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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Trading Keys for Freedom:
Our Journey
to Car-Free Living
It wasn't a decision we took lightly.
In fact, Billy and I discussed the idea of becoming car-free for several years.
There were good reasons to do it: no more maintenance and repair costs; no more
fees for insurance, license plate renewal, or registration; no more fuel
expense; and no more worry about storing the vehicle here in the States when we
are traveling overseas for months or years at a time.
But there were also some obvious downsides. We wouldn't have the freedom to come
and go at a whim. And because we live in the American Southwest, where
temperatures reach triple digits in the summer, we wondered how we'd manage to
get around during the sun season.
Silly idea or feasible plan?
Most people we know couldn't fathom the idea of giving up their vehicle and saw
this new lifestyle choice as a hardship. Americans love their automobiles, and
owning one is packaged as part of the American Dream. A look at the automobile
and truck commercials today describe how we will be sexier, more popular,
physically stronger, and obviously smarter if we purchase their brand of car.
As we've described on our Retire
Early Lifestyle website, though, Billy and I
live in an active adult community where we are within walking distance to
stores, restaurants, and several different entertainment options. Most of what
we need is near to us, and we appreciate the slower pace of life with all the
rewards it brings. Many of our neighbors use a small scooter, golf cart, or
bicycle to get around within a reasonable range. When we need to go somewhere
farther, we trade services or pay cash to a neighbor or friend for their time.
This is much cheaper than a taxi, more sociable, and we aren't bogged down with
worries about maintaining a vehicle. Both sides appreciate the trade, and our
lives are enriched.
Now, into our fourth decade of world travel, we realized that the only place where
we need to drive is in the States. Elsewhere we take public transportation or
hire a private driver. For the amount of time we live in the States, and for the
amount of money that owning our own transport required, we finalized our
decision to sell our vehicle.
What about you? Retirement takes many expressions and even if you could never see yourself as
becoming completely free of car ownership, maybe you have toyed with the idea of
keeping only one vehicle instead of two.
The following sites may help you with this transition:
At
Pace Bus, you can calculate your own cost of driving -- fuel, maintenance,
tires, insurance, license fees, registration, taxes, finance costs, washings,
parking charges -- from a chart that AAA provides. Differences lie in the size
of vehicle you own, whether or not you have full insurance coverage, and if you
choose to bring a car loan into your retirement. If the total cost per day or
cost per mile startles you, weighing alternatives could prove appealing and good
for your wallet.
Approaching retirement, some people consider relocating to a walkable city or
town. Sources like
Walkscore and
Prevention Magazine can help you find the best
walking cities in the States to live, while others such as
CarFree.com give you
information on places around the world. Fascinating and lively cities such as
San Francisco, Boston, Honolulu, or San Diego head many lists. You could be
living in one now while never having taken advantage of the green space or mass
transit available to you. This would be a good time to consider that option!
Remember, each time you walk to the grocery store is good for your health, and
it strengthens your muscles from carrying the groceries. Shopping nearby
supports your local economy, and talking with your neighbors helps build
community. Slow down and enjoy!
At
eRide Share, you can find rides to share for shopping, medical appointments,
or even long-distance travel. Just type in your ZIP code and find out what's
happening in your own neighborhood! You can offer rides to cut costs or find one
for yourself.
These days,
Uber has
become very popular to use instead of taxis or in addition to mass transport. You can
request a ride option, see what your wait time is, and match your driver's
contact information and vehicle description to what's listed on your phone
to be sure you are getting into the right car. When you get out to leave,
your charge card on file is automatically charged so you never need cash.
Easy Peasy! Another popular riding option is
Lyft or Didi. Request a ride, get a ride, repeat. Why pay for parking, maintenance,
and licensing when you can utilize these other options for transport?
We also maintain a page with several links of our own
right here.
Pursuing a simpler, more community-based retirement has noticeable advantages
and it doesn't have to be grim or difficult. Being flexible and imaginative
about your life away from work brings payoffs both personally and financially.
And who knows? Perhaps you will be pleasantly surprised at the freedom you find.
We were.
For more on
Retirement Topics,
click here and
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About the Authors
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are
recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of
finance and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their
award-winning website
RetireEarlyLifestyle.com,
they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991.
They wrote the popular books,
The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and
Your Retirement Dream IS Possible
available
on their website
bookstore or on Amazon.com.
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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