Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

The Benefits of Globe Trotting

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

Billy reads the Bangkok Post as Akaisha peddles - Joking around in a Jak-a-Ran, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Globe Trotting is also known as slow travel - and in our case, very slow travel. Wanderlust is in our blood. We enjoy learning about and experiencing uniquely unusual locations around the globe. You know, like that little cafe apart from the tourists that you found in the alleyway which served the best tortellini you have ever eaten. Or that French bakery you discovered with astonishing croissants and baguettes. And remember that amazing beach bar serving great priced ice cold beers and botanas right to your table, while you chatted with locals? These are the experiences which make remarkable stories that you tell over and over, getting to relive those particular moments again.

In our case it's been three decades of global wandering, harvesting our stories. We prefer experiences over stuff, and it is one of the reasons we travel. Several more are listed below.

Cost

Years ago we figured it was going to cost us a certain amount of money to “stay home” – whether it was food, entertainment, rent, or transportation, we spent "X" amount per day. In choosing to travel, we still paid for these items, but now we were in some exotic place creating memories.

The difference between what we spent at home and our journeys to Asia, Guatemala, pristine beaches in Mexico or a tour of both islands of New Zealand seemed miniscule for what we received in return. Many times the difference in expenditures was just the cost of the airfare.

Now instead of asking “Can we afford to go?” we ask “Can we afford not to go?”

Excitement

For us, there is no doubt that looking forward to new vistas, food, cultures and geography is exciting. While we love the stability of “home,” friends, and the familiar, nothing replaces breathtaking scenery, the mysteries of local indigenous cultures and new flavors in cuisine. Some of which we try to recreate once returning "home."

It spices up our lives immeasurably as well as expanding our minds and sometimes our waistlines too!

Waiting on the tarmac at the airport in Laos

Lifestyle

After traveling the globe for over thirty years, we have found that in many cases “less is more.” For one thing, we have outgrown the need to purchase souvenirs for ourselves, families and friends. Now we have intriguing stories of serendipity, humorous anecdotes of lost luggage or personal bungles, and priceless essential moments with human beings on the other side of the planet.

We have also opened ourselves up to a more pleasant lifestyle – and due to the strength of the Dollar, we pay less, - have better weather, fresher food year round, and sharper understanding of who we are in the world.

A young woman from the Karen People, also known as the Long Neck Tribe, poses with Billy for a photo, Northern Thailand

Learning new cultures

Humans are humans all across the earth. But how we celebrate our holidays, what we find sacred, the style of our music, the spices we use and what we determine is valuable in our particular society changes from culture to culture. Exposing ourselves to these new expressions opens up our outlook and challenges us to grow.

“Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore” and what we glean from these exchanges makes us personally wealthy. One year we celebrated four "New Years" in a matter of months; The Western New Year, The Thai New Year, Chinese New Year and the Balinese New Year!

Stretching your limits with languages

Learning another language changes everything.

How we view our surroundings and what goes on around us is very much tied to the language we use to express ourselves. The French may have one way to say something, the Japanese another. There might not be a Guatemalan Mayan word to say what we want and we find we have to search a little harder to communicate.

Learning the local language gives a glimpse into cultures and life that is different from our own native tongue. This is good for the brain and good for our perspective. Talk about stretching your mind!

Billy and Akaisha in a very hip Tapas Bar in Oaxaca, Mexico

Cool cafes and wine bars

As the world gets more and more connected through air travel, digital news, photos, and gadgets, we find that we can easily get a good cup of coffee in international cities. Wine and tapas bars are a great place to relax, listen to music, munch and savor a tasty glass of wine.

Cafes and wine bars are easy going, fun places to hang out and meet new people and other travelers.

Having lunch with like-minded friends in Chapala, Mexico

Meeting like-minded people

Travelers love meeting other travelers.

This is where very important information is traded between adventurers. Tips on the best lodging, good places to get meals, hiking trips, out-of-the-way towns that haven’t been overrun by tourists and just plain good ol’ travel stories can be shared. Sometimes long-term friendships can be made and that’s always a bonus. Priceless information can be had, if you listen.

Taking yourself out of your comfort zone

A certain amount of stress is needed for growth. Sometimes we can’t tell the difference between anxiety and excitement. But those “Wow” memories are made when we are just on the other side of our comfort zone. How far you go is up to you, but think about it.

You could stay home and stand in a grocery line to check out your purchases, or you could go to a world class open-air market where the colors are dazzling, and the indigenous vendors make it unforgettable. And believe us, you will not forget about it, even if you just shop for bananas.

