You know the drill. You’re supposed to work your entire life so that you can stash away enough money to retire and FINALLY enjoy your life and do all of the things you’ve been putting off.

RIGHT?

WROOOOOOOOOONG!!

I’m sorry but If you’ve worked for any length of time than you know that working like a dog until you are 65 is just not sustainable.

Sooner or later you will either get burnt out or bored with the monotony of spending all your days working and taking care of responsibilities.

What’s The Point?

Life was meant to be lived.

Not just on the weekends.

Not for two weeks out of the year to go on your annual vacation.

And not only after your 65th birthday.

Besides, who’s to say you won’t get hit by a car and die tomorrow?  It happened to my father the year before he turned 65.

What if you are physically incapable of doing the things you want to do when you are 65 and older. I have a family member who is incapable of travelling now that she’s older.

That’s where a career break comes in.

A career break is an extended period of time where you STOP working to do something new and exciting.  A career break gives you the time you need to recharge your batteries so that when you do go back to work and your normal routine, you are refreshed, enriched and hopefully you have a better perspective and outlook on life.

Think of it as a detour on the road of life where you stop the car and take alternate paths to your final destination but also enjoying all there is to see and do on your way there.

The term career break is closely related to the following terms but there ARE slight differences.

• Gap year
• Sabbatical
• Mini Retirement
• Adult Gap Year
• Leave of absence

I will explain the differences in future posts.

How Long Is A Career Break

Depending on who you talk to, some say a career break is between one month and two even three years long.  The time you take off will depend on a lot of different factors and your unique situation.

Some things that will determine the time of your career break are your financial situation, your goals, whether you have a family, kids etc.

What Can You Do On A Career Break

Career breaks are not just about taking time off for the sake of it. Typically a career break can be life changing if used as a personal development tool.

Some things you can do on a career break are..

• Travel (live abroad)
• Volunteer, Volunteer abroad
• Learn (language, ski or sailing instructor, for example)
• TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language)
• Raise kids
• Start a business
• Train for a marathon,
• Learn a new hobby (painting, pottery, sewing)
• Staying up-to-date with professional skills
• Go back to school (get an advanced degree)
• Recover from an accident or illness.
• Look after a dependent
• Take time off to spend more quality time with your family.
• Write a novel
• Yada Yada Yada

The downside to Career Breaks

Unfortunately, in order to enjoy a career break, you will most likely have to quit your job and find a new one when you return to the work force. What that means is that you will have to save enough money to sustain your life for the duration of your break, plus have enough to do the activity that you want to do and support yourself during the time when you look for a new job. ( unless you’ve negotiated with your employer to hold your job for you when you return).

How To Take A Career Break?

Every year hundreds of thousands of people around the world take career breaks.

With a little planning you can take one too.  If you need help planning one or just don’t know where to start, I can work one on one with you and help you get you started.

Below is a video which talks about the “Power of time off”. You should watch it!!

Interested in taking a career break to do something more meaningful but not sure where to start. I can help you work through all your issues. I’ve taken several breaks over the last 20 years to do various thing. There’s a lot to consider from finances and kids, to how long, what to do or where to go. I can help you get some clarity so that you maximize your time away from life and returned, recharged, enriched and happy.

Today I have a reader inspired question regarding what to do with your home when you move abroad temporarily.

If you own your home and you want to move abroad, you are probably wondering what do you do with your home. Do you rent it out? If you rent it how do you handle the logistics.

• + Should you hire a property manager to rent your home and manage the details while you are out of the country?
• + What does a property manager do?
• + What is the alternative to hiring a property manager?
• + How do you find a property manager?
• + How much does a property manager cost?

Stay tuned to find the answers to the above questions and watch me do a quick 3 second dance at the end where I look like a total moron.. (Adrienne, enjoy….… )

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t-shirt Photo via Zazzle

Sarah’s Situation

Sarah is in her mid 50’s. She and her husband own their home and are thinking about spending a year abroad. They want to rent their home and possibly hire a property manager to handle the logistics of renting their property and handling the day to day needs of the tenants.

P.S.

Check out Sarah’s site Called Wellness The Natural Way

I have a favor to ask of you. In addition to sharing this article. Would you please vote for me “Practical Adventure-ology” as the Top 25 Family Travel Blogs in 2012. I’m on a mission to help as many people as I can take a break from life to travel and this award will give me some exposure and help even more people.

Just click on the photo to the left. Look for “Practical Adventure-ology” and hit the thumbs up button. Thanks.

Warning, if the words sex and lover make you blush then beware. Today we’re going to dive into the topic of……………..

SEX,

Stereotypes and

how travelling can help prove or disprove certain stereotypes.

You already know stereotypes come in all shapes and sizes.

Sometimes they don’t hold an ounce of truth but Sometimes they can be quite complimentary like the stereotype about the French being good, no GREAT lovers.

But is it true and if not, how and why does this belief persist?

What is the “French Lover Stereotype?”

The French lover stereotype is the belief that the French are extremely romantic and great lovers. Maybe even the best lovers in the world?  Typically this stereotype is associated with men but French women also hold the esteemed title and are often thought of as “expert seductresses” and “super sexy”.

Other Nationalities That Are Great Lovers

To be fair, it’s not just the French that are considered great lovers.  Italians, Latinos and the Spanish are also thought to be expert love makers.  I am not sure how or when I first heard these stereotypes. I just know that I know them like I know the sun will rise tomorrow. Just because I know them doesn’t mean I completely believe them. Although it is fun to believe they are true.

Are You A Believer?

Some of you are probably thinking to yourself  “NO, that’s not true, the French are not great lovers” or “ I never thought that!” .   Yes I agree, it just “Can’t be true” but that is not the point i’m trying to make.

These stereotypes exist whether they are true or not and they are very strong.

What I find truly amazing is that the vast majority of people who believe the French are great lovers have never been to France, have never met a French person, have never bedded with a French lover and have never even had a first hand account of someone else’s experience with a French lover.

In fact, it’s probably these same people who feel or believe the strongest in this stereotype because they have nothing proving otherwise.

My Research process

Since i couldn’t exactly go out and collect real data to prove or disprove this stereotype, I decided the next best thing was to refer to the source of all knowledge.

