Have you been thinking about trying long term travel? Are you interested in shifting your vacations from a week to staying for a month, a season, maybe longer? The Long-Term Travel lifestyle choice has been happening for generations. I’m sure you’ve heard the term “snowbird” (seasonal travel) which typically refers to retirees heading to warmer climates for the winter, the last several years there has been increasing more people able to live this way thanks to working from home or any location. I have been traveling full time for several years, the plan was just for a year, but I had an open mind as life kept opening doors and I said yes to the opportunities. My oldest son is in his early 20s, he works at a golf course which is seasonal, he is off from about Thanksgiving to Easter, giving him the flexibility to join me on some adventures.
There are always several options to solve a problem or coming up with solutions to unexpected things that happen as we navigate this life’s journey. If you love to experience new things, meeting different people and interested in learning…the world has more to offer than anyone can do in one lifetime, let alone trying to cram it all into a week’s vacation.
If you’re just starting to think about going somewhere for a month or a season, where would you want to go, where would you stay and what would you want to do? What are your options? Literally whatever you think of, there is a way. Are you going to navigate this journey on your own or would you like someone that’s able to help guide you so it’s not so overwhelming that your dream never comes true or worse, you plan something that’s a total nightmare…which is the fear that keeps people from taking the risk. The good news is, your expectations, your mindset and how you feel about the trip is really the determining factors of how your story goes.
I have always loved to travel and since my first trip as a kid, I knew I wanted to build a life of going places. Of course, life was there with challenges and events that were so brutal, it shifted, pushing to me to get away, it was out of desperation to feel better. I spent my 20s doing everything everyone said I should do, then into my 30s everyone still had opinions and as I was flipping houses and building my net worth at the cost of having stability for my kids when there were so many other factors that people didn’t know or understand, I didn’t have anyone on my side, eventually the pressure was too much and I broke, I stopped fighting, sold my houses, then went on a quest to settle my soul so I could feel better and be everything everyone wanted which is still impossible.
I bought a 38′ class A motorhome and drove that beast back in the western several states, I am so thankful that my kids got to go on a couple trips with me before I sold it. I continued to travel across/around the country in my car which my kids have gone on different road trips with me to different places.
I grew up in Portland Oregon, I moved to Seattle Washington when I was 17, I’d met my kids’ dad that same year, we’d lived in a few different cities until we bought our first house about 5 years later. Then we ended up in Boise which was supposed to be a couple years and life got wildly out of hand. About 15 years later, I couldn’t take anything any more and had an epic breakdown so as an attempt to feel better, I went on a trip but then never came back… its been about 7.5 years, honestly, I am just functioning at this point with no real purpose or plan to stay in one place. My point with this is life happens, we deal with stuff differently and no matter how you’d like to travel, I have experience and can help so you don’t have to struggle with navigating the travel planning, unless you want to.
I spent about 2 years off and on in Lake Havasu Arizona (home of the London Bridge), I was bouncing back and forth to Idaho to see my kids every few weeks and they’d come visit me occasionally, flying into Vegas or San Diego, playing in the sand in Glamis CA, we’ve been to several national parks and monuments since these commutes also included taking the RV. My oldest son and I got our open water scuba certification. I spent so much time at the church, volunteering, participating with the women’s ministries group which lead me to getting baptized and I am so thankful my kids and other family was there that day.
My next stop was Texas for a couple years; I’d stayed in North Dallas with my brother for a little bit, my mom had moved to Ft Worth then I went down to San Antonio to help my cousin as she started a nanny agency; I worked with a families with young children, made friends scuba diving, participated in a networking group with the polka dots. I’d drive to Houston so I could fly to Cancun MX a few times, got my advanced open water scuba certification plus explored a cenote in Playa Del Carmen, did a catamaran boat tour, plus a bus tour to Chichen Itza. The drift turtle dives are definitely my favorite.
I have spent the last few years in Tampa Bay bouncing back and forth to/from Boise. Someone called with a request I stayed with an elderly family member that needed some help around her home, she was 98 and passed away a couple weeks after I’d gotten there, they’d asked me to stay longer to help with the home, I’d made a friend during that time who was a retired MLB pitcher who encouraged me to go to school for massage therapy (I now have my license in Florida & Idaho) plus I was working with special needs children so my stay kept extending. I have been staying with a friend off and on quite a bit making it so I can get through each commitment that keeps adding to my list. I have had the Disney World annual park passes for 2 years; I started working at a dive shop to complete the requirements for Master Diver recognition. From Ft Lauderdale, I went on a transatlantic relocation cruise to Europe then hopped on another ship for a Mediterranean cruise before flying back from Greece. Fun fact: going on a cruise to the Panama Canal later this year.
I have been in the Boise area the last few months, going on a family Camping trip to the Oregon coast with my boys plus made the commute to Portland for my other brother’s wedding. My oldest son surprised me with a set of golf clubs, so we’ve spent some time at the driving range, and we’ve done a couple days around the course but I’m really not good enough for that yet. Today is my last day here before I start driving back to Tampa tomorrow and will be there until Mid-March. I will be back in Portland for my stepsister’s wedding in Dec then will spend a couple weeks for Christmas in Boise with my kids.
I understand what its like traveling with a family or going solo. I have experience traveling to multiple destinations and what it takes to be some place new for a longer time. I thrive on variety and new experiences. I am addicted to learning and doing. I have friends who are typical snowbirds who travel from cold climates to warmer weather for the winter and it so fun when I meet people who are expats, they’ve either moved to or from the states permanently.
I became a travel agent to help give my story some structure and the last few years this little hobby is evolving into a sustainable mode of transportation to let me continue to this long term travel lifestyle as many year as I have plus, I am able to guide others making their journey less work and more fun. I work with vendors that provide long term travel stays and extended stays, I have resources to help you find work (if that’s something you’re interested in) and fun fact: staying some place longer is cheaper than going to visit multiple times. If you’d like to have a conversation on what long term travel might look like for you, please send me a message! Remember I can help with all aspects of travel planning, of course I’m also available anytime while you’re living your new life whether its temporary or permanent.
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