We get asked all the time if/when we will be moving back to the United States. We usually don't have an answer for them, but that's mostly because we have the freedom that we don't need to have an answer. We've already reduced our load so we won't have to drag everything we own around the world or find a home for it while we're away. We are setting ourselves up so that we will never have to work another day in our lives. So for all intensive purposes, our 'plan' is to travel forever.
Freedom. That's what this site is really about. We post mostly about investing and money and travel, but what we're selling in this little online shop is freedom. Having the ability to just shrug your shoulders when someone asks about your plans. People asked us all year long where we will be going this summer (most gringos leave because they say it's too hot). We told them we're staying...on the boat...in the bay at anchor...without a/c...just to see what it's like. (Now they know we are crazy) But it's also really cheap! It costs us next to nothing to live out here. Every penny we earn can go to paying off the rest of Oliver's emergency medical bills in Panama, investing, and groceries. They are the crazy ones!
When you learn to live on very little, your freedom goes WAY up! So even if we wanted to stop working this minute, pull up the anchor, and leave...we could. Of course, with our net worth at this moment that would mean that we would have to live like this for the rest of our lives. But we could make it happen and would never have to report to another J-O-B again. Let's just say that my wife and I like air conditioning and 'nice things' from time to time even though we know we can do without. So we're hanging in there (are we allowed to say that as I write this on a sailboat in Mexico the entire time you are in your cubicle hoping to look/jump out a window soon?).This site is also supposed to make you jealous. At least a little bit. We want to motivate you. We want anyone to know that it is never too late and you can retire earlier than you think, no matter what your situation. You just have to be willing to take the steps necessary to do it.
You have to be willing to save the majority of your income and live below your means. If you can force yourself to live on as little as humanly possible (in a van...down by the river, maybe?) your retirement and future self will thank you. Do you have to travel when you retire? No! Do you have to do anything at all when you retire? No way! (But you'll want to, trust me.) You don't have to do the things we do when you retire, but I'd really advise you to do the things we do while we are saving/building our nest egg. Go without a/c and fancy dinners out and vacations, but maybe live somewhere that is 'vacation-like'. While we aren't in a cliff-side mansion sipping fruity drinks in Cabo, we are in Mexico. We are on a sailboat, with an ocean view out our windows and a fresh breeze 24 hours a day (mostly).
While not luxurious in the minds of most, I feel luxurious when I see the progress we are making on our finances. Knowing we are paying nothing in income taxes because of our location makes me happy, also. That's thousands of dollars we get to keep to ourselves that most people just shrug at, thinking there's nothing they can do about it.Well there are things you can do about a lot of what you think to be short-comings in your life. There are things that you can change that you may not realize. Keep following this blog and we will hit on all of them. You will have the resources to become wealthy and retire earlier if you just keep reading and taking the steps we outline. Do what we do and it won't matter what kind of life you had before...the big difference will be in the life you are building for the future. I can promise you that!