“THE INTERNET”

I lucked out and stumbled on a study that was conducted by a company called “Global Search”.  Global Search used a polling service called  www.onepoll.com and asked 15,000 “well traveled women” to rate the talents of the men they slept with from 20 different countries. The goal was to find out what nationality of men made the WORLD’S BEST and WORST LOVERS. The survey got my attention for sure and some of the results were shocking.

The Results Of The Poll

It was no surprise that the women surveyed put French men in the top 4 , just after Italians, Brazilians and Spaniards. Unfortunately the poll did not list why these well travelled women thought these lovers were good.

The shocking part of the poll was which nationalities these ladies considered bad lovers and the reasons they gave.

Please do not be offended if the nationality of your lover is on the worst lover list  and remember, these are not my beliefs.

The worst lovers according to the poll are Germans. I was shocked because the reasons given were because they were “too smelly”? Uh ok?

Russians were said to be “too hairy”.  What?  I’m not sure what body hair has to do with being a bad lover but ok whatever.

English were “too lazy”. What?  I refuse to think that JUDE Law is a  lazy lover. No NO NO it’s not true.

Americans were “too rough”. Hmm this is weird, I won’t kiss and tell but let me just say I don’t agree with this one

Worlds 20 Best And Worst Lovers

Why and How Did This Sex Stereotype Begin?

Ok that was funny and sad at the same time and obviously you shouldn’t take put too much stock in it but it still doesn’t change the fact that this dammed stereotypes exists and I still don’t know why it’s so pervasive?

So I dug a little deeper. Not much. Just a little because you really don’t have to look far to find the answer.

Although the root of the “French Lover Stereotype” is hard to pinpoint, if you take a step back and you look at the bigger picture things begin to focus just a little.
* NOTE: This is my subjective opinion and you are free to argue with me and tell my my ideas are stupid, I will just ignore you..

MEDIA PORTRAYAL

I’m convinced that one of the biggest culprits for perpetuating the French Lover Stereotype is probably the media. i.e. the news, the movies, high fashion magazine advertisements and even songs.

But out of them all, Hollywood probably has the strongest influence. Hollywood consistently portrays the French in a very romantic light. Movies like French Kiss, A year in Provence, actresses like Bridgette Bardot and countless others that would have us believe that if you are French, or in France, you will fall hopelessly and romantically in love. How can we not think the French must also be better lovers?

Totally off topic but don’t forget that in the English language, the sensuous act of kissing is called a “FRENCH” kiss.

ATTITUDE:

The second culprit to this silly sex stereotype is attitude.

Have you ever met someone who was kind of nerdy?  What did you think? Sexy? Good lover? Probably not.

Some nationalities have a certain air about them. The French Have Sex Appeal.

 The best way to describe them is they are the opposite of nerdy. They ooze of confidence, not arrogance. I can’t stand arrogant cocky people. I just want to slap those people.

I have heard some people say that the French are arrogant and rude when in fact it is just confidence.

Guess what guys, women love confident men. And ladies, guys love confident ladies. Not overbearing but confident.

CULTURE & THE ARTS

Lastly, the French lover stereotype may be perpetuated by the French culture and arts.

Everywhere you look, the art, the history, the sculptures give you a a sense of the history of the French and invariably it always points to love, sex, romance or heartbreak.  War too but even that is romanticized.

What is interesting is in France, you see nude statues, nude artwork everywhere. You don’t even need to go to a museum. Their are nude statues in parks, on buildings. The advertisements used in public show half naked men and women and no one flinches. There is no shame while the same images might make other countries blush.

The French have been exposed to this their whole life. It seems like they are much more comfortable with the human body and therefore must be more comfortable with sexuality.

How To Break Stereotypes: Travelling and Beyond

I’m not sure if my theories hold water but It was fun dissecting and I wanted to prove make a point…..

This time the stereotype was fun and somewhat flattering but many more are not so flattering and down right insulting.

As i said earlier, most of the time, it’s the people who have never come in contact with a French person that believe most strongly in this stereotype.   And this is true of most stereotypes. I’m not you need to travel to France and sleep with a bunch of French people to find out for yourself whether this is true.

I’m just saying that one of the many benefits of travelling is that  it helps dispel stereotypes especially negative and racial ones. Travelling lets you meet people from different walks of life and opens your eyes to new ways of living, creates a deeper understanding and more tolerance.

When we are more understanding, we judge less and we also don’t put people into categories because we are all unique and not all the same even if we come from the same place.

This is one of the best lessons I can tech my kids while travelling. Sure there are lots of other ways to break the stereotype cycle but travelling is way more fun. If you can’t travel, pick up a book, watch a documentary. Just educate yourself before you latch onto a stereotype that could be very damaging.

So what do you think?  Have you heard of this French lover stereotype?  Do you agree with my take on why it exists? Were you angry by the “Worst lover list”.

I have a favor to ask of you. In addition to sharing this article. Would you please vote for me “Practical Adventure-ology” as the Top 25 Family Travel Blogs in 2012. I’m on a mission to help as many people as I can take a break from life to travel and this award will give me some exposure and help even more people. Thanks.

Part 3 of a 3 part series about a location independent lifestyle: This article is a showcase of 100 + families and individuals and their amazing stories who despite their own set of challenges, left their conventional lives behind to live a life of travel and exploration. In part 1 I shared the secret to long term travel and a location independent lifestyle. In part 2 , I shared a little transparency with my new (Monthly progress report) where I show you what I’m doing to create my own sustainable location independent lifestyle and my other top goals while living in France.

Amazing Families & Couples Who Are Making Their Dream of Long Term Travel A Reality

This list is starting small but it will grow to at least 100 plus families, couples and individuals by the end of 2012. I plan to scour the web in search of as many people as I can and put them all here in one place to motivate you and show you just what the human spirit can do. Oh and all the families and couples featured are everyday people. Not lottery winners, not millionaires. Just average everyday people like you and me. Each one has a different story, different circumstances, different challenges and different method of supporting themselves to make it happen..

I will list each family or person and a link to their website if they have one. I also list the following criteria for each.

