Life in a developed country like America can be stressful and chaotic. We experience abundance bordering on excess, often finding material objects cluttering our homes and our minds. Many families feel this excess is claustrophobic. We fill our homes with stuff and work harder to pay for it. We over-schedule ourselves. We eat too much, work too much, do too much, and think too much—yet we never seem to feel satisfied.
Some dream of escaping this reality and moving to a simpler place, even if only for a short time. Who doesn’t dream of living on an island with palm trees and monkeys? Ahhh… now that’s simplicity.
But I can’t do that, you think. I have kids. I have a house. I have a job.
I will argue that you CAN move to that island or to another foreign location. Relocating away from your homeland has the power to break you out of your regular routine. Refreshing your geography—even for a temporary sabbatical—can calm you, refresh you, and inspire your creativity.
How do I know you can do this? Because I am doing it right now.
Last month, I moved to Belize for a six-month family sabbatical with my husband and four kids (ages 11, 10, 7, and 2). We live in a comfortable and beautiful off-the-grid property directly on the Caribbean Sea. We’re enjoying each other more than we ever could in our busy life back home. We’re savoring outdoor activities, fresh air, sunshine, and healthy foods—all for about the same cost of living as back in the States.
Making It Possible
How is this possible?
Get up close and personal with your expenses.
Many people really have no idea what they spend month to month and would assume they could never afford to live the life of their dreams.
Sit down with a good old-fashioned pen and paper. Make a list of everything you spend money on: housing, utilities, health care, transportation, entertainment, school tuition, clothing, gifts, and vacations. Take a close look at your most significant expenditures. What expenses can you trim to free up some money for travel?
When we left, we obviously did not have to continue paying school tuition at the private Catholic school we send our kids to back home. That saved us several thousand dollars, which covered our airfare to Belize.
We rented our house to a close family member who needed a short-term rental. Not only do we have a trusted person watching over our home, but we also have some relief from the related bills.
The third significant expense we are saving on while in Belize is travel. We live in an area in Pennsylvania that typically becomes gray and wet from November until March. This means we often escape for a week or two during the winter months, but vacations cost money. Why vacation when you can travel? Make the most of the money you invest in airfare by staying in one location for a sabbatical.
Figure out how to keep making money while you’re gone.
These days, many people work independently from home, either for themselves or for a company. If you don’t already, consider how you can make this a reality. This way, you can live and work anywhere in the world as long as you have an Internet connection.
If you can afford to take time off without pay, check with your employer to see if they have a family leave policy. Many companies understand that well-rested employees who take breaks are more focused, creative, and productive than those stuck in cubicle prisons. You can find a list of companies with family sabbatical programs at yoursabbatical.com.
Alternatively, consider an income source that doesn’t rely on a traditional 9-to-5 job. Will your company allow you to quit but hire you back as an independent contractor? Can you rent your house out while you’re gone or sell it and pocket the proceeds? Can you invest in rental real estate for added cash flow? Opportunities like copywriting, freelance writing, and freelance design work may be options. Do you create handmade items you can sell through a website like www.etsy.com? What about consulting in your field of expertise? Depending on where you plan to take your family for your sabbatical, you may be able to teach skills like English, guitar, or yoga. You might also consider temporary jobs offered to immigrants; for instance, in Canada, many companies are looking for foreign workers. If you’re considering Canada, you can learn more about hiring a foreign worker in Canada (en savoir plus sur l’engagement d’un travailleur étranger au Canada).
Also, consider the belongings you own. Which items can you sell to fund the rich experience of traveling with your kids? Think about what you buy regularly and decide what you can start living without. Don’t forget that accumulated savings count just as much as earnings.
To keep expenses low while traveling, look into house-sitting opportunities like we did. We’re house-sitting the home we live in now in Belize, and we’re asked to pay only for our utilities (which are low since we use solar power and rainwater), a caretaker, and personal expenses. Alternatively, if you live in an area many people want to visit, search for “home exchange” to find websites offering listings of people wishing to swap homes for weeks or months. Both options can help keep your expenses low while on the road.
Loosen up your idea of what education means for your kids.
Educating your children is serious business and nothing to take lightly. My children are now attending a rural school in Belize, where the education seems basic at best. That said, I believe my kids are gaining life experiences well worth a slight regression in math class. All three of my school-age kids are A and B students at their school back home, so I’m not worried about them falling too far behind.
I feel that parents are the true educators, regardless of which school you choose for your children. I supplement their education at home and work with both their school in the States and their new school in Belize to ensure they stay on par with their American peers.
Monkey River Village, Belize, doesn’t offer the best education for my kids, but there are many locations parents can choose for a family sabbatical that do offer superior schooling options. In Costa Rica, for instance, visiting families can send their kids to local schools, bilingual (Spanish and English) schools, or even more expensive international schools that house the children of diplomats and wealthier families. Arguments can be made for any of these options—the point is that options do exist.
If you want to travel more often—say, take a cycling trip across Europe—you might choose to homeschool your kids using the many online resources and support networks available. Homeschooling ensures your kids continue to learn while you explore the world. Plus, you get the added benefit of hands-on learning. What better way to teach social studies than by visiting local villages to learn about customs and culture? Or have a history lesson take place at a Mayan ruin?
Connect with families already living your dreams.
When you’re daydreaming about taking a family travel sabbatical, remember that you’re not alone. Many other families have felt just as stifled by their lives as you do, but they followed their dreams and are now traveling around the globe with their children. Some go for just six months, while others love the road so much they’re gone for years. These global citizens are both inspired and inspiring, eager to share their experiences, offer advice, and help you navigate the beginning stages of “Is it really possible?”
In any case, it’s never a bad idea to leverage the experience of others to gather momentum for your own journey.
So, if you’re thinking of taking your family away for a travel sabbatical, it might be time to make your dream a reality. Why wait any longer when you don’t know what tomorrow will bring? With a little planning, saving, and research, traveling for an extended time with your kids is entirely possible.
Guest Article By: Domini Hedderman
Domini Hedderman is a blogger and travel writer. For more tips, advice, and lessons learned on the road, follow her story at renaissancehousewife.com.
