by Mary Beth Franklin
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Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are old hands at retirement -- ask them anyhting about saving, spending or traveling. But one thing may surprise you: their age. Sixteen years after they retired, they are now both 54 -- almost old enough to satisfy the minimum age requirements of the active-adult community in Mesa, Ariz., they call home (when they're not traveling around the world). |
When they were in their late thirties, Billy, a
stockbroker, and Akaisha, a restaurant owner-turned-office manager, decided
they were working too hard and paying too much in taxes. They vowed to save
enough to quit in two years. "Every time I looked at a latte or a new pair
of shoes, I decided I didn't need them," says Akaisha. "If you are clear
about what you want, it becomes easier. You can either buy this or be days
closer to your goal."
By 1991, they had accumulated about $500,000, including a
$100,000 profit from the sale of their home. They put their belongings in
storage and set out to see the world. After six months on a Caribbean
island, they headed for South America. Returning to California a year and a
half later, they bought an RV and wandered around the western states for two
years. Then it was off to Mexico. They had planned to visit the Lake Chapala
area for a few months and ended up staying four years. Since then, they've
returned home from time to time to care for their parents, but have spent
the rest of their time in Asia and the South Pacific.