• Number of kids:
• Type of travel: Road Trip, Slow Travel, Living Abroad in one place, extreme travel conditions, other
• Where:
• Length of travel:
• Challenges:
• Finances or how they fund their life

1- The Dennings of Discover Share Inspire

• Number of kids:  5 kids ( Under 10 years old)
• Type of travel: Road Trip In a Veggie powered truck and slow travel.
• Where: Alaska to Argentina
• Challenges: Internet connectivity. Balancing work time, education time etc..
• Finances: Currently use their savings but their long term plan is to grow their online business.

 
The Dennings are homeless on purpose. They are living in a veggie powered truck and are travelling from Alaska to Argentina with 5 kids in tow. That’s right, FIVE KIDS, Five. 

I think you are going to be in total awe with this amazing family and what they have done so far. The Dennings don’t just want to live abroad, they want to explore the world. Since 2007, they have been determined to create a location independent lifestyle so that they can live the way they want to. Who doesn’t right but they have gone to great lengths to make this happen and in a very interesting way i might add.

They’ve simplified their lives to the bare essentials. No mortgage, no utilities, nothing except their truck and what they can put in the truck. To fund their lifestyle originally, they were living off of an income but they lost that in 2008. Now they live off of their savings and have all they need to continue to live simply – which they are more than pleased with. However their long term strategy is to grown their online business which is already generating some money. They even have a few products teaching other people how to design their own lifestyle like they have.

The Dennings are a special case and it looks like there is no end in site for their adventure. Their latest adventure is taking them across North and South American. They ‘live’ in their truck when they are traveling in between places but whenever they get a chance, they stop and rent a place so they can stay longer. The last time i spoke to them they were renting a house in Panajachel, Guatemala and were there for almost two months. Before that they spent 7 weeks in Bacalar, Mexico. Go read about them at Discover Share Inspire and you’ll never say “i can’t again”.

2- The second family is the Burns Family of Our Travel Lifestyle

• Number of kids: 2 (Under 8 years old)
• Type of travel: Slow travel 6 months travel and six at home base in Malaysia
• Where: Goal is to travel the world
• Length of travel: 1+ years
• Challenges:
• Finances: They started their own a web programming company which the run completely online.

The burns family say that they are a pretty average family of four who decided they weren’t happy with their lives in suburban Australia. They were trying to juggle careers, maintain a house, pay the bills, have a social life on the weekends and most importantly, still finding time for to be with their children. They decided they needed to do something different with their lives.

They considered a bunch of options including career changes, selling the house and moving from the suburbs to a smaller town and even considered  finding work overseas. But none of that seemed like the right answer. in late 2009 the Burns decided to take ACTION and act on a long-term fantasy of long term with their two young children.

The Burns didn’t have a huge savings so they opted to use the skills they had which was web programming and set up their own business online. Exactly two year after they decided to take action and pursue their dream of long term travel, they set up a house in Penang Malaysia to use as a base to travel the world from. They aim is to spend 6 months of the year in Malaysia and 6 months of the year travelling. They also have a great site for other travelling families and couples to meet called Vagabond Family.  I joined it myself and love connecting and reading about other families. It makes me feel less fringe and more normal.

3- 1 Dad, 1 Kid, 1 Crazy Adventure is our third family

• Number of kids: 1 (Under 10 Years old.)
• Type of travel: Slow travel
• Where: South America, Asia, and who knows where else
• Length of time: 1+ years
• Challenges: Single Dad with a special needs son
• Finances: Started teaching Scuba Diving, various jobs writing, photography and medical transcription

   Our next family is a father son team.  Talon is  a single dad to an amazing 10 year old boy named  Tigger.  The fact that he is a single dad travelling is simply amazing but what really blew me away was what he told me about his son. You see his son has special  needs. I’ll tell you more about something amazing that happened in a bit.

Let me first tell you how their journey began. Everyone has their reasons for wanting to travel or live abroad and their story is a great one.   In May 2011, after years of working in intensive care, trauma, and with the dying, Talon left his traditional work life to embark on a round-the-world trip. Now you would think that they at least had a ton of money in the bank right? NO!!!  Talon and Tigger began their journey with $900 in the bank. Talon has been very creative in how he manages to support he and his son from doing medical transcription and writing to photography.  He even became a scuba instructor while in Honduras which has helped them bring in some descent money. Talon says their expenses usually average about $1,000 USD a month and says he could even cut it down further if he wanted but doesn’t because they really enjoy eating out.

His son Tigger has done so well that he is now off all his meds. Talon attributes the marked improvement in his sons anxiety and sensory issues to the amount of time he spends with his son and “world schooling”. His sons progression has reaffirmed and eliminated all the doubts he used to have and he is now 100 percent positive that his decision to live abroad, travel and home-school his son was the best decision he could have made for his 2 man family.

4-  International Cravings

• Number of kids: 2 ( Under 5 years old)
• Type of travel: Expats living in one place.
• Where: Guangzhou China
• Length of time: 1+ years as of 2011
• Finances: Dad works remotely as a web designer. Mom teaches English. Created a product online, teach and run a web based business.

Our fourth story is another family and rather than living nomadically and constantly travelling, they chose to stay in one place, China.

Their story is similar to the Burns in terms of why they chose to live abroad. Basically they were a family that was tired of waiting for the right time to travel, the right time to experience things, enough money to do it all, and tired of waiting for the pieces to fall together so they took action to make it happen.

In Feb. 2011 they moved their family of four to Guangzhou China. With two small children (1 & 3 at the time) there were many things that they were unsure of but they knew one thing for sure and that was that they wanted to go on adventures with their children and experience the world as a family. They have made some amazing friends and have had some unforgettable experiences together.

Mom says that  the ability to give her her older child the opportunity to learn Mandarin and experience a culture at such a young age has been both fun and exciting. Now both of their children speak Mandarin and their almost 5 year old is fluent.  Mom told me a funny story; Their 2 yr old son has learned potty training “split pant” style and she just thinks it’s hilarious watching him flip back and forth.

