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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Portable
Professionals
We met Kalli and Jacob in
Panajachel, Guatemala as they were passing their time in a tiny town called
Pasaj Cap on the caldera's edge of Lake Atitlan. Impressed with this young
couple's travel resume and joie de vivre, we asked that they tell our readers
about their location independent living style.
How We Became Portable
Professionals
Although now we can’t imagine living any other way than our current
internationally nomadic lifestyle, it began a bit accidentally.
We had planned to be German expats. I got a job at an international school right
after we got married, and it was a really nutty job. I actually just recently found out the
school has been blacklisted by the German government and the owner is now facing
legal troubles. This was a very stressful experience for me, and within a month I was no
longer working there. Jacob, meanwhile, was building an internet business
online—an ebook about how to jump higher called The Jump Manual.
At this time I was so fixed in the mindset of Need a
job need a paycheck need healthcare need an employer, that I didn’t really
pay attention to what he was creating and I set about finding another job—
either teaching English or au pair work. So I was sending in resumes, talking to
schools and so on.
Meanwhile we went to Macedonia to visit
Jacob’s brother, then to Israel to visit a friend. By the time we arrived in
Turkey, I realized we were already making a full-time living off of this
business— and that we could actually travel without needing an employer to fund
the ticket—I caught the vision and started getting involved in the business.
The Logistics of Location Independence It’s been a process of learning
what works and what doesn’t.
When we started, we carried
with us … Walkie talkies, a Crockpot, and an
iron.
We stayed in … shoebox-sized hostel dorm rooms.
We had debt… Thousands of dollars worth from
college.
We had no employees and did all
the work ourselves.
Now, after five years of
non-stop travel:.....We have cell phones. We buy clothes that
don’t need ironing.
We stay in furnished apartments for months
at a time.
New Caledonia We have paid off all debts.
We outsource to the Philippines and work
with partners and affiliates.
Also, we now have a baby in tow, and he
was born in
Mexico.
How do we decide where to go?
When it comes to choosing a location,
there are two non-negotiables for us. We have to have internet and we have to have a
decent gym (for Jacob’s athletic training.) Other than that, no place is
off-limits. Sometimes we go off the grid for a few days but then we need to return
to check on our business.
Our top 10 experiences have been:
Skiing in
Macedonia Hiking with mountain gorillas in
Rwanda, Rafting the Nile in Uganda, Jet boating at Iguazu Falls in
Argentina,
Volunteering in India, Camel trekking in the Saharan
Desert, Campervaning in New Zealand, Hot air ballooning in Turkey,
Gorging on pizza and gelato in
Italy, Skiing in a tiny mountain town in
Macedonia, and Standing at the edge of an
active volcano in Vanuatu.
Biggest challenges:
Visas
Sometimes we move quicker or more often
than we would like due to visa challenges. Many countries only allow a month’s
stay.
Community
Although it usually isn’t difficult to
make a friend or two, it’s the sense of community that can be missing the most
during long-term travel. It can be developed—but it has to be a priority and it
takes effort.
Language barriers
Communication is fundamental to making
friends, getting around, and even eating in a foreign country. When we went to
China, we couldn’t say yes or no or even “Coke” or “McDonalds.” The language
barrier was so impregnable that we started taking photos of where we needed to
go so we could show taxi drivers.
Sleep training
Changing time zones and beds has not
always been easy on our baby’s sleep schedule.
Traveling full-time with a child
Auckland New Zealand
Now that I’ve had my
baby, I find it fascinating how many people used to tell me: “Travel now
without kids… You won’t be able to once you have them.” This is usually
said by people who…guess what…don’t travel themselves!
Eleven countries and a year and a
half later, I can assure you that, yes, children can travel and that no,
your life doesn’t end when children join the family. It requires more
work, more stuff, more scheduling and less sleep. But that’s true
whether you travel or not. And it’s been worth it.
We intend and hope to continue
throughout our son’s childhood, so long as everyone is happy and it
still works for our family. Why location independence?
The real question is, WHY NOT?
Even if you
want to stay in the neighborhood you grew up in, financial location independence
affords you the freedom to go where you want to, when you want to. Life is short
and there are so many experiences in this world that are waiting. Don’t lose
another moment! Follow your dreams!
Thanks Kalli and Jacob for taking the time
to share your lives with us!
Jacob and Kalli Hiller are passionate
about the location independent lifestyle. Follow their adventures around the
globe and get inspired on jumpstarting your own adventures on their blog,
Portable Professionals.
For more stories and
interviews of Captivating Characters and Early Retirees,
Click Here
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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