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.

We're Still Here!

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

We’re still writing stories - An' we’re still telling tales

We’re still learning languages - We've set our own sails

We’re still investing in stocks and we’re makin’ a little money - Cause in Thailand I was told, no money no honey

We’re still sipping beers and we’re picking up some years - And we send you all good health and want to say

We’re still here!

Since retiring in 1991, LOTS of things have changed. Remember cassette recorders, walkmans and 35 mm cameras?

Way back then, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 3168 topping 3000 for the first time, there was Desert Storm, and fires in the hills of Oakland, California which burned thousands of homes. Canada introduced the Canadian Goods and Services Tax (GST) a national sales tax. The Internet was made available for unrestricted commercial use and the number of computers on the net reached 1 million. Microsoft Released MS Dos 5.0.

Billy swinging on a tree swing, Nevis, West Indies

We left the working world and flew to the island of Nevis, West Indies. We lived here for six months in a house with a view of 3 islands from the front porch and a volcano from the back. We did scuba diving, sailing, ate fresh lobster caught moments before and kicked off our retirement adventures.

We received lodging and board in exchange for helping the Captain entertain the passengers

Then we caught a ride on this 256 foot sailing ship and headed further south to Venzuela. We spent a month on Isla de Margarita, beaching, dancing the merengue, and enjoying the local cuisine.

1993 - Islamic Fundamentalists bombed the World Trade Center, and Federal Agents raided religious cult Waco, Texas. Harley Davidson Motorcycles celebrated their 90th birthday.

Billy with tennis racquet, Chapala, Mexico

After traveling around the western U.S. in our RV, we flew to Chapala, Mexico planning on staying two months. Four years later we left to return to the U.S. We learned Spanish, played tennis and got involved in the lives of the locals by doing volunteer work.

And we are still here.

1996 - Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan questioned whether the stock market was overvalued, The Summer Olympics were held in Atlanta, Georgia, and Internet Explorer 3 web browser was released.

Packed and ready to go

We spent our time going back and forth from the States to Chapala, Mexico, and Akaisha did End of Life Care for her parents.

1999 - The "Melissa" e-mail virus infected more than 1 million computers worldwide causing more than $80 million in damage and clogging up E-Mail Systems around the world. The year 2000 problem known as Y2K and the millennium bug was the most important thing on most companies' minds in 1999. Critical industries (such as electricity or financial) and government functions could have stopped working at 12:00 AM, January 1, 2000. This fear was fueled by press coverage and other media speculation, as well as corporate and government reports. All over the world companies and organizations checked and upgraded their computer systems. Do you remember My Space? It was officially introduced to the Internet this year.

Billy receiving his certificate of recognition from the City of Chapala

Billy became a local hero by importing this Scoreboard into Chapala, Mexico and raising $33,000 (in 1999 dollars) to build new tennis courts.

The new tennis courts in Cristiania Park, Chapala, Mexico that Billy built

2002 - The Euro became the official currency of twelve of the European Union's Members, Kmart Corp became the largest retailer in American history to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. United Airlines filed for bankruptcy protection too, terrorists detonated massive bombs in two nightclubs in Kuta, Bali, killing 202 people and injuring over 300. (We had been in Bali just 2 months before! But, for the Grace of God...)

Akaisha in a long boat, on the Mekong River at the border of Thailand and Laos

At this point, we were spending more time in Asia, specifically in Thailand, and we were enthralled with the textiles, massages, food, people and history. These experiences opened our world up more than we could ever have imagined. We visited Manly Beach, Australia and the country of New Zealand. 

2005 - Hurricane Katrina devastated the Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama coastal areas. Levees separating Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans, Louisiana were breached by the surge, ultimately flooding roughly 80% of the city of New Orleans and 1600 perished. Hurricane Stan hits Mexico and Central America killing over 1,620 people. (Bird Flu) H5N1 strain of Avian Flu claimed lives in Indonesia and other countries around the globe and Microsoft released the Xbox 360 gaming console in North America.

Both our website, Retire Early Lifestyle and the first edition of our popular book, The Adventurer's Guide to Early Retirement were born in 2005. These events changed our lives considerably. We had been retired for 15 years by this time, and led a relatively private life up to this point. Our book exploded on the scene and we were interviewed by finance magazines, radio and TV programs.

2008 - Property prices continued to fall on both sides of the Atlantic causing hardship to many homeowners and problems for the financial institutions. The Tata Group introduced the Nano at the New Delhi car show. This was its ultra-cheap car in India costing 100,000 rupees, the equivalent of $2,500. General Motors Corporation reported the largest ever recorded loss for a carmaker of $38.7 billion. Governments around the world faced the continuing problems of increased oil prices causing inflation and unemployment increased. Oil hit an all time high of $147 a barrel and Apple introduced the new ultra-thin MacBook Air notebook that was less than an inch thick and turned on the moment it was opened.

Markets melted down but we relaxed in Thailand

We took advantage of great weather, prices and food by spending a good amount of time overseas in Asia. This allowed us to navigate the choppy economic waters of the time and to remain retired.

Then we returned to our lifestyle and friendships in Mexico so that we would be on the same time zone as the New York markets, making it easier to take advantage of market fluctuations in real time.

2010 - The financial crisis and high unemployment continued with house prices depressed due to the large number of foreclosures. Europe and America began to pursue different financial courses to deal with their problems with Europe addressing budget deficits and the U.S. continuing to try and spend their way out of the recession by creating more jobs. Apple Released the iPad taking the new technology of touch screen computing to new levels.