Dad of the family is a web designer and asked his U.S. company if he could work remotely. Something that before they never would have dreamed of asking. Mom of the family completed an online TESOL certificate before moving to China so that she could teach English while living abroad. While living in China they lived on $16 a day per person….much cheaper than their U.S. cost of living.   They have also spent a month in Thailand and hope to experience more of Southeast Asia while we can. Check out their story at www.internationalcravings.com

5- Man vs. Debt, The Bakers

• Number of kids: 1
• Type of travel: Expats living in one place.
• Where: Australia, Thailand, New Zealand, Thailand
• Length of time: 1 + years
• Challenges: Had over 18,000 us dollars in consumer debt that they paid off.
• Finance: Sold his crap on eBay and got out of debt. Now makes a living online and can literally work anywhere he wants to when he wants to.

   Adam Baker from Man vs. Debt  is probably the most famous modern day family i know who decided to leave it behind for a few years to travel. If you haven’t heard of Man vs. Debt than let me fill you in.

In 2008 after the birth of their daughter, Adam Baker and his wife Courtenay spent a year selling all their crap and paid off over 18,000 dollars in consumer debt. Then In June 2009, they left for what was to be a year in Australia, but quickly turned into more mobile travels through Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and finally back to Indiana.

Now Adam and his wife are running several business online, have several products that help other people do the same thing they did and he’s not done yet. That’s it for now. Stay tuned as i add to this growing list of amazing and inspirational families and couples who left it all behind to travel or live abroad.

What Do You WANT?

So…. do you WISH or do you WANT to lead a location independent lifestyle? Are you willing to TAKE ACTION and are you DETERMINED to follow through? The next time you say I wish I could travel but can’t,  I can’t, I hope you think of these five families who despite having kids, despite having debt, despite not being rich or whatever reason you keep telling you that you CAN’T, they did it. Because they did they took action and had determination.

Part 2 of 3 part series: I share a little transparency with my new (Monthly progress report) where I show you what I’m doing to create my own sustainable location independent lifestyle and my other top goals while living in France.

Part 1 I shared the secret to long term travel and a location independent lifestyle.
Part 3: This article is a showcase of 100 + families and individuals and their amazing stories who despite their own set of challenges, left their conventional lives behind to live a life of travel and exploration.

Just  Sit back and watch the video: If you have a slow connection just read the transcript below the video. Otherwise just watch the video.

What Do You WANT?

So…. do you WISH or do you WANT to lead a location independent lifestyle? Are you willing to TAKE ACTION and are you DETERMINED to follow through?

Click here to learn about 100 inspirational families and couples who are living a location independent lifestyle despite their own set of challenges and circumstances.

Trust: is important

Don’t you hate it when people try to teach you about something they have no experience doing?

I know you do, so don’t deny it.

I don’t want to be THAT person. I’m not that person, but you don’t know that yet…

So here’re what I’m going to do. Because I’m a skeptic and I know some of you are skeptics too,

I am going to be a little more transparent with what I’m doing and with my goals.

Don’t go anywhere just here me out.

Show People and Be More Transparent

so… Here’s how I think it should work so that you get the maximum benefit from my transparency.

Each month, I will report about where I am in terms of accomplishing my goals and the things I’ve done to bring me closer to those goals.

Now….. I can already hear you saying to yourself…

BUT …Annie… Why should I care about you and your goals!

You were thinking that right?

Well, there are lots of reason but the 2 biggest and most glaring reason are because

1- I want to help you learn to do what I’ve done 4 times in my life. That is to harness the power of time off to accomplish your own biggest goals. And if you have the travel bug, I want to teach you how you can do it while living or travelling abroad.

2- I don’t think I can help you  unless you trust me.

I know that sharing some of my past accomplishments will be proof enough for some of you. And you can find out more about all the things I’ve done in the past by going to my about page at Annie André.com.

And I know some of you will be satisfied and trust me because Even right now I’m living abroad in France with my 3 kids and my husband doing exactly what I want to teach you.

But I want to take it further.

so I was thinking how can I really help you. so I got this idea which was inspired from Pat Flynn from smartpassiveincome.com.

what if you could see how I’m using the power of time off and living abroad to tackle and accomplish my own set of goals, what if you could see them as they happen. Right now.  Like a case study. Everyone loves case studies and real life. And what better way to do it then to share what my goals are and share my progress.

But there are other reason and benefits to sharing my personal successes and failures with you.

1. To give you realistic results so you can make decisions based on actual results not just hyped up talk.
2. To motivate you and to teach you what to do and what not to do based on my own successes and failures
3. To show you that even if you’ve lived a very conventional life, even if you have kids that you can break from the norm and do something extraordinary with your life.
4. To entertain you. ( for all you armchair travellers and dreamers waiting for the right moment) I hope that this will in the least entertain you. Maybe someday when you are ready to take action, I will have in the least motivated you a little.

So what are my goals. Rather than bore you with every single goal I have, let me share the goals I’m sure you are most interested in first. Or at least the top five.

Take a look at this graph of the top five goals most people ask me about which happen to be my own top five goals.

1- One of my top goals is to create an location independent lifestyle:  For me that means to create a means to support myself, a business or whatever that will allow me to work and live anywhere I want and to be in control of my own schedule.

2—What follows closely to that is to do things that are INTELLECTUALLY Interesting:  Which for me means to create work that I’m not only interested in, but also intellectually interesting and fulfilling.

3- CHILDREN’S EDUCATION: I want to give my kids a well rounded education. I would love to world school them. I want them to think outside the box and living abroad lets me achieve that in many ways.

2- SOCIAL RECREATIONAL: Obviously, I want to have fun. Living abroad was one way I thought that would be great to have fun together by experiencing another culture as a family

3- RELATIONSHIP: My family means the world to me. I want To spend more time together as a family, and build a stronger bond with my spouse and kids.

Now you’re probably thinking, you could do al those things right from the comfort of your home country right. And you are right.

I didn’t have to leave the country and move my family to France to accomplish any of these goals.  I could have done this from anywhere. I chose to do this while living abroad because I have the travel bug. I love exploring the world and seeing other cultures. Living  in France  was something I’ve wanted to do for a very very long time.

Combining  my love for travel with my personal goals was the most practical way I could accomplish all my goals at once in a shorter amount of time.

It’s not a new concept and lot’s of people do it and have done it before me. But it is a new concept to Many people and this is not my first time taking time off from life to accomplish my goals. I’ve kind of got the process down pretty good and I that’s why I want to help as many people as possible realize their own dream.

