What We Learned Traveling The World For 6 Years In Retirement

[@latreces464]

Started watching your channel less than a year ago. Started a "2 year countdown" folder at the beginning of 2024. It's now May 16th, and I have sold my house, sold my car, sold all my furnishings, bought IHG points on their 80% bonus sale, and went from W2 employment to an independent contractor. I am now relaxing at the Holiday Inn Bangkok. 🎊🎊🥳🥳 God bless you both... you are helping change lives out here!!

[@John-fh3yp]

My wife and I had the privilege to travel all over the world for work when we were young. Your reflection here resonates so much with us. We also value international travel more for the learning opportunities everywhere. Now retired in our 60s, we planned to slow travel to Asia for a year. Thanks for sharing your journey and insights with us!

[@ahjacobs1967]

6 years, that’s incredible! We recently sold everything, retired and are one month into our slow travel journey. Your videos have been a tremendous help and support for us on our journey to get to this point. Thank you both so much and please know how much you are appreciated. Yes, people and experiences! It’s so freeing to get rid of the stuff.

[@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel]

Thanks!

[@DennisGonzalezny2honolulu]

Because of the videos you made and your honest approach I am a healthy almost 69 year old, retired IBEW Electrician, come Halloween very interested in doing the same when my lease expires next February… The fact that my lease alone is $2500.+ makes me feel that I can do this…

[@sharonwalshthompson8185]

You can!

[@Stopit77]

I hear ya! My rent is $2200 month for one bedroom and I am over it. Will retire soon, sell it all and travel. Life is just too short not to.

[@junboo8730]

@@Stopit77I agree BUT first rent and then travel at least for three consecutive months. This lifestyle is not for everyone.

[@DennisGonzalezny2honolulu]

@@sharonwalshthompson8185 I'm hoping to make Spain, my return country at this time as I can speak Spanish well enough to live anywhere. But I want to pick a location to start off from that is the least expensive but easy to travel to and from. .. any suggestions?

[@careym8437]

Love your real life examples of mistakes in the grocery store and on the train, “Go with the flow” is exactly the right attitude! You guys have made us so excited for our future travels, thank you!!

[@sharonwalshthompson8185]

It’s so much easier traveling with current technology. Google translate is your friend.

[@elizaC3024]

Great video guys. There's definitely a lot to be said for being able to get out of your comfort zone and be humble. Definitely learn thank you, and smile for your interactions in traveling outside of your country.

[@renamccully1462]

What a great video! Thank you for sharing your specific examples, it helps so much. I totally agree, "they really do care" and that section 9f the video hit home, about just going through the motions. I think thats why we like travel so much, the genuine experiences.

[@IsaacNYC212]

My husband and I are REALLY REALLY close to making the decision to become full time travelers. We both are now officially independent for work, and could work from anywhere. We currently live in NYC and the rent we pay could go so far in many other places in the world.

[@HGills]

My Aussie daughter was working at Google in NYC, her rent for a 1 bedder in UES was eye watering. She’s now moved to LA - rent is considerably cheaper and you get a lot more for you $$ but she does miss NY

[@IsaacNYC212]

@@HGills I'm on the UES. It is pricey, but beautiful. I feel like it's easier to move out of NYC than it is to move into NYC, because the rent is so high here. Anywhere else in the world is going to be less expensive. It's refreshing when you though a city was expensive only to find out it's less expensive than NYC. London is on my list of places to move to and people are always saying London is expensive. Not when you're coming from NYC 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I will miss NYC. It is a one of a kind city.

[@joanhall3718]

My first downsize was done in a daze after my husband passed away. Without the help of friends and family taking things to donate or to the dump I would have been paralyzed by indecision. I moved from our house into a condo. My second downsize was selling the condo and moving into an apartment to get ready for retirement. Getting ready for downsize 3. I hear constantly, “don’t get a storage unit”. I’m stressing out about getting rid of the artwork and antiques. I know I have to!

[@UppityRib]

Your story is just like mine - first downsized after husband died, to a house, then a condo, now an apartment! I'm curious - why do people not want you to get a storage unit?

