One of the conversations that Billy and I have often is how our chosen lifestyle makes us privy to opportunities. We remind ourselves that we take this vista of potential for granted much of the time. But every once in a while, it strikes us how circumstances can be rearranged in the most creative of ways to make a dreary life into one that is extr...Read More

No matter what goes on in the news, Washington or the world, to build a stable tomorrow, we must take control of our own lives. Even with all the current upheaval, here are five things you can do today to empower yourself. Track spending This is the number one most useful financial technique to implement today. Imagine if businesses did not track t...Read More

It’s a common theme. Much of the mail we get from our readers speaks about the fear that holds them back from letting go of the life they know and moving forward into the retirement of their dreams. The reasons cited can vary from the health care question to not knowing if there will be enough money to cover every imagined need in the future....Read More

In 1988, when we were first contemplating leaving the traditional working world and replace it with a life of travel, wealth was described only in terms of having money and possessions. Our decision to create a lifestyle of our choice was met with controversy. Some friends and family disapproved, while others became angry or confused. In general th...Read More

Age related concerns According to Pew Research, approximately 10,000 Boomers turn 65 every day for the next 16 years. While being 65 isn’t necessarily old, questions about continuing care and assisted living seem to loom on the horizon more largely for us than before. Navigating through contracts, comparing the often nonrefundable hundreds-of...Read More

It wasn’t a decision we took lightly. In fact, Billy and I discussed the idea of becoming car-free for several years. There were good reasons to do it: no more maintenance and repair costs; no more fees for insurance, license plate renewal, or registration; no more fuel expense; and no more worry about storing the vehicle here in the States w...Read More

In pursuing your dream of financial independence, you will find that some things will support you in this quest, and others by nature will be obstructions. Dream killers If you are afraid to stand out from the crowd with either your opinions or actions, are resistant to trying something new, have a consuming need for safety or an uncontrolled desir...Read More

We were enjoying our meal at a popular open-air restaurant on the main tourist drag in Panajachel, Guatemala, when some tourists about our age walked slowly by. Billy says Hey, the food’s great here, why not give it a go? The man looked interested, the woman looked horrified. I chimed in with Order the Amuerzo Economico and you will pay half...Read More

Over the last several weeks, Billy and I have been traveling through the Mexican Yucatan and on into Guatemala. Can you say humid? The Yucatan has been oppressively hot with the humidity levels vacillating between 75% and 92% daily. When the temperatures reach the 80²s and with matching humidity, these two young kids (that would be us) tend to slo...Read More