That’s it.

so Keep an eye out for my First progress report coming up in May where i lay out the plan and what I’ve done so far.

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One last thing, if you don’t know me or you are new here, this isn’t my first time taking time off, or second or third. This is my fourth time. Two were career breaks where I stayed put and one was a three year stint abroad. Not counting the fact that I was born abroad in Thailand and lived there until I was almost five. If you want to get a brief overview of those first three times I took time off and see what I accomplished then go to the about page and read about some of my accomplishments.

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What Do You WANT?

So…. do you WISH or do you WANT to lead a location independent lifestyle? Are you willing to TAKE ACTION and are you DETERMINED to follow through?
Click here to learn about 100 inspirational families and couples who are living a location independent lifestyle despite their own set of challenges and circumstances.

Part 1 of 3 part series: I share the secret to long term travel and a location independent lifestyle.
Part 2: I share a little transparency with my new (Monthly progress report) where I show you what I’m doing to create my own sustainable location independent lifestyle and my other top goals while living in France.
Part 3: Is a showcase of 100 + families and individuals and their amazing stories who despite their own set of challenges, left their conventional lives behind to live a life of travel and exploration.

Location Independent Lifestyle

Wouldn’t it be great to pack up and leave the confines of your everyday life for a few months even a few years to explore the world or live abroad?

Wouldn’t it also be great to have a job that not only supported that lifestyle but that you could do from anywhere in the world?

Can’t you just picture it? Travelling to exotic places, living in France for a year, slow travelling through Asia or just travelling 2 or 3 months out of the year instead of a measly one or two week?

If you could do all that than you would be leading a “location independent lifestyle”

So……What’s stopping you?

Is it lack of Money?

Is it that you have a Family and kids?

Do you have too many bills a big mortgage?

Is it fear?

Is it your job?

No More Excuses

The fact of the matter is, it’s never been easier to live a location independent lifestyle.

Thousands of people are doing it, have done it and thousands more will do it in the future. These people are not smarter, richer or more adventurous than you. They’re not all young and carefree and they’re not hippies who couldn’t cut it in the real world either.

In fact, many of the people who choose to live a location independent lifestyle are a lot like you with similar circumstances, backgrounds may even share some of the same obstacles that you face in your own life.

So what’s their secret?

If they’re just like you and have similar circumstances what makes it possible for them to achieve their dream while others only dream about it?

3 simple things separate dreamers vs. doers. Pay close attention because these three things transcend to anything in your life.

1. D-E-S-I-R-E

2. A-C-T-I-O-N

3. D-E-T-E-R-M-I-N-A-T-I-O-N

Did you year that?

That’s it..Without these three things you will never achieve your goal of long term travel or location independence. NEVER! If you know different than please feel free to prove me wrong by leaving a comment below.

In the mean time let me break it down for you.

1- Desire

There is a HUGE difference between a wish and a desire. That difference being  the quality of the craving or longing.  Take for instance these two phrases,

1- “I wish I could live in France” vs.

2- “ I want to live in France”.

The first is a a wish which implies it would be nice to achieve something but not necessary. The second is a desire and it gives a much stronger sense of longing. It’s usually an unsatisfied craving or longing that if not accomplished may lead to regret.

2- Action:

If you really DESIRE to do something than you have to take the first step, an action. ANY ACTION. Without that first step it’s nothing but an empty dream.

3- Determinations:

Desire and action are a good start but if you don’t have determination to deal with all the challenges, naysayers and unforeseen road blocks, you may feel defeated and stop. Not to mention the fact that it might take you several failed attempts before you succeed.

What Do You WANT?

So…. do you WISH or do you WANT to lead a location independent lifestyle? Are you willing to TAKE ACTION and are you DETERMINED to follow through?

 Click here to see my monthly report showing my progress to achieve location independence while living in France.

Never again say I don’t have the latest tools.
I don’t have the latest gadgets.
Never make excuses to NOT do something because of fear again.

A 9 year old kid who loves arcade games set out on an adventure to create his own arcade game. And he did it using nothing more than old cardboard boxes, tape, old toys and sheer determination.

He runs it out of the side of his dads business in East L.A. and attracted such a buzz that thousands of people responded to it on facebook and hundreds showed up to play his games.

Watch this documentary about how his cardboard arcade came to be. It is the sweetest most inspirational story i’ve heard in a long time and it brought tears to my eyes.

Here is his site share the love and share this post to spread his story.

http://cainesarcade.com/

If your dream is to move abroad for a few months,  a year or more, I need to warn you. You’re friends, relatives and co-workers could be the first in line to tell you that you that you are making a BIG MISTAKE. 

Today I want give you 10 tactful ways that I have personally used to handle these “Naysayers” or as I like to call them “Energy Vampires” because if you don’t learn to deal with them, their negativity can literally suck the life out of your plans leaving you with nothing but a deflated dream and full of regret. READY?

Congratulation you are part of a very unique group.

You want to take a year off from your life to do something different, something a little LESS predictable, LESS average.  You want to do something BIG. You want to experience all life has to offer.

• Go back to school, Volunteer, Start an internet based business, Write a novel,…… I could go on but you get the point….

It’s more than that right? You don’t just want to take a year off from your life to do this personal goal or dream, you want to accomplish those things while living abroad or travelling long term. 

Some people call it a Gap year, or life sabbatical. This concept is nothing new. It’s been going on for ages but it’s been gaining more and more popularity around the world. I took my first adult gap year 20 years ago when i was single and kid-less. Now i am on a second one living in France with my kids so I totally get it.  It’s a Practical Way To Accomplish Your Goals because It’s a great way to kill 2 birds with one stone in a short amount of time.

1. You not only get to accomplish  personal goals,
2. you also get to soak in a new culture, new foods and maybe a new language. If you have kids like I do, they also get to experience a new culture and maybe even become bilingual.

It’s exciting and I bet you can’t wait to get started on your journey and tell everyone right?

I Have Some Bad News

I know from personal experience that the  people around you will react differently. Some people will be supportive while others will try to talk you out of it by pointing out all the reasons why you SHOULD NOT leave your life behind even for only a year. These are the Naysayers and Energy Vampires I mentioned before.

