How We Found Freedom
And Traveled the World as a Family
If you’ve found yourself here reading this letter, maybe you’ve got a bit of wildness in you too. Maybe you’re dreaming of adventures with your kiddos, wondering if it’s even possible. I’m here to tell you that it is—and I want to share our journey, from farming and feeling stuck to traveling the world as a family of four on a budget of around $2,000 a month.
This story is about embracing creative living. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. If you’ve got a heart for adventure, I hope you’ll gain some insight or inspiration!
This is the topic of my latest podcast Episode 3 of Wild Mother’s Way, and you can listen to that here…
The Backstory: From Gypsies to Farmers
For most of our life together, my husband and I lived as nomads. We were gypsies, van-lifers, creative livers—always chasing freedom and adventure. But life has its seasons, and eventually, our paths led us to settle in Texas. We stayed there for four years, the longest we’d ever stayed anywhere.
At first, we felt stuck. Full-time jobs were new to us, and we missed being close to nature. So, we started a farm. We manifested a tiny home on a big ranch and jumped in with both feet:
A2/A2 dairy cows
Kune Kune heritage pigs
Nubian dwarf goats (yoga goats!)
200 egg-laying chickens
Six beehives
I quit my job to homeschool our kids (who were 6 and 3 at the time) while learning to farm and trying—unsuccessfully—to launch a few business ideas. For a while, we were living the dream. But dreams shift. The ranch owners changed their plans, and we had to move. Finding a rental that allowed us to bring our cows wasn’t easy, but we managed. We downsized our farm and moved to a smaller property.
Then, my husband’s job ended unexpectedly… and what could’ve been a disaster became a blessing. We suddenly had two years of passive income and no commitments. It was the perfect opportunity to chase freedom again.
The Start of Freedom
We re-homed the rest of our animals, sold most of our belongings, and hit the road. With our remaining savings and a budget of $2,000 a month, we started traveling around the world.
We had:
Passive income (about 1/4 of what we earned in Texas)
Minimal monthly costs (cell phones, a shipping container for storage, and a few subscriptions)
No housing or car payments
Homeschooling flexibility
This meant complete freedom. We could go anywhere as long as we stayed within our budget.
Our Travel Journey
Portugal
In October 2022, we flew to Portugal with nothing but carry-on luggage. Our flights were cheap—so cheap they came with long layovers, which we turned into mini-adventures. In San Francisco, we explored Kirby Cove, and in Paris, we saw the Eiffel Tower. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was memorable.
Portugal was a dream. The beaches were stunning, the people were kind, and the food was affordable. We stayed in Airbnbs, cooked local meats and veggies, and explored castles and old-growth forests. My daughter even learned to surf.
Crete, Greece
In December, we moved to a hilltop cottage in Crete. It was the off-season, so there were no tourists and hardly any open restaurants. But the island’s beauty was undeniable. We hiked through goat-covered mountains, visited sacred sites, and even swam in the Mediterranean in winter. It felt like stepping into a slower, ancient rhythm of life.
The U.S.
From January to June 2023, we traveled the U.S., sharing Airbnbs with family to keep costs low. It wasn’t as dreamy as Europe, but it was meaningful to explore our home country together.
Brazil
In June 2023, we flew to Florianópolis, Brazil, and spent three months on a small island. Our beachfront apartment cost $1,000 per month, and we immersed ourselves in Brazilian culture, drank coconuts, and walked the beach daily. It was life-changing.
Adjusting to Changing Plans
By August we began searching for a new place to settle. We tried southern Colorado again, but nothing came to fruition for us there. So, we bought a camper and spent seven months boondocking across the U.S. from the west coast all the way over to Florida, keeping costs low by camping on public land the majority of the time.
This lifestyle wasn’t easy, but it taught us resilience. We learned to live with less, embrace flexibility, and trust the process.
Lessons Learned: How You Can Travel Too
If you dream of traveling with your family, it’s possible. Here’s what helped us:
1. Reduce Overhead Costs
Rent out your home or move out entirely.
Sell your car or eliminate car payments.
2. Rethink Pets
Use services like Trusted House Sitters.
Ask friends or family for temporary care.
3. Homeschool Flexibly
Let travel be the curriculum or use a flexible program.
4. Plan Your Income
Save ahead of time.
Start a side hustle or rent out assets like your home or car.
5. Live Below Your Means
Cook meals instead of eating out.
Travel light to save on baggage fees.
Choose affordable destinations during the off-season.
Trust the Flow
Everything that once felt like a problem—my husband’s job ending, failed attempts to settle down, business ideas that didn’t take off—worked out in the end. Every step prepared us for the next.
I’ve learned to trust the process. To embrace the flow of life. If you have a dream, go for it. The path might be messy, but it’s yours. And everything always works out.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. If this story resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Subscribe, share, and let’s keep building this community of wild-hearted mamas.
You can find me on Instagram at @wildmothersway, where I share more about creative living, motherhood, and following the flow.
And remember, this topic is the topic of my latest podcast episode, where I go into far more detail than I did in this post… Listen here!