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. |
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Hooked on
Adventure
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
Boogie Boarding Phuket, Thailand
At nineteen years of age, it was the trip of my lifetime.
One of my very first travel adventures was in the early 70s when I went
cross country as a passenger on a motorcycle.
My parents were probably terrified for me, but my boyfriend was a good
driver, gasoline was $0.29 a gallon, I had $400 in cash and a plastic coat.
What could go wrong?
Leaving from the Midwestern state of Ohio, we headed west on a route that my
guy charted out – across the plains, over the Rockies, towards the
California coast and up through Canada and the Alaskan pipeline (before it
was completed) and into the Aleutian Islands. We were meeting up with
friends for the summer to help them build a log cabin, and this motorcycle
trek was a bonus ride to get there.
A few bumps in the road
Since the Alaskan pipeline at that time was only an unsurfaced road with
medium sized boulders and sharp rock, the teeth in our heads chattered up
and down and our motorcycle tires got torn to
shreds. We hadn’t counted on that! It wasn’t like we could order the parts
we needed from the internet or at a corner motorcycle shop for this 650
Triumph.
We rode on those abused and sorry tires for miles until we arrived at our
friend’s location where we had to go into town to find a telephone. In the
woods where he was living, it was pretty rustic; no one had a phone and this
was long before cell phones became commonplace.
We bathed in the freezing creek once a week, picked wild blueberries for the
pancakes we made in the mornings, and even ground our own grain to make
bread.
Well, I ground the grain, the boys built the cabin.
Freedom from the confines of a clock
At this upper latitude, the skies would often be overcast. Since it was
summer the sun didn’t set till late in the evenings, so it created this
dreamlike state where it was mostly always diffused daylight. We never knew what time
it was, and being immersed in nature - the time of day seemed irrelevant. Who
wore a watch in these circumstances? We ate when we were hungry, slept when
we were tired.
Life was simple.
Waiting for the tires
We had placed our order for new tires through a long distance call made in town
the first days of our arrival
and gave a post office box number as an address.
And then we waited.
And waited some more.
We were still preoccupied with building the log cabin, but after several
weeks, we called again to verify that our order had been placed. We
emphasized that the summer was nearing its end, and since we were on a
motorcycle, we had to get our vehicle fixed. If snow came, we’d be locked in
for the whole winter.
Our money would have run out, and probably our welcome too. No, we had to
get back on the road.
Moving on
It was stressful at the time, but eventually, our equipment arrived and we
bandaged our bike and took off to complete our journey. This time we drove
through the Canadian Rockies, then back down into the States and visited
National Parks. Sometimes we camped at rest stops, other times we utilized
campgrounds and there were a very few occasions when we stopped at a hotel
and luxuriated in a hot shower and a firm bed.
Have you ever taken a long motorcycle trip?
We were lucky to have a fairing and really good helmets made by Bell with a
face guard. Life was pretty uncomplicated; When it was hot, we were hot. When it was
cold, we were cold. When it rained, we were wet.
There was no stereo system and no cushy seats with the passenger looking
over the shoulder of the driver. We were alone with our thoughts for hours a
day watching the scenery blaze past.
It seemed like it took forever to drive through Kansas. And the Rockies
(both Canadian and US) were beyond stunning. The subtlety of the Painted
Desert is memorable to this day, and various canyons, including the Grand
Canyon, were mind-blowing.
I couldn’t help but think of those who crossed our nation in covered wagons,
bringing children, cattle and all of their belongings, transiting mountain
ranges and vast plains searching for a better life “somewhere west.”
History came alive for me.
Personal transformation
Arriving home that autumn, it felt like my life had changed forever with all
the scenery I saw, the people I met, and the experiences I now owned.
Instantly, I began saving up for the next trip – wherever that might be.
My parents were relieved that I returned all in one piece, even though I
hadn’t considered any other option!
It
wasn't long before I moved to California at the age of twenty-one.
Forward to the present
To
this day, I still travel the world. From the Caribbean Islands to
Australia,
from Mexico
to Europe, from
South America to
Vietnam,
Thailand and
Laos. I enjoy the
wide array of humanity, culture and personalities of people, and the natural
beauty of this earth is breathtaking. There is
nothing quite like travel; it
stretches the perspective and builds self-reliance.
I love
the quote by Mark Twain: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and
narrow-mindedness..."
And
while I realize that some people have no love of travel or wandering the
earth, for myself, I'm hooked on adventure.
What's Your Number? - How much money do you need to retire?
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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