Don't Wait Until You're Too Old to Travel
Travel Inspiration and Encouragement for The 50 Plus Crowd
Years ago, when I told my mother about my plan to sell everything to travel the world, I expected her to say I was absolutely crazy and that I should rethink my plans, but I was completely caught off guard when she told me to go.
No hesitation. No concern. No guilt.
She was excited because she had traveled extensively in her youth and experienced many incredible adventures. Her only regret was not being able to do more of it because my dad unexpectedly passed away at age 51. Their plans and life together were cut short. So my mother encouraged us to get out there and live our lives now because we never know what tomorrow will bring.
Additionally, she said that as we get older, it will be harder to do the things we love, such as hiking in the mountains or playing in the ocean, and that we’d likely want to stay closer to our doctors and take fewer risks.
I think she’s right!
It’s ironic if you think about it. We work our asses off to achieve some level of financial success so we can retire and travel someday, but when we finally reach that point, it’s possible we might not be able to do all the things we hoped for because our health has deteriorated and our energy levels have diminished. And so our desire for endless adventure is exchanged for safety at home.
Of course, that’s even if we make it that long. With the average life expectancy being 76 years of age and all the horrific diseases and tragic events we face in this country, someday may never come.
So why give our best days to wishful thinking for the future?
The time for adventure is right now.
The idea of working your ass off for fifty years, then taking time to enjoy life as a retiree, is dumb and outdated! Why should we dedicate all of our attention to building a future while not living in the present? Why do we believe the best things in life should come at the end?
I know there’s a sense of responsibility here. We have to make money, pay the bills, and hopefully save whatever’s left for down the road. But then some of us will do everything right, only to never have the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
There is another way.
We have proven that you don’t have to be retired or wealthy to travel the world. You don’t have to wait until you’re some golden age to live your adventure. You don’t have to follow the outdated ideal of the American Dream.
All you need to do is make a decision.
You must decide if you’d rather gamble on the ever-changing hands of fate or take a chance on yourself by taking a leap of faith now before it’s too late.
Think about it this way.
Retirement and living comfortably for most of us as we get older is a long shot in today’s economy, and the chances things will get better don’t look all that promising, especially as we struggle to keep up with price increases, interest rates, and other forms of corporate greed robbing us of every penny.
Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to have plenty of money to retire on.
I know I won’t.
If you don’t take the chance to fulfill your travel desires now because times are hard, do you really think the chances will be greater as you age? All those hopes and dreams could be lost forever. I think you should consider an alternative.
Hit the open road now while there’s still time!
The Semi-Retired Life.
Instead of putting everything on hold for the future, take an unconventional approach to travel now. Downsize your needs, learn to work remotely, spend money on experiences, and live fully in the present. It’s not gonna be easy, but it’s worth it.
I’ve been fortunate enough to experience a semi-retired lifestyle for the past four years, all the while visiting some of the best places on the planet, and I’m able to do this because we sold almost everything we owned and work from the road.
It’s a great way to live.
Donetta and I decided years ago that we’d rather risk everything to become digital nomads rather than be an old couple talking about regrets. So far, there are none.
None of us is promised tomorrow. None of us is guaranteed a future. And I’ve seen plenty of people lose everything or die early deaths because of things they couldn’t control. Life happens.
Please don’t wait until you’re too old to travel.
Experience the ride of a lifetime now.
We’ll do our best to help you.