10 years later: what happened to retiree couple who became world nomads

[Chuckanut]

Why would people travel for....restaurants? If restaurants are your thing, why not just live somewhere that has good restaurants?

I enjoy trying different foods and different ways of preparing foods. However, that alone is not nearly a big enough desire to solely drive my travels.

 

[Koolau]

What's up from FUEGO (aka Root of Good aka Justin). Long time, no post.

I do lurk every year or so a bit, and still recognize a bunch of names in this thread. TeeJ1985 summoned me from the shadows with a timely message letting me know folks here remembered me

Yes, many of us remember you, FUEGO. Thanks for stopping by and letting us know what's been happening and where you have traveled. You are most welcome to post even more travel stories and insights. Much aloha.

 

[teej1985]

Food is very different in different parts of the world. Eating good local food is something we enjoy when traveling. And there is simply no way to recreate that experience in one location in the US.

I agree, I just didn't think food would be the sole reason or even the primary reason to travel. One of my favorite parts about traveling is trying the different food in different places, but I also like living in places that have sufficient variety of food.

 

[Going camping]

What's up from FUEGO (aka Root of Good aka Justin). Long time, no post.

I wanted to thank you, FUEGO, for your Root of Good blog. It is one of my favorites and I pass along your information whenever I think someone would enjoy your content. Your travel and credit card hacks are very informative.

Nice to see you checking in. Enjoy your upcoming travels!

 

[FUEGO]

I wanted to thank you, FUEGO, for your Root of Good blog. It is one of my favorites and I pass along your information whenever I think someone would enjoy your content. Your travel and credit card hacks are very informative.

Nice to see you checking in. Enjoy your upcoming travels!

Love to hear it! And thanks for sharing.

Glad that I am still somewhat relevant in the FIRE community even though I don't post a ton any more.

 

[FUEGO]

Yes, many of us remember you, FUEGO. Thanks for stopping by and letting us know what's been happening and where you have traveled. You are most welcome to post even more travel stories and insights. Much aloha.

I'll be back next year to check in

I just don't spend as much time on social media/forums as I used to. Especially when busy traveling.

I used to surf ER forums a ton from work back in the day but now I am too busy being ER'd ha ha ha

 

[MichaelB]

Food is very different in different parts of the world. Eating good local food is something we enjoy when traveling. And there is simply no way to recreate that experience in one location in the US.

Well said!

 

[harllee]

I'll be back next year to check in

I just don't spend as much time on social media/forums as I used to. Especially when busy traveling.

I used to surf ER forums a ton from work back in the day but now I am too busy being ER'd ha ha ha

Fuego, I follow your blog and read every detail and enjoy them. I live near you in Chapel Hill but spend my summers in the Banner Elk, NC area. The summer weather is almost perfect in Banner Elk (most every day in the 70s) and there are many fun things to do. I would encourage you to take a trip to this area some summer.

 

[FUEGO]

Fuego, I follow your blog and read every detail and enjoy them. I live near you in Chapel Hill but spend my summers in the Banner Elk, NC area. The summer weather is almost perfect in Banner Elk (most every day in the 70s) and there are many fun things to do. I would encourage you to take a trip to this area some summer.

Sounds nice! I hate the summertime heat here so I try to get away somewhere cooler in summertime like Poland or Mexico City where temps are about like that, mostly 70's, or Argentina where it's wintertime in southern hemisphere and in the 60's.

I used to go up to that part of the mountains (or a bit south) a lot every summer when I was a kid. Along the blue ridge pkwy and Linville Falls/Gorge/Campground. And extended family is all from the foothills near there. Very beautiful area.

 

[Koolau]

There are several couples that slow travel. Search for them on YouTube. Try Amelia and JP abroad.

Yes, I checked them out. I was surprised how many videos they have and the wide range of subjects. Thanks.

 

[Focus]

Speaking of...anyone know what happened to @Gone4Good? He was active here, but last posted in 2016. The couple (Brian and Shannon) had a website/blog and Facebook page, EverywhereOnce, but those were also abandoned without notice in 2016-17.

 

[friar1610]

Does anyone remember Paul and Vicki TerHorst? They wrote a book about 40 years ago about their “perpetual travel” lifestyle. A link to their story was included on John Greaney’s “Retire Early Home Page” web site back in the day. I’ll have to look on the web and see what they’re up to these days, if indeed they’re still alive, we’ll and traveling.