[@rivercoyote6540]

They got a storage unit. Then decided after some time they didnt miss the stuff in there. Got rid of it. But they have not said everyone has to do everything they do exactly the same. They just share what they found and what worked best first them. We are downsizing now for 2026 retirement. Having garage sales now and donating. We have some original paintings from artist friends so we will likely take pictures of them and also get a very tiny storage space since we dont want to ask family to store our paintings. If in a year or two we decide they are not worth keeping we may. We may also take a box or two and store with parent and siblings. But paintings are too big. Good luck on your downsizing. ❤

[@kene8895]

Awesome insightful video and funny. I was in Okinawa many years ago and went to a small restaurant for breakfast and had no idea how to read the menu. I remembered when I walked in there was a display of food dishes in the window so I took the waitress outside, pointed to a dish, and that's how I ordered....... Priceless1

[@JB-ry9wc]

Greece is the same way - produce is weighed and tagged in the produce department. And this exact same thing happened to me just 2 weeks ago. The patient cashier walked my bananas over herself while the line grew. Yes it’s definitely uncomfortable but that’s part of traveling. It’s the getting use to being uncomfortable that’s invaluable. There’s always going to be those times when you are the one backing up the line. On the flip side, patience for others grows too.

[@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel]

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

[@UppityRib]

Great video, so much good info! Only thing keeping me from going full time is that I'd have to do it solo. I've traveled a lot, but I was always either with my (now late) husband or with a tour. Nervous about the safety of long-term travel by myself....

[@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel]

Thank you, all the best to you.

[@erickarnell]

I'm still trying to get rid of things faster than they come into my house. It's difficult. I hope we'll get better once the kids are out.

[@erickarnell]

Good luck. I know we'll be exactly where you are in a few years.

[@joanhall3718]

If your new friends are amenable, please do interviews. Would love to hear their stories and experiences.

[@Lionslifgh]

Truly have helped us out. The educated aproach used in your videos really is comforting. Be safe happy and blessed! Keep making videos together

[@Chris-N916]

Since you’re currently in Japan, I presume you know that the Japanese subway system has women-only cars as well.

[@JamieElgie]

Omg. I was just there for 2 weeks and did not know that. Lol

[@KruellaDeMillz]

Your story about the train car reminded of an unspoken rule in New York City. If you see an empty subway car, AVOID IT. 😬

[@fanatix9999]

I absolutely love your videos - they are so down to earth and oh so interesting. I'm starting to think about retirement in a few years, and had a few questions - (1) as slow travelers making money on youtube, do you pay taxes only in the US? (2) You mention 4-5 countries you return to time and time again - are they Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, ???

[@PrimeTimeTravelers]

Rob sounds like Dan....the best table in the world or the table on the sinkhole. Who really knows! Great video! So when we go to Japan we know to ask for the 'Grounded Life' table. If he points we know we are good!

[@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel]

😂😂😂

[@list-and-sell]

Shopping was an adventure when we landed in West Germany in 1986. Many of the same products but packaged differently - really? Milk in a tetra pack that's not refrigerated? And the way some items were sold - I'll have a layer of cold cuts from the deli instead of a 1/4 pound. And of course, most of the locals shopped daily, not once a week which I found intriguing. You're so right though, people seem to enjoy helping you understand their culture and we were warmly welcomed.

[@TheSicilianLife]

Thank you so much for pulling back the curtain and allowing us to understand your lives in more detail. You're SO interesting, and I am blessed to have come across your channel. 💛The practical advice is golden!

[@palm715]

I really appreciate the vibe of this video. I usually turn to you guys for specific “tips and tricks” on how to travel well on a budget, but these more nebulous ideas on what travel creates in your life is wonderful.

[@ablinil]

You guys are the best! Love your enlightened worldview.

[@lindadorman2869]

During the pandemic, I started a home-based reselling business. It's been successful but now my stuff (inventory) is the way I earn an income. So I have 3500+ items in my studio apartment. It will take years to get rid of everything. But I can close my online shop for months to travel whenever I want. It's convenient to have a low-cost home base in the US with the flexibility of traveling part of the year. At some point, I'll wind down and sell, give away or donate whatever is left.

[@margaretr.4427]

Another awesome video! Thank you for sharing your perspective and what you’ve learned. I think in the next 5 years there will be more Americans living abroad thanks to your encouraging videos! You make the viewers feel like we can do this too!

[@ColumbiaEagleMutiny]

Hi! Why haven't you made it to Cambodia? We lived in Phnom Penh and it was great.

[@vilmaaponte3380]

I’m curious to know what your plan is once you’re done traveling or can no longer travel due to health. Where do you plan to set roots?

[@traceylankford8579]

As a woman, I couldn’t even imagine downsizing my belongings to a suitcase and a backpack. When you guys get ready to leave Japan, can you do a video of how you pack & what’s in your bags?

[@01akqueen]

Love following your journey!

[@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel]

Thank you!!

