About Us
We're Allen and Kristen from the United States.
In the fall of 2021, our only child went off to college from our home in the United States to the United Kingdom.
So, like most normal adults experiencing an empty nest, 😂 we sold or gave away most of our things, put what was left in storage, ended our lease, packed four suitcases and two backpacks, and set off for Europe, where we lived in Airbnbs while we worked remotely and explored the idea of permanently moving overseas.
What we found was not what we expected.
In those 89 Days Away, we learned that as even as our daughter was becoming a new person, we were becoming new people too. Excited about moving away from our high-pressure, exhausting, suburban, post-Covid lives, we hadn't clearly defined what we were moving towards.
We returned to the US for the holidays a little confused, to be honest.
Was our trip successful? It was the adventure of a lifetime! Are we glad we did it? Absolutely. Did we decide to move overseas permanently? Nope.
That sounds like where our story ends, but it’s really where it begins.
Here’s what we learned in those 89 Days Away:
- An empty nest, or a retirement, or a move overseas is thrilling! It's a blank slate. But eventually, you need to write something on it. That requires some strategic thinking.
- Midlife transitions are full of emotion. There’s excitement, grief, anxiety, love, fear, hope, and nearly everything in-between. It's important to be able to embrace them and let go of them.
- Being an expat is hard at midlife! You can get a lot of the same fun being overseas 1-3 months at a time.
We're here to share:
- Resources for navigating midlife transitions. How do we prepare psychologically, physically, emotionally, and spiritually for the rest of our lives at midlife? What should we consider, and how do we plan?
- Practical advice for managing long-term travel: The good, the bad, and the ugly. Are Airbnbs worth it? How do you pay bills and get mail during extended travel? What should you pack and what should you leave home? How do you prepare your home before leaving? What tech and gear do you need?
- Great video of interesting and beautiful places we visit, both overseas and in the US. Walking tours of cities and villages, deep dives on historical sites and places of natural beauty. And commentary from us to help you feel like you’re there.
Maybe you're also wondering what's next for you.
Maybe it's not travel. Maybe it's a passion project, a new business, or a move across your home country.
No matter what your vision is, or even if you don't have a vision at all yet, we hope you'll find something useful here.