We made it through the spin cycle and are raring to go!

2011-2012 While the world was spinning, we traveled to many new locations within Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. Our Spanish speaking skills constantly improved, which was a good thing! Akaisha almost loses her ring finger in a freak accident, and we visited famous Maya ruins in both Belize and Guatemala.

The largest earthquake ever to hit Japan lasted approximately 6 minutes rocking that country and the consequent tsunami destroyed property and lives. Prince William and Kate Middleton married, Osama bin Laden was killed, NASA ended its space shuttle program, Hurricane Sandy slammed New Jersey, and the Sandy Hook Shooting shook Newtown, Connecticut.

Billy and Akaisha on both sides of the equator in Ecuador

2013-2014 We found ourselves settling down in Panajachel, Guatemala as a travel hub from where we continued our world travels. We revisit Vietnam and Thailand, meeting up with friends across the globe. We began Social Security payments at age 62.

Edward Snowden leaks classified CIA information, Pope Francis, a cardinal from Argentina is elected, the Boston Marathon Bombing surprises everyone, and Malaysia Flight 370 disappears in South Pacific. The Ebola Epidemic becomes a global health crisis, the rise of a brutal new terror group called ISIS comes into view, and Hollywood comedy legends Robin Williams and Joan Rivers pass on to the other side.

Billy with Thai hill tribe children in Thailand

2015 - We visit the tropical countries of Panama and the Dominican Republic, learning more about the history of this area of the world. Pirates, the Spanish Conquistadors, the slave trade, the production of rum and cigars all make their mark through these tropical countries.

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes Nepal near the capital, Kathmandu, killing nearly 4,000 people, the Boston Marathon Bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is sentenced to death, both Ireland and the U.S. legalize gay marriage, the New Horizons spacecraft reaches Pluto, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 wreckage was discovered on the French Indian Ocean island of La Reunion.

ISIS militants destroy the 2,000 year old Temple of Baalshamin in Syria, a new pre-human species is discovered in South Africa, the German car company Volkswagon admits cheating emission tests in the US.

Akaisha and Billy on a Vietnamese Junk in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

2016 - Mother Teresa was canonized by Pope Francis making her a Catholic saint, India's ambitious Mars orbiter completes the first revolution of Mars in November, the United Kingdom votes to leave the EU, Pokémon Go is launched, the World Health Organization warned that the Zika virus epidemic was likely to spread beyond Brazil, and Taiwan gets its first female president.

Bob Dylan wins Nobel Prize for Literature and the U.S. has one of the most contentious elections for President of the country in current memory.

2017 - Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, the #MeToo movement took down film mogul Harvey Weinstein, as well as news reporters Matt Lauer and Charlie Rose. The massive opioid epidemic comes to light, the culture wars rev up including the removing of statues and building names of historical Confederate leaders of the Civil War. San Francisco 49er Colin Kaepernick takes a knee during the National Anthem.

2018 - The US leaves the Iran Nuclear Deal, and the UK votes to leave the European Union. Apple Corporation achieves a market capitalization of $1 trillion, Canada agrees to join with Mexico and the US to form USMCA Trade Agreement. Sears files for bankruptcy, and Toy giant Toys R Us shuttered all its stores after more than 65 years in business. Jeff Bezos of Amazon becomes the world's richest man. Nasa launches the Parker Solar Probe for the first mission to the sun.

2019 - Japan's Emperor Akihito abdicates the throne after a 30 year reign. UK Prime Minister Theresa May formally resigns over Brexit, 50 people were charged over the college admission cheating scandal. Fire raged through 850 year-old Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, China lands on the dark side of the moon. Toni Morrison, Karl Lagerfeld, Gloria Vanderbilt and Ross Perot died. We have the first all-woman Space Walk.

Billy and Akaisha in their RetireEarlyLifestyle masks

2020 - The COVID-19 virus takes the world by storm. Governments worldwide shut down the workings of society and demand social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. Tens of millions of jobs are lost within a month in the US, and the globe comes to a screeching halt. Fear for public safety and health set the stage for new rules for the operation of society and business.

2021 - Covid 19 vaccination production is boosted, Joe Biden gets inaugurated, Andrew Cuomo resigns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers win the Superbowl, and Iran's nuclear program advances. Supply chains falter, the US withdraws from Afghanistan and the Taliban returns to power. Angela Merkel leaves office, Oprah interviews Harry and Meghan and Britney Sears gains her freedom from her father. NASA Rover lands on Mars, SpaceX and Jeff Bezos make civilian space travel a reality. Facebook has a troubled year and re-brands as Meta, Colin Powell, Hank Aaron, Larry King, Bob Dole and Rush Limbaugh all pass away. Texas implements the Texas Heartbeat Act, and the Atlanta Braves win their 4th World Series.

2022 - Inflation surges, Covid restrictions are lifted and international borders are reopened. Russian invades Ukraine, Mikhail Gorbachev and Queen Elizabeth both pass away. The first successful heart transplant from a pig to a human occurs in Maryland, Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai erupts, Novak Djokovic is deported from Australia over his vaccine status. Antarctic researchers find the ship Endurance which sank in 1915 and Canada and Denmark end their Whiskey War. Italy, France, Spain and Sweden move to the right in their elections and NASA's DART crashes into Asteroid Dimorphos in the first test of planetary defense.

What will happen next?

Life keeps moving on, the world continues to surprise, but

We’re still here!

We began our 33nd year of financial independence on January 14, 2023.

What's Your Number? - How much money do you need to retire?

About the Authors

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance, medical tourism 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.

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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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