Or you could do something adventurous like white water raft, hike a mountain, go on a pilgrimage in Spain, or take a painting class in France.

Dreaming at sunset over Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Memories and experiences for a lifetime

Sometimes we think to ourselves – how many more clothes do we need? How much more food can we consume? World travel has offered us amazing, unforgettable memories and stories for a lifetime. Ours is a National Geographic lifestyle in 3D; sights, sounds, smells, and flavors that we can’t get at the local 7-11, department store or chain restaurant.

Learning currency exchange rates

How many zeros can the government put after that first number? In Vietnam, $1USD is worth over 23,000 Dong. In Thailand, 33 Baht equals $1. Going from Mexico’s changing Peso exchange to Guatemala’s Quetzal can be confusing. 

All of this keeps us on our mental toes and makes us sharp. It also gives us a worldly view of money and purchasing power.

Billy and Akaisha with Indigenous women at the ChiangDao Market, Northern Thailand. Notice the blackened teeth of the woman next to Billy. She has been chewing betel nut a long time.

Shopping in markets with locals

We have gotten spoiled in the States where you can literally find anything you want in mega stores or online. There are dozens of brands, any fashion or sports size for any body shape, every flavor of shampoo, body cream, over the counter drugs, and olives and sun dried tomatoes in gallon jars - whatever your pleasure might be.

Going to local open-air markets in foreign countries are a different experience all together. There can be items lined out in designer piles on a canvas in the road, or a fruit stand bursting with color and flavor. It could be a tiny store with items jumbled and packed from floor to ceiling. You never know what you will find.

Live animals can be for sale or fresh baked goods on a tray carried on someone’s head.

A surprise at every turn, neighborhood markets are great for photos, the experience itself, and shopping!

Learning about borders and visas

Not everyone knows that you simply cannot go from one country to another willy nilly. There are border crossings and visas - strictly controlled in most cases - some of them free and some of them costly depending on your citizenship. Most of these need to be researched in advance, unless you are going with a travel group who takes care of these things for you. Some visas you must get in your home country, and others are given to you as you arrive.  

All of this is a bit of a challenge especially if you plan on visiting numerous places, and some popular countries change their visa rules regularly. But it’s another one of those things that gives you an understanding of how the world works.

Three of us on a moto-taxi in the Dominican Republic

Using transportation that would never be approved at home

Transportation options in foreign countries runs the gamut. Traveling in a Chicken Bus across Guatemala can be a thrill - like a five star ticket ride at an amusement park. We have taken water taxis, ridden on moto-taxis, tuk tuks, songtheows, buses, planes, trains, private cars and vans, and even horseback! Many of these forms of transport would never be approved of back home! Often there are no seat belts, or not enough life preservers on the boat to match the passenger count. We have seen families of 5 to 7 members on a motorbike as par for the course - with a baby being held in a five gallon bucket off to the side!

Carrying what you own… aka travel light.

Being on the road for a month or more at a time is a great way to learn what’s important to pack. Since we carry our luggage with us, any extra weight must pass the “value” test. Do I really need this? Could I purchase something along the way if necessary? (most of the time yes) Does this item serve more than one purpose? How can I consolidate and multi-purpose my items?

This experience is a good gateway to minimalism.

Akaisha in a pedi-cab taking in the sites in Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon) in Vietnam

Getting exercise daily because you walk more

Since we utilize public transport, and almost never rent a car, we find ourselves generally walking more in our day-to-day lives. We walk to the tennis courts, to the open air markets, and to the restaurants where we have meals. We walk to the coffee shops to meet friends, and from our hotel to the beach to spend the day. Sometimes we even walk from town to town!

All this and more

There are innumerable benefits to globe trotting that cover every category of life. We have opened ourselves to Medical Tourism, and made friends throughout the world, some of whom we have re-connected with in other countries. We've attended sacred ceremonies of the Maya in Guatemala, chanted with the Buddhists in Asia and have been guests at weddings, baptisms, and quinceañeras in Mexico.

Our palates have appreciated the different style of cuisine from the magnificent French pastries and sauces to the hot and spicy Thai food. Mexican food is hard to beat but so is American Bar-B-Que! We have even eaten ants in Venezuela!

Our lives will never be the same for all the miles we have covered. And we have joy documenting our travel tales for heritage diaries for our nephews and nieces to enjoy.

Why not add a little adventure and excitement to your routine? Hop on a plane, take a motorcycle trip, or get on a cruise and leave the mundane behind. Can you really afford not to go? 

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Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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