To be a world vagabond

[Dixie]

I want to bounce this idea of y'all. It's either brilliant or crazy, but I find it intriguing.

It recently occurred to me that I could roam the world if I sold everything I owned, and stayed at Airbnb type places. For example, I could summer in Spain. Then perhaps I'd spend a week in London before moving on to Hungary for three months.

Obviously the big attraction is getting to travel. But there's also the prospect that, given a bit of discretion, I could live for quite a bit less than it cost me to live in Florida.

An obvious concern is healthcare. I figure I could address this by flying back to Florida every three to six months, or by paying cash to see a local doctor. By far my biggest concern would be the mental toll. The lack of long term friends and relations may result in profound loneliness. I also wonder if owning only what I can stuff into a couple suitcases would be depressing. I do have my bougie desires.

So what are y'all thoughts?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

The people I've read about doing it are living on a cruise ship. Or multiple ships.

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

The people I've read about doing it are living on a cruise ship. Or multiple ships.

About that... I get seasick on cruise ships. Ugh!

[Gogar]

It's a great idea but I imagine you would have to make a real concerted effort to establish and maintain even the most casual relationships as you travel to make it feel right. Adult bodies and brains secretly crave familiarity and comfort no matter what we tell ourselves on the top level.

[DWBOX2000]

Yeah, I think no connection to familiar people occasionally would be not good. I know when I go to SC and my wife leaves, I’m usually ready to go home a day or two later. Friends would help.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

I've enjoyed living, working and travelling all over the world, in many amazing locations

My wanderlust is strong so 100% understand the appeal

Idea sounds excellent but in reality you'll probably find the novelty wears off quickly

What about trying to choose one part of the world that you think you'd really enjoy the experience of living there. Commit for a year and use the location to spring board trips from

You seem an out going gal so I think it would take you no time to build up a new circle of friends while you settle in

Moving around every few months won't give you chance to fully explore your local area and get to know the locals

As soon as I retire Mrs Ahab plan to move to Costa Rica for 6 months, maybe we'll like it so much we'll stay longer, maybe we won't as we won't sell our current home, just rent it out

[Seahawk]

A few references from friends who are doing this now, or have done it:

https://vagabonding.net/

https://www.jumpspeak.com/blog/how-to-vagabond

To a person, they recommend a trial period of six months to a year with a re-entry plan: don't sell the house in other words until you have enough data points pro or con.

They also council getting real budget numbers in terms of practical needs and exchange rates, including the cost of luggage (believe it or not, that is huge).

That is it from my perspective.

[GH85Carrera]

My cousin did that when he turned 18. He spent a year in India, with a budget of $600, and he earned that working at the docks. Then he headed to Sweden, Norway and other cold climate places. Then on to Iran, Iraq, Israel and several other Middle East countries. Of course that was in the early 1970s and the middle east was a very different place.

He is one of the guys that never met a stranger. He can talk to anyone.

Personally I can't imagine selling everything and not have a place to call home.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Gogar

It's a great idea but I imagine you would have to make a real concerted effort to establish and maintain even the most casual relationships as you travel to make it feel right. Adult bodies and brains secretly crave familiarity and comfort no matter what we tell ourselves on the top level.

Good observation. This must be why the cruise ship works. If you are on a ship for a year or years, you become friends with the crew.

I'll look for the YT videos I've watched. The algorithm must have picked up on Heidi and Franny selling their home and going sailing a year ago.







A week ago

[herr_oberst]

I used to follow this woman on YouTube; She does what you're talking about at least as far as travel is concerned, making mo' money as an influencer and selling her ideas. I think you have to be born with the desire to do this thing. The fact that she's adorable and a true citizen of the world have to be a huge asset when plans go pear shaped and you're forced to scramble, hopping from place to place juggling all the moving parts that international travel requires.

http://www.sorelleamore.com/

[GH85Carrera]

Many years ago, there was an active couple in our local Porsche region. They and their long time next door neighbors, sold off everything, and bought a custom boat that had room for the two couples, and they had it delivered to Muskogee, OK. They retired from good jobs in the oil field, before the first big oil bust.