• Maybe it’s a loving friend or relative who says what they need to say to protect you from what they think is a big mistake.
• Maybe it’s a co-worker who wishes they could do what you want to do but has convinced themselves that they can’t and therefore think you shouldn’t either.

Whoever it is, DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY. It’s only natural for them to voice their concerns. After all, you are leaving the safety of your established life behind to do something that seems out of character to them.

It’s ok. It’s their job.  You only need to know how to deal with them and I’m going to show you 10 tactful ways how to deal so that you don’t alienate any of your friends or family while keeping your dreams and plans in tact..

10 Ways To Deal With Naysayers & Energy Vampires

1-Make Them Feel Heard: Listen

The first thing you should do when someone questions your decision or ideas is LISTEN. Chances are they are just concerned. It will not only make them feel heard but they might actually bring up a good point that you hadn’t thought of.

2-Don’t Argue

Arguments are draining and take the focus away from your main objective and goals. Instead smile, nod your head, thank them for their thoughtful input just don’t argue.

3-Let Them Go: Disengage: Avoid

Some people will not be satisfied with the fact that you won’t argue with them. These sneaky naysayers might even resort to criticizing you in non constructive ways by making you feel bad or calling you names. If you encounter this type of person and discussion just excuse yourself from the conversation. In extreme cases you may need to avoid the person all together.

4-Don’t React

Never react or show anger. If you do not react to their naysaying ways, than they have no power over you. The best you can do is agree to disagree and walk away. See point number 3 about disengaging.

5-Protect And Safeguard Your Plans

What would happen if you created a beautiful ice sculpture and left it out in the sun? It would melt right? Think of your goals and dreams to move abroad as a beautiful ice sculpture. If you tell everyone about your plans at once it can be like exposing your ice sculpture to the direct sunlight.

Instead, assume you will get a lot of negative feedback and be selective who you tell.

6-Change The Subject

This doesn’t always work but it’s worth a try. Just change the subject. It may work best with co-workers but not so well with someone very close to you like your siblings or parents.

7-Refuse Money and Help

If you are living under your parents roof, if someone is supporting you or helping you then chances are they might feel like they have a say in what you do with your life.  You have two choices,

1. keep accepting their help: You may be obliged to listen to them.
2. Stop accepting their help: Yes it will be scary but if you really want to do something and someone is not willing to support your ideas then maybe it’s time you show you can take care of yourself.

8-Surround Yourself With Supportive People

Have you ever felt drained of energy but after a good nap or a good nights rest you feel a renewed sense of energy like you can do anything?  Surrounding yourself with positive people or people with the same goals as you is like that. Just like negative people can suck your dreams dry. Positive people can fuel your ideas.

If you can’t find anyone around you then go online to find people. Look for groups, associations and forums where people like you hang out. Contact them and start interacting with them.

9. Let It Fuel You!

I have no idea why this works but when I have an idea or want to do something and someone tells me I can’t or shouldn’t do it I get a fire in my belly that drives me. It gives me so much satisfaction to prove someone that I can do something especially after they tell me I can’t. Maybe it has something to do with overcoming challenges. Whatever the reason, negativity as a fuel rather than a deterrent is a great way to look at naysayers and energy vampires.

10. Ask Them To Help You

What if you just straight out asked someone to help you accomplish your dream of living abroad?  It doesn’t have to be monetarily although that would be nice wouldn’t it?   Let them know how much it means to you. If they respect you and your good judgment than they might just help you. It’s not forever right?  It may even give them the satisfaction to see that you are making the right choices. Once they are involved, they have a vested interest in your success.

Conclusion:

If you have a dream, any dream. Something that could potentially bring you a lot of satisfaction, happiness and success then don’t let naysayers stop you.

Just accept the fact that if you are going to do something “DIFFERENT”, something a little less safe than the people around you are going to chime in and try to point out all the reasons why you SHOULD NOT DO it. Good Luck!

QUESTIONS: I’m curious

Is living abroad something you wish you could do but don’t think you can?  What are the reasons?  Are you your biggest naysayer?  Do other people easily influence your decisions. Please leave your comments below. Just scroll down to the bottom but don’t forget to share this article especially on Facebook and twitter. Thanks and good luck.

One of the problems when people travel long term or live abroad is how to educate your kids and keep them on track with the rest of their schoolmates back in their home country. 

You could send the kids to public or private school while abroad like we are doing with our kids here in France.  

What if you want to travel more while abroad and not be tied down to the school schedule?  What if you will only be in one place for 3 months?  What if………….  

Simple, you can always home-school the kids.

Today’s article is a guest post written by Susie Brown. Her article is a great introduction into the world of homeschooling while travelling or living abroad with kids. It’s hard but not as hard as people think. As Susie puts it, “if she can do it, anyone can”.

Take it away Susie.

Why I home-schooled the kids

When my oldest son was having trouble keeping up in school we considered all of our options. And after checking into everything that the school system had to offer us, we weren’t very impressed. It seemed that our son was doomed to fall through the cracks of the education system and there was nothing we could do about it. We decided to try homeschooling, mostly because we figured that it couldn’t be any worse than the other options.

After a few weeks of homeschooling our sons face began to shine again, he was a much happier boy, and we witnessed how his mind was able to develop in ways that it didn’t while he was in school. It turns out that the school atmosphere just wasn’t right for him. Eventually, our other kids wanted to try homeschooling too, and that was the beginning of our homeschooling family adventure.

As it turned out, one of the greatest perks of homeschooling is being on a different schedule as everybody else. When the zoos, museums, and other fun outing destinations are flooded with people on weekends and holidays we avoid going, because we can go on school days in order to avoid the lines and the crowds. And when we moved we didn’t need to look for new schools, nor did we need to worry about our children’s curriculum changing.

For anyone who is considering relocating for a limited time, homeschooling might be a great option. But if you plan to send your kids back to the same school system, you will obviously need to keep them up to speed. Thankfully, many homeschooling families find that their children are able to learn the material a lot faster than their in-school peers.

Staying on track with the curriculum back at home

The first step towards staying on track with the school is by asking the school. Go to the school where your child would otherwise be attending and explain to them your travel plans and your plans to return. That is show them that you consider them too as important educators in the life of your child, which is a very engaging and gratifying feeling for teachers. After explaining your travel plans, ask them for a general idea of the curriculum.

