I didn’t start my nomadic life until I was 88 when I sold everything I had except my clothes and a few items like my oil painting supplies. I’m always in warm climates and never want to live in Canadian winters ever again! I am now in my 91st year and I’ve been living the best years of my life - no responsibilities - airbnbs and Ubers are my best friends. Free as a bird to come and go as I wish. Lots of friends and always making new ones along the way. I’m grateful to be in excellent health, fit, mobile and always a positive attitude. I write a weekly blog www.nomad-nana.com of my experiences. I’m told I’m an inspiration which makes me feel good that others have opened their eyes to this type of lifestyle when they are ready.
You ARE an inspiration, Marion! My wife and I always talk about " how long can we do this?" We thought maybe we could go another 10 years, but your story proves that we might be able to get another 20 out of it! Let's face it, we all got to go sometime, we might as well go out on our own terms in our own way.
You and your wife can and should continue to do this for as long as you continue to enjoy your lifestyle. When that begins to pale or your health begins to interfere, that is the time to look at other options. That opens new roads to consider. I am anticipating another 2 to 5 years before I hang up my Sketchers
we talk about this all the time and recognize there IS a finite time clock...We are already looking at "long term" stay options (not residency, per se), and have identified a few that work. Keep on keeping on, Marion!
I’m ready to full time travel at 55. But my spouse wants to wait until he’s 65 when his state pension kicks in. I have a small 401k and have been working on having some other streams of income through remote work. Think digital nomad style. I’m going to have to visit him in the summers because I am over NE winters.
Hahaha and we have bags in other countries, as well. Always, places we will return to. You made an excellent argument for those who think full-time travel is not affordable. I love reading your articles!
You're dead on. In Miami, condo fees are about $1.22 per square foot monthly. Property taxes are about $0.83 psf monthly. Thats more than $2 psf monthly before utilities, mortgage payments and any repairs. Just like you, I saw the light years ago and never looked back. A new Bankrate study found that it is $21,000 cheaper to be a renter in Miami than to own. If you want to own residential real estate, buy shares in a REIT. It will pay a dividend and is easy to liquidate unlike real estate in a sloppy market. I suspect there are a lot of owners who have buyers remorse right about now.
After spending 30 years in So Cal real estate, here are my 3 reasons to own real estate: the "tax deductibility" which is actually a financial fallacy, which I'll not get in to. The "psychological" comfort of owning your own home; that actually is only partially true, too. And #3 is the appreciation of real estate, which is a matter of timing and good luck. I rode several cycles and lost as well as gained equity. In many markets it makes sense to rent instead. Meanwhile, I’ll rent outside the US at 1/3 the price!
If you are ever looking for future story ideas, I would love to hear about how you deal with banking and medical. I know people in Miami who have heath insurance in Colombia who fly down there for check ups, testing and procedures and still save when compared to the USA. The banking has always been the unknown due to Know Your Customer and concerns about access to your cash in a non-FDIC institution. I was in Buenos Aires back in the early 2000s when and during the peso devaluation. It was insane.
I appreciate that, Peter. I have covered medical and banking several times since they are so important in our lives. Our money remains in a US bank, I access cash via ATM, and do everything electronically. We've not had a reason to open a bank account in any specific country except to get their version of a debit card for purchases. As to medical, we just pay out of pocket.
I have often said, "With couples, many times one is the brake, and one is the accelerator," but that usually applies to those that are already ON the road. Even so, when it comes to making/ taking that First Step, the question is: "When is the right time?" Sadly, there is no one answer and it depends on money, health, careers, kids, and a host of other restrictions. Including weather…
As tongue in cheek as your comment is, maybe that IS a possibility: You can test the waters solo, while he continues to work. That’s a big step and could break many couples up under certain circumstances. Realistically, maybe you could still stay in the US and go south for the winters if it’s too much to handle. Which I CAN relate to!
If you’d like to set up a call, let me know. In June I’ll be creating s special offer for all our members to set up a call.
