area....then use that money earned to travel/live for a while.
If you own a home...some sell to get money, others rent it out to pay for travel.
PICK LOW COST AREAS
Asia and South America are low cost living areas...so one finds a TON of people in these areas living this life and backpacking types living on little successfully.
Some even get rich ( like Tim Ferris or Chris Guillebeau...who have fab books on this topic with great tips...although both are based in the US and just travel part time).
BUT most don't get rich...they do it for the freedom.
SLOW TRAVEL TIPS
If you live simply in a cheap place ( or even expensive
place)...rural areas are cheaper too and more family friendly as is slow
travel...this is really doable for most anyone. You don't have to make
the same kind of money you do in the USA or other expensive countries.
I've known a family of minimal means with 8 kids who did it, a single
mom with 5 kids and parents with handicap kids who have done it, even a
guy who did it for years on absolutely no money ( before the internet) ...so truly if there is a
will there is a way.
HOW MUCH SAVINGS?
I think it is good to have some savings to back you up, but some do it without and travel the world...some with kids...never knowing where the next buck is coming from.
Much depends on your comfort levels and goals. Like most people who
retire early, we sacrificed for years and lived under our means...and
still do...we watch every penny...as we know that is the key to our
freedom...as we are not trust fund babies.
"You don't have to be rich to live a rich life." Tim Ferris ( about Soultravelers3)
TRAVEL WILL NOT TAKE PROBLEMS AWAY
Today there is no safe place to keep or grow your saved money really, so even with that option there are risks. We mostly live off our investments and grow them as we roam the world.
Whether one travels or stays home, there are always risks and choices in life...and never any certainties.
A travel life will not take all problems away, and in fact, will add different ones and some will remain no matter where you are...as that is life.
So like most things in life...the fantasy of a travel lifestyle is different than the reality. You can't really know what that is until you do it. Like every life, it has pros and cons.
For us it is a great choice..but obviously not every body loves this lifestyle..for this long.
CHOOSING A PERMANENT VACATION IS EASY ONCE YOU COMMIT
I will say, that the thought of doing this is MUCH more intimidating than actually doing it. Before we left and sold our home, it seemed like an impossible goal.
Like most things in life, you get a plan, research how others have done it for ideas, then tweak for your specifics, then commit and DO it ( with flexibility and back up plans).
If it doesn't work out, you can go to plan B,C,D etc or go back home.
If we had not liked our choice...that is what we would have
done...gone back home and made up a new plan...but obviously we like
this better.
WANT A PRIVATE CONSULT ON HOW TO TRAVEL THE WORLD ON A LOW BUDGET?
I get so many questions and requests ( more than I can keep up with), so I am now doing private consulting via skype for $30/hr if you ever want to do that.
What would you like to know about living a permanent vacation?
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