Mesa is one of
their home bases, along with
Chapala, Mexico,
Chiang Mai,
Thailand and
Lake
Atitlan, Guatemala.
Their desire to retire early came after both were working too much and
not feeling fulfilled with their busy jobs. They owned a French
continental restaurant in
Santa Cruz,
California, where Billy Kaderli was a
chef and Akaisha Kaderli was the CEO. He later became a stockbroker
while Akaisha continued to run the restaurant. The two worked long hours
and barely saw each other.
The two had a new home, a five minute bike ride to the ocean, a
successful business and were living well financially, but it just wasn’t
working for them on a personal level, she said. The two are what they
call DINK — double income, no kids.
Billy and Akaisha in Chiang Dow,
Thailand
"Freedom’s
always been important to us," Akaisha said. "We have always been
self-employed and we decided to make a change."
They spent a couple of years researching and reading up on early
retirement. They made a list of what they wanted to learn and do, and in
1991, took the plunge most would
only dream about at their age. They
became perpetual travelers, and their "gypsy schedule" began.
The Kaderlis moved to Nevis, West Indies, where it was "really slow and
perfect," Billy said.
After that, they bought a recreational vehicle and traveled the United
States for a couple of years. That’s when they became interested in
international travel.
The couple of
38 years look for a good climate, inexpensive cost factor
and places that are interesting.
Billy and Akaisha enjoy visiting
Ecuador, Thailand and
Vietnam. When
they visit other cultures, the Kaderlis like to get "local," Akaisha
said.
"We eat at their restaurants, shop at their shops, celebrate at their
festivals," she said.
They live with native people in their homes, stay at hostels, guest
houses and hotels.
The only thing the two won’t do is "insect cuisine" and they prefer
places with available hot running water and Western toilets.
"We both wanted to do this before we’re old and can’t bend over and pick
up our backpacks," said Akaisha, who despite being a perpetual traveler
is
directionally challenged and gets seasick, airsick and carsick.
The trips are not just vacations for them. They live for several months
and sometimes several years in an area before they decide to move on.
The two have become involved in
volunteer work. Akaisha has taught
English and started a card business in Mexico. Billy coordinated a
scoreboard to be donated to the city they stay at in Mexico, where he
also coached a basketball team,
fixed up tennis courts and helped raise
money to build more courts.
On their travels, they both enjoy
eating
new foods, especially the local
fruits, and trying new things. They try to learn the languages and also
try to keep a low profile by not appearing as tourists.
Along the way, they take pictures with their digital camera and keep
detailed accounts on their
Web site. They keep in touch with family and
friends and pay bills through the Internet using their laptop computer,
which they take everywhere.
Last year, they traveled to seven countries and three states. They still
want to visit Italy, the Czech Republic, Greece, Bolivia and Peru.
Although they both enjoy being on the road, Akaisha said she misses her
art supplies and having a female friend. Billy misses cooking the most.
"If you look at the National Geographic, that’s our life," Billy said.
On early retirement, Akaisha suggests to not let "fear
live your life."
"Some people say what we’re doing is risky, but you could have a boring
life and never do anything interesting," Akaisha said. "We’re achievers.
We’re goal oriented."
