What if your dream life began the day you left everything familiar behind? For me, it started one quiet morning in Split, Croatia.
There I was, lying in bed. The sun had just risen, and light began to creep through the drapes. There was no sound of traffic or people talking, only the serene stillness of a new day. It was just me, living in an apartment in Split, Croatia, for October.
Exploring the Balkans: A Two-Month Adventure
Since starting in Istanbul on August 1st, I zig-zagged my way across the Balkans. From Turkey to Bulgaria, Romania, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, and now Croatia. Every border crossed brought new experiences:
- A bustling market in Sofia
- The quiet charm of Lake Ohrid
- Coastal beauty in Kotor
The past two months went by fast, but now traveling was my life. Every day offered something new to explore and experience.
Discovering Expat Communities Around the World
Even though this lifestyle was new to me, I found travelers from around the world living in different countries, enjoying new cultures, and creating a new life. The more I traveled, the more I discovered that many countries had large expat communities of Americans. Not only that, but I met people who were living in foreign countries from all over the world.
Why I Chose to Travel Full-Time
My journey began as a combination of wanting to retire, the high cost of living in the U.S., a difficult living situation, and a lifelong desire to see the world. It wasn’t a snap decision but a combination of challenges that made me rethink everything.
Living in the United States is expensive, especially when considering health insurance costs. To get on COBRA would have cost over $1,200 a month before adding rent, food, utilities, and other expenses.
Retirement meant facing the reality of needing a part-time job just to maintain my standard of living. It was frustrating. After working all my life, I wanted to enjoy my golden years—not scrambling to make ends meet.
In addition, in 2022, I was living in Denver, sharing a house with an old girlfriend. While the arrangement worked for a while, her daughter’s attitude toward me became unbearable.
One day, in frustration, I joked that traveling full-time might be cheaper than staying in the U.S. That offhand comment became the spark for a transformative journey.
Planning for Full-Time Travel
Once the idea was planted, I started researching how to make it work. Touring hot spot destinations around the globe wasn’t realistic for my budget, but there were plenty of hidden gems to discover. I found lesser-known, affordable, and fascinating destinations like Turkey, Bulgaria, and Albania.
But my planning was critical.
I researched visa requirements, how long I could stay in each country, and transportation options between cities. I checked safety ratings and ensured my destinations had reliable mass transit systems.
I also read blogs and travel books and visited websites offering travel advice about places to visit along the way. The logistics were challenging, but the more I planned, the more excited I became.
Living Abroad Can Be More Affordable
Traveling abroad was much cheaper than staying in the United States. Websites like Airbnb and Flatio offer long-term rentals at great rates. Most countries I visited had excellent public transportation, so I didn’t need a car, and local markets made fresh, healthy food accessible and affordable.
For example, rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averaged around $394 per month in Vietnam. Monthly food expenses ranged from $200 to $400, and transportation could cost as little as $30.
Even Portugal, which is more expensive than Vietnam, had reasonable monthly costs, with rent averaging $670 and public transportation passes costing around $33. (According to International Living)
A Lifelong Passion for Travel
From the moment I saw pictures of Mesa Verde’s cliff dwellings as a child, the world called to me. Those dreams stayed with me through the years, even as I worked a 9-to-5 job in suburban Chicago.
When I married my second wife, Anna, travel became part of our life. Our honeymoon was a road trip through the western United States, visiting the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, and Arches National Parks.
I remember zipping through monument valley, stopping to take quick pictures and jumping back into the car to stay ahead of the slow tour buses that blocked the narrow dirt roads. It was a Grizwald family moment. We laughed for the entire ride as we visited giant rock formations that looked like they were put there by design.
Later, we explored Glacier, Yellowstone, and beyond.
In my forties, I took my first overseas trip to Paris, France, which opened the floodgates. Over the next decade, I traveled to Athens, Rome, Madrid, and many other cities.
I remember the night before my first oversea flight to Paris. I freaked out. What am I thinking? I booked a hotel online and I’m visiting a country where I don’t speak the language and know no one. I didn’t sleep well but arrived the next day safe and sound at the Charles De Gaulle Airport.
It was too early to check into the hotel but the receptionist took my bag and said the room would be ready in a few hours. I went outside and turned left because I knew the Louvre was down the street.
A few blocks away I turned and saw the pyramid that is the entrance to the Louvre, and it finally hit me, I’m in Paris. Needless to say I had a wonderful time and still remember those first minutes in Paris.
The Realities of Long-Term Travel
Hitting the road for five and a half months took careful planning, but there were still surprises. Language barriers were more manageable than I’d feared, especially in tourist areas. Technology has made communication more straightforward, but I quickly learned only some accept credit cards. Adjusting to different transportation systems was part of the adventure.
Traveling taught me to trust people and embrace the unexpected. For instance, I was waiting for a bus to Sarande on a quiet street corner in a small Albanian town, only to be offered a ride, for a small fee, from a delivery driver headed to where I was going. Even though we couldn’t communicate with words, I still have fond memories of that forty-five-minute ride.
Lessons Learned on the Road
I realized that people are generally friendly and helpful, no matter where you go. I found ways to stretch my budget by buying staples at local grocery stores and using mass transit to explore. I learned that while you can plan extensively, travel often requires improvisation.
Here’s a few things to have handy when traveling long term….
- Phone With A Data Plan
- Phone Apps Ride Share App Map App Translator App Whatsapp
- Local Currency for Taxi’s and Water
- Addresses of Hotels
- Pack Light because you may have to walk
Is Full-Time Travel Right for You?
So, is this lifestyle right for you? Only you can answer that question. No matter how much you prepare, there will always be surprises. But if you’re willing to throw caution to the wind and embrace the unknown, the rewards of exploring the world can be life-changing.
If this post resonated with you, why not take the first step? Start researching destinations or connecting with expat communities online. Your journey could start today.
Happy Travels,
Joseph O’Brien