Then sailed down the river from Muskogee to New Orleans, across the gulf hugging the coast line. Around the trip of Florida, and up the inter-coastal waterway. They ended up in Martha's Vineyard. They had to hire a licensed Captain for some of the voyage. They tried to stop at every nice port along the way and it took them several years to make the journey.

They finally sold the boat, and flew back home to far North East Oklahoma. They had their fill of the ocean and vagabond life. The two couples bought houses next door and settled down as total retirees, and remained good friends.

I always wondered how much it cost them to do that. They enjoyed it all. They showed up a few breakfast meetings, but never got back into Porsches.

[wildthing]

This should work. For me, I still need to rent storage space for my Porsches. Also a PO box for government stuff - IRS, SS, DMV. I'd probably escape California. Maybe summer in Canada or Northern Europe, Christmas in the Philippines, or Western or Eastern Europe. The rest of the time would be driving around the CONUS.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

This is one my if and when I get old dreams. Italy, France or Japan there are many abandoned small towns and homes in the country that can he had for a song.

[Bill Douglas]

That's why I did this sort of thing when I was young. Never lonely, never cared too much. Smart, strong, good looking. The world was my oyster.

Now... I'd rather have a nice pinot and watch the TV.

[The Synergizer]

One pool cue, one carpetbag... roam from town to town...

"Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without wings, without wheels
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to"

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by The Synergizer

One pool cue, one carpetbag... roam from town to town...

"Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without wings, without wheels
Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to"

Without wings, without wheels,
But roam with my makeup, my wardrobe, and twenty pairs of heels."

[motion]

I do it.

Montana is my summer base for 4 months, then I roam the planet for the other 8 months. Typically its 2 months in Italy riding my motorbike all over southern Europe, 3 months or so in Asia (mostly Vietnam), and 3 months in Africa, Middle East, etc. I average around 30 countries a year.

You can do it on the cheap if you put some effort into it. $2K a month is pretty easy. I spend quite a bit more than that because the airline tickets really add up and I usually pop for 4 star hotels.

You may or may not get lonely depending on your personality and your past. There's only one way to find out

[masraum]

Originally Posted by motion

I do it.

Montana is my summer base for 4 months, then I roam the planet for the other 8 months. Typically its 2 months in Italy riding my motorbike all over southern Europe, 3 months or so in Asia (mostly Vietnam), and 3 months in Africa, Middle East, etc. I average around 30 countries a year.

You can do it on the cheap if you put some effort into it. $2K a month is pretty easy. I spend quite a bit more than that because the airline tickets really add up and I usually pop for 4 star hotels.

You may or may not get lonely depending on your personality and your past. There's only one way to find out

HOLY SHEIßE!!!

Welcome back, fella. Glad to see that you're still kickin' (you never know these days), and thanks for making an appearance. Just this past week, someone bumped a 10+ year old thread where you featured prominently, and I wondered what you were up to.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by Dixie

...I could roam the world if I sold everything I owned

One possible problem with selling your stuff and spending all the money on travel, is that...depending on how much of your finite bankroll that you've spent...it might prove rather difficult to re-establish yourself back here if the wanderlust starts to wear thin.
Living just about anywhere in the US is expensive compared to a lot of other places. Unless you find a spot that you really like, where you can live out your days comfortably on a manageable budget, then you might consider keeping a cash reserve stashed somewhere to use if/when you decide to return.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by Gogar

It's a great idea but I imagine you would have to make a real concerted effort to establish and maintain even the most casual relationships as you travel to make it feel right. Adult bodies and brains secretly crave familiarity and comfort no matter what we tell ourselves on the top level.

What in the heck do you know about living out of a traveling caravan for weeks or months at a time???