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Retire Early
Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler
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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. |
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Claim Your Freedom Every Day!
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
Let's Go!!
Billy and I have been traveling the globe for three decades. Within
those
international trips we have noticed that humans intrinsically desire
to be free.
For the most part you and I enjoy our freedoms. We have
control over
our finances, we can
drive a car
whenever we choose to do so, and if you are
reading this, chances are you have a background of education and experience
from having lived your life.
But there are other ways
we
close ourselves off from freedom and with a
little sense of adventure and a change of perspective, you can gain those
freedoms back. Take a look at some suggestions below.
Liberate yourself from a dull existence
Do you have a lifestyle pattern that has become a rut? Are the weeks ahead
fully predictable with the same activities? Why not step out and do
something different? Sign up for a dance class – it could be ballroom
dancing, tango, Latin rhythms or freestyle. It’s a great way to liven it up
with your spouse, or meet someone new at class.
Speaking of classes, sign up for a
cooking
class, a painting class, for an
archeological dig in another country. Plan
a
motorcycle trip, an RV trip, a
whitewater rafting trip, or a lazy week in a mountain cabin somewhere.
Purchase some new music to listen to, something by a different artist, or
perhaps a different style than what you are used to enjoying. Order
something off the menu that is outside the norm for you. Try a
new flavor of
ice cream. Buy a small item of clothing that will shake things up, like a
FUN pair of socks, a bright scarf, a new color of lipstick or nail polish, a
hat, fedora or a cap.
Make a promise to do something different – just one thing – every week.
Watch how your life opens up.
Let go of an old concept of self
Self-descriptions and titles have their place, especially when we derive
satisfaction from them. But what if a role you have been playing needs a
little freshening up? Or what if you have outgrown that narrative
altogether?
If you are a parent, a Ph.D., or an entrepreneur, no one can take that away
from you. But what if you expand the way you express yourself in the world?
Maybe you’d like to become a sailor, or a storyteller, or an adventure
traveler. Don’t hold yourself back! As Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon says,
“You can’t shrink yourself to relevance.”
Don’t let age define you
Because Billy and I lead a lifestyle of travel, we are constantly
meeting new people. We have
a collection of
friendships that span
all age groups and these relationships are enriching and rewarding.
Our friend, Stanley, is 86 and used to work in a carnival decades ago. He
has stories that are riveting and his practical insight is something that we
always enjoy. Stanley travels by himself through
Latin America and we meet
up with him from time to time in
Chapala,
Mexico and
Panajachel, Guatemala.
Recently we asked him if he liked this certain favorite expat destination,
and his immediate response was, “Nah… they’re too old there.” He went on to
explain that these people – probably a decade or three younger than he –
were in a rut, never tried anything new, had nothing interesting to talk
about and were basically boring!
On the other hand, I know of several women – much younger than Stanley, by
the way – who immediately describe themselves as an “old woman.” The
interjections into conversations go like this: “I can’t do that (eat that,
go there) I’m an old woman now and have to watch myself.” Or “I know I’m
crabby today, but I’m an old woman and I’ve earned it.” Or even, “I get
lonely from time to time, but what man would want to go out with an old
woman like me?”
Oh dear.
Enthusiasm, engagement with life, building relationships, and benefiting
society through
mentorship or volunteering all keep us young no matter what
our age is.
Have you sunk into an age description? What are you doing to open up that
self-limitation?
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