Embrace the Adventure: Selling It All to Follow Your Dreams

Have you ever dreamed of selling everything you own, packing up what you can, and moving to a tropical island, the mountains, or wherever you picture your future self ending up?

At the age of 58, with two homes, old cars, trucks, and a lot of junk to sell, I too have found myself in this situation. My love for my material possessions has become overwhelming, and I'm not happy living in my current country. So, I decided to take the plunge and start where it all begins—by selling my house in Baltimore City, a very charming and nicely furnished home. With two RVs and 5 acres complete with a livable barn in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, I'm facing a challenge with the excess of assets.

The decision to sell everything and both homes has led me to estimate a net amount of around $500,000. Over the next 20 years, living in Thailand where the cost of living is approximately $15,000 per year (with a cushion of $20,000 per year), I believe that this amount will be sufficient. Of course, there are uncertainties, but it seems like a reasonable plan given my current age.

Exploring Alternatives

While I can always look for cheaper costs of living in places like Oregon, the absence of winter often correlates with higher living expenses. As a rule, locations without harsh winters are not economically affordable for most.

Given these factors, I decided to embrace this adventure with a fallback plan. About a year and a half ago, my wife and I sold our house and everything in it, moving to the Blue Ridge Mountains in an unimpressive, yet scenic, two-bedroom house. Built on top of a ridge, it provided us with five big decks each offering unique views of the mountains, forests, or gulleys.

Transition and Adjustment

We decided to buy all new furniture, appliances, clothing, and essentially everything, adjusting our lifestyle to a new area despite the financial challenges. While we couldn't afford to do this the conventional way, we found a deal that was affordable and fulfilled our dreams. We worked hard for the first several months to address the issues our new home had, such as smoking floors, replacing windows, raising the foundation, fixing the HVAC system, and painting the entire place. It was indeed a real fixer-upper project.

Now, we are enjoying fresh well water and the outdoors more than ever. We love hiking, gardening, and reading, making this place perfect for us. There are no regrets in this decision, and the adventure of living in the Blue Ridge Mountains has been nothing short of fulfilling.

Embracing the adventure of selling it all to follow your dreams means taking the plunge and making the best of your life. Whether it's a tropical island or the mountains, the decision to change your life is a significant step. With careful planning and a flexible mindset, the possibilities of a fulfilling future are endless.