 

[Focus]

Does anyone remember Paul and Vicki TerHorst? They wrote a book about 40 years ago about their “perpetual travel” lifestyle. A link to their story was included on John Greaney’s “Retire Early Home Page” web site back in the day. I’ll have to look on the web and see what they’re up to these days, if indeed they’re still alive, we’ll and traveling.

They stopped posting two years ago. Per their blog, they were living in Queretaro, Mexico:
Vicki (@terhorstperpetualtravel) • Instagram photos and videos

 

[friar1610]

They stopped posting two years ago. Per their blog, they were living in Queretaro, Mexico:
Vicki (@terhorstperpetualtravel) • Instagram photos and videos

Thank you.

 

[teej1985]

Speaking of...anyone know what happened to @Gone4Good? He was active here, but last posted in 2016. The couple (Brian and Shannon) had a website/blog and Facebook page, EverywhereOnce, but those were also abandoned without notice in 2016-17.

Someone seems to still be paying for their website fees.

Meet Shannon and Brian

Not your typical vagabonds, we’re too young to be retired pensioners and too old to be gap-year backpackers. So where do we fit in? We like to think everywhere and nowhere. In truth, we’re just a c…

everywhereonce.com

She has her own (more recently active) website:

NEWS & EVENTS | Shannon McKenna Schmidt

News about Shannon McKenna Schmidt and The First Lady of World War II: Eleanor Roosevelt's Daring Journey to the Frontlines and Back

www.shannonmckennaschmidt.com

 

[Focus]

Someone seems to still be paying for their website fees.

Meet Shannon and Brian

Not your typical vagabonds, we’re too young to be retired pensioners and too old to be gap-year backpackers. So where do we fit in? We like to think everywhere and nowhere. In truth, we’re just a c…

everywhereonce.com

She has her own (more recently active) website:

NEWS & EVENTS | Shannon McKenna Schmidt

News about Shannon McKenna Schmidt and The First Lady of World War II: Eleanor Roosevelt's Daring Journey to the Frontlines and Back

www.shannonmckennaschmidt.com

In the original About page of their abandoned website, apparently updated in 2014, it says: "The plan is to keep traveling indefinitely—exploring new places, pushing boundaries, and experiencing what the world has to offer."

But it wasn't indefinite. On her own blog's About page, it says: "From 2010 through 2017, Shannon traveled full-time—first in the United States by RV and then backpacking around the globe. She now lives in Hoboken, New Jersey."

 

[Montecfo]

It really depends on ones disposition. No doubt is "harder" to live in some other country, but "easy" may be too boring for some people.

I think you may be onto something. We.enjoy travel a lot and almost any kind of trip can be a great adventure. But we also love being home and enjoying the place where we live. Being home seems sweeter.also after you have been away.

We are acutely aware however that the time within which we will both want to travel and find it physically enjoyable is limited and we do not want to leave that on the table in order to do the "easy" thing.

 

[Koolau]

IIRC there have been several folks here on the forum that have set out to be full-time RV'ers and then changed their minds after some years on the road. Obviously nothing wrong with changing your mind but I think it points out that most of us do "shift" our living focus over almost any 10 year period. YMMV

 

[teej1985]

In the original About page of their abandoned website, apparently updated in 2014, it says: "The plan is to keep traveling indefinitely—exploring new places, pushing boundaries, and experiencing what the world has to offer."

But it wasn't indefinite. On her own blog's About page, it says: "From 2010 through 2017, Shannon traveled full-time—first in the United States by RV and then backpacking around the globe. She now lives in Hoboken, New Jersey."

It appears that he logged in today. Must not have felt like chiming in re that statement

 

[SecondAttempt]

We always heard people complaining about how "spoiled" Hawaii is. We love it spoiled and couldn't bear to live on any of the neighboring Islands (though we love to visit.) YMMV

Hey, hey, hey! I couldn't bear to live on Oahu because it's too crowded though I love to visit!

I live in South Kona on the Big Island. Life here can sometimes be just like it was 100+ years ago. I don't mean that in a positive or negative way and it's truly not for everyone. One of my projects in retirement is to live for a month off what I can produce myself...fruits and vegetables from my property, oils from coconut and avocado growing here, salt from the sea, etc. I have plenty of wild pigs, chickens, and pheasants and could have cattle that I hunt or butcher so I'll allow myself meat (including fish), eggs, flour, sugar, dairy, and similar things that could be bought 100 years ago. It will take a couple of years to prepare by processing enough coffee, spices, and macadamia nuts to get through a month.

Call it a hobby!

 

[Koolau]

Hey, hey, hey! I couldn't bear to live on Oahu because it's too crowded though I love to visit!

