The Unconventional Lifestyle as Digital Nomads.
Traveling full-time is not about vacation; it's about living the dream of a lifetime!
In 2020, we decided to give up the American Dream for our dreams.
We sold our home of 14 years, downsized our belongings to a 10x10 storage unit, bought a pickup truck, packed it with the essentials, and headed off into the unknown, traveling to places we had always wanted to see.
There was no real plan or agenda. Just a thirst for a new and exciting adventure.
People couldn’t understand why a couple in their early 50s would voluntarily sell almost everything they owned to live on the road in a pickup truck. It just seemed SO CRAZY for us to leave everything behind.
But the truth is, we’ve always been a bit unconventional.
Donetta and I decided a long time ago to follow our own path, even when it went against the status quo. Even though it’s not always easy and comes with its own set of challenges, we’ve never regretted our decision to break the rules.
We are digital nomads who absolutely love our lifestyle.
Some friends and family still can’t seem to wrap their minds around our passion to travel full-time. For some, we’re either taking extended vacations or going through a midlife rebellious phase. It’s understandable, though, because this lifestyle is different, and after four years of doing this, it’s fine that people don’t get it.
What bothers us are snide remarks about our decisions to pursue our dreams, which can be quite hurtful.
For example, sometimes it’s directly or indirectly mentioned that we should:
Spend less on travel because it’s expensive.
Help take care of family and be there for friends.
Get a real job with a paycheck and benefits.
Stay home to work. Which is ironic because we’re homeless!
Save all of our money for retirement and old age.
While we appreciate people’s concerns and sentiments, is it not for us to decide how we should live our own lives?
Yet being the kinda person I am, and the need to debate the questions we’re usually asked, I decided to share my thoughts on these things below.
How are you going to make a living?
Well, since the internet's invention, people have been able to earn money doing things they’re good at or enjoy. In today’s modern world, you can now sell your services or products anywhere with a WiFi connection.
Since 2004, I’ve been paid well to do creative and marketing work for clients all over the world, most of whom I’ve never met in person. Donetta has also been working her business for 14 years, now mostly online. We also have a few other businesses that make us extra money.
There is no need to have a “traditional job” in an office these days.
Success is not tied to the old-school way of doing things, and millions of people make great money working remotely. And even if the internet came crashing down, there are ways travelers can earn an income without it.
What about your responsibility to your family?
My mother has talked about how much she gave up to feed, clothe, serve, and support 15 siblings (and sometimes their own families) since she was 12 years old. That’s 73 years of taking care of people in her family!
These lifelong responsibilities have come with a high price and regrets, especially when it relates to being a caretaker for dying parents and siblings.
So naturally, my mom is our biggest fan, encouraging us to travel and live for ourselves while constantly reminding us how quickly life passes. We also have a couple of other family members who tell us to GO before it’s too late and appreciate it.
That being said, I truly love my family and deeply care about them all, but my responsibility is to Donetta and myself. And as harsh as it might sound, we’re not living for others and do not feel guilty for doing so.
How can you afford to travel?
Travel can be expensive, depending on what you do and how you do it, and costs have risen over the past several years, but our situation is different.
We don’t have a mortgage, and we’re not paying for all those associated expenses like property taxes, home maintenance, utility bills, internet, and lawn care. Yea!!!
The biggest expense is hotel rates, but it’s still usually cheaper than homeownership or renting—and we often get deeply discounted rates or free stays by using our Hilton Vacation Club or Choice Hotel points.
Additionally, we use our Capital One credit card to pay for all our monthly expenses, earning thousands of points that translate into free stays, air travel, and other perks. The balance is paid off weekly, so we don’t carry any debt.
Our new rooftop tent also provides us with cheap or free sleeping options.
Ultimately, we’re mostly frugal while traveling, making our own meals and avoiding the tourist traps. We invest in experiences, not frivolous things.
What about safety in the crazy world out there?
This has been a new concern recently and I don’t blame people for asking, especially with all that you see in the news or on social media.
In all the years we’ve traveled, it’s been rare for us to feel threatened or concerned about our safety. Even when we recently visited the border between the United States and Mexico, we never felt in harm’s way.
Our near-death experiences so far have come from other stupid drivers and their vehicles, mostly in Florida, California, and Texas, where the worst drivers happen to live. BTW, texting while driving will kill innocent people. STOP IT! 😡
Regardless, we must also remember that there are no guarantees in life.
No matter where you are, where you go, or what you do, you cannot control everything and there is always a chance something bad can happen to you.
We certainly take appropriate safety precautions in everything we do, but we also choose not to be controlled by fear because that’s no way to live! So we try not to worry and just enjoy every day.
How will we prepare for retirement?
You got us there! Honestly, we have no clue about this or what our future holds. Probably dying while greeting people at Walmart, unless Artificial Intelligence takes over that too.
Hopefully, we’ll keep saving money and invest in something worthwhile down the road that will provide for our old and crinkly asses, but we could do everything to prepare for those Golden Years and never live long enough to enjoy it. Unfortunately, we’ve seen this happen with friends and family.
Anyways, the answers aren’t always easy or clear. We just know we have no regrets.
Life’s too short to live with regrets.
We hope more people will begin to understand the importance of taking every opportunity to experience the ride of a lifetime. There might not be a tomorrow. Sometimes it’s better to take a leap of faith than not to take it at all.
GO. LIVE. NOW.
We don’t know how long we’ll keep truckin’, but for now we’ll keep going until we can’t go anymore. 🛻