[@strawberries1411]

Travelling to foreign places is mostly fun but scarry at times, finding your way, not speaking the language... thank God nowadays we have a phone with internet.. with google maps guiding you from door to door, translate apps to translate menu's and signs via camera, speaking into the phone and translate in more than hondred languages..KZbin galore to learn at least the very basics of any languages and the do and don't in any country.. Your stories reminded me of my travels some 10+ years ago when these things were not available. Looking like an Asian without their language skills was quite comical at times.. Well..many things can be solved with some common sense, a positive attitude, good manners and a smile😅

[@markshaffer68]

I was in Ukraine in 2019 and I asked the girl at the hotel desk if there was a nearby restaurant and she told me the name of one. To me, all the words sounded the same and there was no way I would be able to find it. I had her to write the restaurant name on a piece of paper for me and I took it with me. When I got out on the street I showed the paper to a gentleman and he showed me where the restaurant was. I don't know how I thought of that but it worked out pretty good.

[@janenicholls111]

I enjoy all your videos but this is definitely one of my favorites!!!☺️

[@denisefilice]

We are retiring May 2025, already sold house and now renting in US and we pondered about….Do you have a US state of domicile for filing taxes? Do you have a driver’s license in same state. How do you vote in major elections?

[@jwinters9974]

As we travel, the diversity we encounter is eye opening. e.g. Europe, despite being roughly the same size as the U.S., has not only very distinct cultures/languages between countries, but often even within the countries themselves, there there is often found much diversity. Compared to the U.S. where - sure there are small regional differences, however in general one culture/language rule.. Also, some countries you "think" English would be spoken more, in reality may not be, and the inverse is true as well. We were surprised at the lack of English being spoken in Italy for example, and inversely at the commonality of it in the Balkans..

[@cheryls832]

What did you do with all your family pictures? What about any sentimental items?

[@lmpreston1]

The savings in living this way. I am so challenged with having my creature comforts. I'd rather pay family to 'store' my stuff instead of storage units.

[@HGills]

It’s funny you say you went traveling when your kids went off to school - do you mean College / University ? In Australia it’s quite uncommon for kids to move out unless they live remotely or get an offer from a Uni interstate because of their entry score or the availability of a course eg: marine biology is usually up in Qld. Our kids live at home during their Uni years which also helps reduce their HECS/HELP debt (student loans) It’s quite odd that most American kids leave home for College. My daughter actually spent 12mths in the US on an international exchange program but fortunately only paid her Aussie Uni fees (AU$9k for the year) not the equivalent US fees and many of her friends over there were shocked that Aussie kids stay home and their student loans are so low and we don’t have to pay them back until they earn a minimum wage.

[@GroundedLifeRetirementTravel]

Yes, to college, kids in America often move out of state for college.

[@forrestbro]

I did the exact same thing with the metro the first time I was in Dubai. A lady caught my eye and pointed to the Women Only sign. I just walked to the next car, so not a big deal, but still kind of embarrassing.

[@cortneyturk]

Yikes. I knew Japan has women only cars (for good reason, unfortunately). Didn’t know about Dubai. Thanks!

[@gettingslim186]

Fun stories

[@FreeGypsy]

I am newly retired, freshly divorced and want to live out my dream of traveling. It would be solo and wondering if there were places you'd recommend for solo female traveling. Also I'm 63.

[@abdellav]

What did you all do with your pictures of family members and dear friends when you downsized to a backpack and a suitcase?

[@wallst4fun1]

Do you guys use Google translate now to understand what people are saying in foreign countries?

[@debbipurcell8108]

Did you keep any family keepsakes? Pictures of your kids? Digitize it all?

[@sbkpilot1]

i'm considering IMG Bronze, I got a quote for $115/month or so (i'm 50 and in good health), I know you've posted about health insurance but any specific feedback on your IMG plan? I'm particularly interested if customer service is an issue and of course payment of claims and if there are any gotchas since the rate is so low. Cigna Global for the same policy was over $200.

[@permaculturemom9848]

I love to travel but sometimes when I'm in a place where I can' t communicate well I feel exhausted at the end of the day. How do you deal with that? Do you take language lessons in diffenet places?

[@alexandriadileonardo3081]

What are sone your favorite cities in USA to visit and live in

[@totalmediacominc.1603]

How is not working full time going to affect your social security payments, and when do you plan to take them?

[@carlmay8314]

If you are financially independent who cares about social security.

[@JM.5387]

If they're self employed, they would be paying their own payroll tax, so would have credits for these years. It's definitely something to think about. I have no credits for the 6 years I was in graduate school. I will likely continue to work part time to replace some of those zeros.

[@GucciandMia]

@@JM.5387 they are making income on KZbin so social security will not be a concern in that respect.

[@JanineRenee-mh5xr]

Your genuine harmonious succinct videos are magnificent. Thank you for your global perspectives and inviting inspiration.