I live in South Kona on the Big Island. Life here can sometimes be just like it was 100+ years ago. I don't mean that in a positive or negative way and it's truly not for everyone. One of my projects in retirement is to live for a month off what I can produce myself...fruits and vegetables from my property, oils from coconut and avocado growing here, salt from the sea, etc. I have plenty of wild pigs, chickens, and pheasants and could have cattle that I hunt or butcher so I'll allow myself meat (including fish), eggs, flour, sugar, dairy, and similar things that could be bought 100 years ago. It will take a couple of years to prepare by processing enough coffee, spices, and macadamia nuts to get through a month.

Call it a hobby!

If the Islands are ever cut off from routine re-supply, you will be in great shape where as we on Oahu could never raise enough food to supply our residents. Keep us posted on your efforts and results.

 

[Gone4Good]

In the original About page of their abandoned website, apparently updated in 2014, it says: "The plan is to keep traveling indefinitely—exploring new places, pushing boundaries, and experiencing what the world has to offer."

But it wasn't indefinite. On her own blog's About page, it says: "From 2010 through 2017, Shannon traveled full-time—first in the United States by RV and then backpacking around the globe. She now lives in Hoboken, New Jersey."

We're doing well, thanks for asking.

Our plans were "indefinite" when I wrote that sentence We never consciously planned to stop traveling full-time. After seven years we wanted a break. Rented a place near a city we loved. That "break" turned into a couple of years. Then Covid disrupted the world. Then other interests occupied our time. And "full-time travel" receded into the background. So it goes.

We still travel periodically. Have a month long trip to Japan coming up. Other places here and there.

But I guess the relevant thing for this community is that "we're" still retired. 14 years now.

Shannon has almost always taken paid writing assignments. She stopped for awhile but decided that she liked researching and writing books. So that's what she does.

Initially we saw her attachment to paid work as a "Plan D." Something the two of us could ramp up if Plans A, B and C all went sideways. But Mr. Market has been good and our withdrawal rate is lower than it was when we left.

 

[Focus]

We're doing well, thanks for asking.

Our plans were "indefinite" when I wrote that sentence We never consciously planned to stop traveling full-time. After seven years we wanted a break. Rented a place near a city we loved. That "break" turned into a couple of years. Then Covid disrupted the world. Then other interests occupied our time. And "full-time travel" receded into the background. So it goes.

We still travel periodically. Have a month long trip to Japan coming up. Other places here and there.

But I guess the relevant thing for this community is that "we're" still retired. 14 years now.

Shannon has almost always taken paid writing assignments. She stopped for awhile but decided that she liked researching and writing books. So that's what she does.

Initially we saw her attachment to paid work as a "Plan D." Something the two of us could ramp up if Plans A, B and C all went sideways. But Mr. Market has been good and our withdrawal rate is lower than it was when we left.

Thanks for the update, and glad to hear all is well! Good to see you back in the forum.

 

[Koolau]

We're doing well, thanks for asking.

Our plans were "indefinite" when I wrote that sentence We never consciously planned to stop traveling full-time. After seven years we wanted a break. Rented a place near a city we loved. That "break" turned into a couple of years. Then Covid disrupted the world. Then other interests occupied our time. And "full-time travel" receded into the background. So it goes.

We still travel periodically. Have a month long trip to Japan coming up. Other places here and there.

But I guess the relevant thing for this community is that "we're" still retired. 14 years now.

Shannon has almost always taken paid writing assignments. She stopped for awhile but decided that she liked researching and writing books. So that's what she does.

Initially we saw her attachment to paid work as a "Plan D." Something the two of us could ramp up if Plans A, B and C all went sideways. But Mr. Market has been good and our withdrawal rate is lower than it was when we left.

We appreciate the update. Feel free to post anytime. Aloha

 

[bearkeley]

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli. They retired in 1991 with $500k and started traveling the world. I just googled and see that they posted a video of them buying gelato in Catania, Sicily 3 days ago, so I guess they're still on the road.

Billy and Akaisha were the ones who inspired us to work towards early retirement. Like them, we have a home base and live the 'Nomad' life about 6 months at a time, then take mini trips the rest of the year. We are approaching year 10 since retiring early in our 40s and thank them and this group for the inspiration and info. Interestingly, since Covid, we have met a large number of early retirees who consider themselves part of the 'FIRE Movement', traveling full time and relying on their YouTube Income to supplement equity they had from selling their homes and 401k. It will be interesting to see how they do long term as well!