The teachers should be able to give you a general answer. Although, teachers do improvise and readjust their lesson plans throughout the course of the school year, they are required to cover certain material. Once you find out what that required material is, you can make your own lesson plan of how to learn it.

By the way, planning your own curriculum might seem like a daunting undertaking, but it’s not as difficult as you might think. I have no formal training in being an educator, and if I could do it, so can you.

Another benefit of being in contact with your child’s school is that the school might be able to give you their own suggestions for what and how to study with your children.

I know of a mother who when she told her child’s school of their plans to relocate to Argentina, the school was smart enough to take advantage of the situation. Her child’s grade learned about Argentina’s history and culture, and the mother and school coordinated their curriculums together. When the school learned about the native Argentinean tribes they would go visit the ruins video camera in hand. The school benefited by showing the videos to students, and the family benefited by remaining in sync with the school’s curriculum.

3 Simple Ways To Teach While Travelling or Living Abroad

How parents go about assuring that their kids are getting the best education possible during the homeschooling process is a matter or trial and error since so much of learning is child specific.

1- Online learning aids are fun and give immediate feedback

I am a big fan of using online learning sites in order to teach important concepts. Online learning sites are often designed in the same way as video games. Similar to the way a child needs to figure out certain things in order to win a video game she will likewise need to figure out how to “win” the online learning games. In the course of playing and winning those games they learn fundamental concepts.

Whereas if a student doesn’t understand a concept when they take a test or do homework, which is bad news for their grade and their self-image, with online learning sites they can just try again. Most kids love trying again, just like they like playing video games over again.

To get an idea of what I am talking about go to www.ixl.com, a math learning website, where you can try out their features for free. Ideally I don’t recommend using online learning sites as the main component for teaching, but rather as an assistant to your regular learning schedule.

2- One-on-one learning

My favorite thing about homeschooling is the fact that my kids are completely engaged in their learning. Since there is someone constantly there to help them in their learning (usually that’s me), they never slip into passivity.

Take advantage of learning opportunities

The learning that can be accomplished through being exposed to a new culture is immeasurable. Here are a few ideas for how to do that

• Learn about the history of your host culture and then go and visit the sites which you learned about.
• Go to museums more than once
• Learn the language
• Learn skills that are culture specific like learning Chinese calligraphy in China, or learning how to cook French cuisine in France.

3- Join a local community of homeschoolers

Homeschooling exists in most places in the world, and homeschooling families usually make plans to meet up together on a regular basis. Inquire about these homeschool community activities and you may find a community that is happy to accept you with open arms. Homeschoolers, as a general rule, are some of the nicest and most accepting people that you will ever meet. These mini-communities are a great way to make friends and they can be a valuable source of information and networking.

WARNING:  What to be Careful About

When we first started researching the possibility of homeschooling we decided to go right to the experts- the products of homeschooled education. I spoke to a few young adults who had graduated from homeschool high school, and whom I consider to be very successful. I asked them if they had any advice about homeschooling. Their unified response. “Don’t let homeschooling become no-schooling.” Although homeschooling does allow you to be much more flexible in your activities, it is still important to pursue goals and stick to some type of schedule.

Author Bio: Susie Brown is a FastUpFront Blog contributor and business author. Fastupfront offers working capital to businesses in need of a loan.

Have you heard of any these French stereotypes?

The French, they stink, the women don’t shave under their arms, they hate Americans, they are rude. I could go on. 

Most stereotypes like the ones I just listed are just not true. Yes there are rude French people but there are rude Americans, Germans, Canadians and Japanese too. I went to UC Santa Cruz in California, home of the American Hippy, so don’t get me started on how many women I came in contact with that didn’t believe in shaving or wearing deodorant.

Today I want to take you on an adventure and explore a French Stereotype which surprisingly seems to have some validity. 

 Maybe you’ve heard: French Women Don’t Get Fat! I’ll point out the fat facts and 10 reasons why this French phenomenon may be true. 

Is There Scientific Proof?

The belief that French people don’t get fat is so strong and so widely believed that some scientists have studied this phenomenon to try and understand how a nation that eats more cheese and drinks more wine per capita than the average developed nation isn’t  more overweight.

There are even recipe and diet books based on the “French Diet” including one very popular book called “French Women Don’t Get Fat”( I’ve listed more books like this at the end of this post).

The answer I believe is not in the French DNA but rather in the attitudes and habits the French have with regards to food.

Subjective Proof: My Own Experience

Walking along the streets of France, I rarely see or encounter a “FAT” French person. I say rarely because I do see some but I can go days even weeks before I spot someone overweight.

The other day my husband and I were taking a walk  near a street laden with  shops and Bistros. We saw a dozen middle-aged couples who were in impeccable shape, not a flabby limb or pudgy waist to be seen.  The younger French people seem to be even more thin and appear very athletic. Same thing with the elderly.

The French Secret To Staying Thin

Why is it that the French appear so thin and so healthy compared to other countries but especially when compared to Americans in the U.S., a nation obsessed with diets and health clubs?

If you have ever spent any length of time in France than the answer to this question may be clear to you but to everyone else, it must seem puzzling.

The answer is actually very simple. Once you hear the reasons you will nod your head and immediately understand how the French stay thin and healthy despite their rich foods.

Grocery Shopping

Let’s take a look at how the average person shops for groceries. In the U.S. and in Canada, you can walk into any grocery store and be faced with aisle upon aisle of chips, soda pop, Twinkies, sugar coated cereals and just plain unhealthy snack food. Yes there are these things in the stores here in France but there are two noticeable differences; Portion and Selection / Quantity.

1- PORTION: Unhealthy snacks are sold in tiny servings that would probably make an American scoff and think they were getting ripped off. You don’t see huge bags of Doritos, or Costco sized coco puffs.

2- SELECTION / QUANTITY: The selection and the quantity of these types of unhealthy snacks are miniscule compared to the aisles dedicated to these types of food in the U.S.

