They Gave Up the ‘Traditional’ Retirement to Live the Life They Always Wanted - Root Financial

They Gave Up the ‘Traditional’ Retirement to Live the Life They Always Wanted

Retirement is often seen as the end of the road—a time to slow down, settle in, and play it safe. But what if retirement could be the beginning of something bolder?

Meet John and Bev, also known as the Retirement Travelers. Since retiring in their mid-50s, they’ve sold their home, downsized their life, and visited over 100 countries and all 50 U.S. states. But this isn’t just a story about travel. It’s about building a retirement rooted in urgency, meaning, and shared purpose.

Whether you’re planning to retire in 10 years or already transitioning out of your career, there’s something powerful to learn from their journey—about living intentionally, preparing thoughtfully, and defining what “enough” really looks like.

Retirement Isn’t a Deadline—It’s a Launchpad

John and Bev’s story didn’t begin with an overnight decision to sell everything and travel the world. It began with a simple plan: take a few trips a year during retirement, maybe blog a bit along the way.

Then COVID-19 hit.

With international borders closed, they bought an Airstream, mapped out national parks, and hit the road. One year in, something shifted. “We realized we didn’t need a big house to be happy,” John said. That realization became the catalyst for a bold decision: sell the house, live debt-free, and explore the world full-time.

Their motto? You’re never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream.

Why They Traveled, and Why It Matters

For John and Bev, travel wasn’t about escape. It was about alignment—with each other, with their values, and with the time they still had.

After John was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in his 40s, they started viewing time differently. “We’re in our go-go years now,” Bev shared. “We’re the healthiest we’ll ever be. Why wait to live the life we want?”

This urgency pushed them to prioritize what mattered: time together, personal growth, and new experiences. The lesson? Retirement isn’t just about how many years you have left—it’s about making the most of your healthiest, most capable years.

The Real Risk Isn’t Selling the House—It’s Wasting Time

A big decision like selling your home in retirement sounds extreme. But John and Bev argue that the real risk isn’t in letting go—it’s in holding on to things that no longer serve you.

They calculated their daily cost of living in their golf community, factored in club dues, HOA fees, and maintenance, and realized: “We could travel the world for the same amount.”

And they weren’t reckless. They met with a financial advisor, planned how to reinvest the proceeds, and ensured they were debt-free before making the leap. The financial plan gave them confidence to chase the life they wanted—without jeopardizing their future.

Downsizing: The Gift You Leave Behind

You’ve probably heard of financial planning and estate planning—but what about stuff planning?

Bev describes downsizing as one of the most impactful things they did—not just for themselves, but for their children. “People plan their retirement and get their wills in place. But they don’t think about the emotional burden of downsizing.”

They chose to simplify while they were healthy and mentally sharp. “It’s our love letter to our children,” Bev says. “They won’t have to clean out a house or guess what mattered to us.”

Whether you’re planning to travel or not, downsizing your possessions, digitizing documents, and organizing your affairs is a practical way to care for your family—and your peace of mind.

Everyone Has Their Own Dream

Not everyone wants to hop on a plane the moment they retire—and that’s okay.

But the principles behind John and Bev’s journey still apply:

  • Align your time with your values. They chose travel. You might choose more time with family, volunteering, creative work, or new hobbies.
  • Simplify your life. The less mental bandwidth you use maintaining things that don’t matter, the more energy you have to do what does.
  • Plan for change. Good health won’t last forever. They prioritized their go-go years, understanding that slower seasons would come.

In short, it’s not about what you do in retirement—it’s about why you’re doing it, and whether you’ve created the space to enjoy it fully.

A Framework for Bold but Smart Decisions

It’s easy to think of people like John and Bev as outliers—people with unusual courage or resources. But they insist their path was made possible by discipline, not extravagance.

Here’s what their planning framework looked like:

  1. Pay off debt. They were debt-free before they retired, which created flexibility.
  2. Work with an advisor. Every major financial decision was made with guidance.
  3. Run the numbers. They knew exactly what it cost them to stay in their home—and what it would cost to live differently.
  4. Set boundaries. The money from selling their home wasn’t for spending—it was invested as a safety net.
  5. Test first. Before going global, they spent a year traveling the U.S. in an RV to make sure the lifestyle worked for them.

The takeaway? Big moves don’t have to be reckless if you lay the right groundwork.

Lessons for Your Own Retirement

When asked what they’d tell their younger selves, John and Bev didn’t hesitate:

  • Live small so you can live big.
  • Don’t wait to chase your dreams.
  • Travel with your kids while you still can.
  • Skip the lifestyle creep—more house doesn’t equal more happiness.

But their biggest advice was this: Just start. Whether it’s travel, volunteering, or pursuing a creative project, don’t let fear or inertia keep you stuck. As John said after bungee jumping in New Zealand: “I didn’t want to regret not doing it.”

What’s Next for the Retirement Travelers?

Today, John and Bev continue to travel full-time with only two backpacks and their golf clubs. They run a growing YouTube channel and blog, support a vibrant Facebook community, and are planning their first group travel experience with followers.

Their goal? To empower others to design their own version of a bold retirement—whatever that looks like.

Because the truth is, there’s no “one right way” to retire. There’s only your way. And with the right planning, the right mindset, and the courage to let go of what no longer serves you, your best years might still be ahead.

Don’t Wait for the Perfect Moment

If you’re on the edge—wondering if you should retire, travel, downsize, or simply do something different—the Retirement Travelers would say this:

There’s no path without risk. But the biggest risk of all is waiting too long and never going.

You don’t need to go all in right away. But you do need a plan. Start with your goals. Build around your values. And work with a trusted financial advisor to turn your “someday” into a real strategy.

Because retirement isn’t the end. It’s your chance to start living on purpose.


The information presented is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment or financial advice. The content discusses general retirement planning strategies and is not intended to recommend any specific course of action for any individual.

Examples provided are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. They do not reflect any specific client situation and should not be relied upon for investment decision-making. Past performance of investments is not indicative of future results. All investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal.

Root Financial Partners, LLC provides tax planning as part of its financial planning services. However, we do not provide tax preparation services, represent clients before the IRS, or offer legal advice.

Clients should consult their CPA or attorney before implementing any tax or legal strategies discussed. Nothing in this content should be interpreted as a recommendation to take a specific tax position or legal action.

This content may include discussions around advanced financial planning strategies such as Roth conversions, backdoor Roth IRAs, tax loss harvesting, charitable giving, estate planning tactics, or Social Security claiming strategies. These concepts are general in nature and are not personalized advice. Actions related to these strategies may trigger tax consequences or legal implications. Always consult with your CPA or attorney to assess suitability based on your personal financial circumstances.

Suitability for these strategies depends on your individual tax situation, income, age, investment profile, estate plan, and other factors. Actions related to these strategies may trigger tax consequences or legal implications. Always consult with your CPA or attorney to assess suitability based on your personal financial circumstances.