I didn’t start my nomadic life until I was 88 when I sold everything I had except my clothes and a few items like my oil painting supplies. I’m always in warm climates and never want to live in Canadian winters ever again! I am now in my 91st year and I’ve been living the best years of my life - no responsibilities - airbnbs and Ubers are my best friends. Free as a bird to come and go as I wish. Lots of friends and always making new ones along the way. I’m grateful to be in excellent health, fit, mobile and always a positive attitude. I write a weekly blog www.nomad-nana.com of my experiences. I’m told I’m an inspiration which makes me feel good that others have opened their eyes to this type of lifestyle when they are ready.
You ARE an inspiration, Marion! My wife and I always talk about " how long can we do this?" We thought maybe we could go another 10 years, but your story proves that we might be able to get another 20 out of it! Let's face it, we all got to go sometime, we might as well go out on our own terms in our own way.
You and your wife can and should continue to do this for as long as you continue to enjoy your lifestyle. When that begins to pale or your health begins to interfere, that is the time to look at other options. That opens new roads to consider. I am anticipating another 2 to 5 years before I hang up my Sketchers
we talk about this all the time and recognize there IS a finite time clock...We are already looking at "long term" stay options (not residency, per se), and have identified a few that work. Keep on keeping on, Marion!
I’m ready to full time travel at 55. But my spouse wants to wait until he’s 65 when his state pension kicks in. I have a small 401k and have been working on having some other streams of income through remote work. Think digital nomad style. I’m going to have to visit him in the summers because I am over NE winters.
Hahaha and we have bags in other countries, as well. Always, places we will return to. You made an excellent argument for those who think full-time travel is not affordable. I love reading your articles!
If not for the generosity of gracious and kind HOSTS, we'd be lost!! Thank you for the kind words, guys.
You're dead on. In Miami, condo fees are about $1.22 per square foot monthly. Property taxes are about $0.83 psf monthly. Thats more than $2 psf monthly before utilities, mortgage payments and any repairs. Just like you, I saw the light years ago and never looked back. A new Bankrate study found that it is $21,000 cheaper to be a renter in Miami than to own. If you want to own residential real estate, buy shares in a REIT. It will pay a dividend and is easy to liquidate unlike real estate in a sloppy market. I suspect there are a lot of owners who have buyers remorse right about now.
After spending 30 years in So Cal real estate, here are my 3 reasons to own real estate: the "tax deductibility" which is actually a financial fallacy, which I'll not get in to. The "psychological" comfort of owning your own home; that actually is only partially true, too. And #3 is the appreciation of real estate, which is a matter of timing and good luck. I rode several cycles and lost as well as gained equity. In many markets it makes sense to rent instead. Meanwhile, I’ll rent outside the US at 1/3 the price!
If you are ever looking for future story ideas, I would love to hear about how you deal with banking and medical. I know people in Miami who have heath insurance in Colombia who fly down there for check ups, testing and procedures and still save when compared to the USA. The banking has always been the unknown due to Know Your Customer and concerns about access to your cash in a non-FDIC institution. I was in Buenos Aires back in the early 2000s when and during the peso devaluation. It was insane.
I appreciate that, Peter. I have covered medical and banking several times since they are so important in our lives. Our money remains in a US bank, I access cash via ATM, and do everything electronically. We've not had a reason to open a bank account in any specific country except to get their version of a debit card for purchases. As to medical, we just pay out of pocket.
Part of the reason I don't want to own a home again is because we did so well the first three times and I don't want to push our luck!
Right!? We can't always be on the right side of the unpredictable cycle, so let's quit while we're ahead.
I have often said, "With couples, many times one is the brake, and one is the accelerator," but that usually applies to those that are already ON the road. Even so, when it comes to making/ taking that First Step, the question is: "When is the right time?" Sadly, there is no one answer and it depends on money, health, careers, kids, and a host of other restrictions. Including weather…
As tongue in cheek as your comment is, maybe that IS a possibility: You can test the waters solo, while he continues to work. That’s a big step and could break many couples up under certain circumstances. Realistically, maybe you could still stay in the US and go south for the winters if it’s too much to handle. Which I CAN relate to!
If you’d like to set up a call, let me know. In June I’ll be creating s special offer for all our members to set up a call.
Norm