In France, there is a small section dedicted to chips with, don’t laugh; roasted chicken flavored chips. No flaming hot Cheetos and no Doritos. In the U.S. there are whole aisles dedicated to coke, root beer, 7 up and cherry flavored pops here in France. The unhealthy food sections are miniscule and not really pronounced at all. Even the soda selection is tiny here in France. It should be noted that the number one soda i’ve seen at the stores here is Orangina.

The portion size and availability of unhealthy snacks only scratches the surface of “WHY”.  To find out the whole story, i want to share 10 simple explanations as to why and how the French stay so slim and how you can too by changing a few things and habits in the way you eat.

First The Fat Facts

Before I go into the why,  let me first give you some facts.  In 2007, Forbes magazine published an article ranking the worlds fattest countries; 198 countries in total were ranked. The article published these numbers based on (WHO) the World Health Organization.  The report reflected the percentage of that countries population over the age of 15 that was overweight.

*NOTE: The WHO’s definitions of “overweight” and “obese” are based on an individual’s body mass index (BMI), which measures weight relative to height. Overweight is marked by a BMI greater than or equal to 25 and obese is defined as having a BMI greater than or equal to 30.

In this report, the United States was ranked 9th fattest nation out of 198. Yes 9th. (screeeeeeeeeech, record scratch). 74% of the American population is considered overweight (BMI > 25). Compare that to France which was ranked 128th fattest nation with 40% of the adult population overweight.

That’s a huge drop don’t you think?  Even more alarming is when you compare the ranking of Americans  to Asian nations.  Thailand, China and Japan all with 30% or less of their populations overweight.  The Asia diet is another story and I would love to talk about their food and culture but today we are only looking at the French diet.

Take a look at the partial table below which lists some countries in order of fat rank. It is a partial list, you can see the full list of 198 countries ranking by clicking here

The Secret To “Why French Women Don’t Get Fat”

As I said earlier, there is no secret to why the French can stay so thin and healthy. I’ve listed below 10 simple explanations from things I’ve read and or observed first hand.

1- Slow Down: The French eat very slowly. You’ve probably heard that by eating more slowly, you give your brain time to catch up to your stomach.

When eating at some of the Bistros here in Marseille, I definitely notice that people sit much longer for lunch. They stop and talk to one another in between bites. Put there fork down in between bites. Drink some wine in between bites and then talk some more in between bites. The whole meal can take up to an hour to eat easily.

One of my son’s who is 14 noticed the same thing at the French school he attends. French children are not given a mere 45 minutes to eat but close to 2 hours to eat compared to the US where they were given barely 40 minutes to eat their lunch. According to my son, on average, his friends take closer to 40 minutes to finish their meals.

2- Eat Smaller Portions: There is no super size me in France. French restaurant portions are noticeably smaller.  Meat and fish portions would be considered tiny by American standards. One easy way for you to cut your portion size is use a smaller diner plate and don’t go back for seconds.

3- Don’t snack: I know that a lot of diets in the U.S. say you should snack but here in France, snacking is virtually unheard of. No bag of chips, no granola bars in between. It’s just not common place.

4- Eat breakfast: The French usually eat 3 meals and never skip a meal not even breakfast.  Breakfast is not like a typical American or English breakfast. No stacks of piping hot pancakes, with a side of bacon and eggs. It’s juice, maybe some toast, an apple or nuts. So don’t skip breakfast just eat lighter healthier in the morning.

5- Little to no processed foods: I already mentioned that walking down the food isles in the U.S.  and Canada is like a waking down a cornucopia of packaged and processed fatty foods. Not in France. Sure there are processed food but I have yet to find whole aisles dedicated to coke. So skip the process packaged foods and stock up on healthier choices.

6- More Fish, Fruits and vegetables: The French eat less meat and more fresh fruits, veggies and fish and so should you. This is just common sense, need I say more?

7- Be more active: What I find amazing is that the French stay so lean but don’t have gyms at every corner like there are in the US. Instead, the French are more active. More outdoor activities, more walking. This is good news for all you people who hate the gym. Try to be more active and walk more. Everyday if you can.

8- Drink red wind: Aaaaah Yeah!!!!!. This is what I’m talkin about. It is true that the French drink more wine. The numbers don’t lie and neither do my eyes. While dining out in France, I do notice that more people partake in a glass of wine than in the U.S. or Canada.  In the Groceries store too; I see much more people buying wine at the checkout than in the U.S. or Canada.

(wine is very inexpensive in France compared to elsewhere).

The reason why wine is good for weight loss or weight control is because it contains an antioxidant compound found in the grape skins called resveratrol. It’s not only great as an aid in weight loss but also overall good health. Cheers and you are welcome!

9- Eat yogurt: What is interesting is that in the U.S. and Canada, milk is almost forced down our children’s throats but here in France it’s not served to school children. To be honest, I don’t like milk. Growing up, I never even drank it.

My mother and step mother were both Asian and never drank it so I never did. That’s a whole other topic which would require more time.

Back to yogurt.  French children don’t get milk at school. They get cheese or yogurt. My 4 year old always eats her cheese at school. My boys tell me that their school mates always eat their cheese and yogurt. Compare that to the u.s. where a lot of kids just throw out their milk. “YES” it happens more than you think.

Yogurt and or cheese are served at every meal.  Not cheddar cheese but Brie, camembert, compte or blue cheese. And there is no Danon yogurt or that funky kiddy yogurt. It’s real yogurt. I love it

10. Hydrate: The French hydrate with water and hydrate often.  I already mentioned that the kids don’t get milk at school.  Yes they can get juice on occasion but the kids always get water. Even at the store, I see very little choices for sodas. Lots of juice and lots of different types of water.  You’ll have to look hard and long to find a six pack of coke in France. Maybe the bigger stores have canned soda pop but not at the ones I frequent here in Marseille.

Final Thoughts

If you were thinking about dieting to lose those last 10 pounds then give the French way of eating a try. The best thing about the French way of eating is it is painless and it’s yet another reason why you would love to live in France. At least, i keep telling myself that.

Books: Recipes and Diet Books About The French Way Of Eating

Below are a few books I found at Amazon concerning the French diet which really isn’t a diet at all but rather a different way of thinking and dealing with food. I threw in one book on the list about the Japanese way of eating. Having lived in Japan for 3 years, I have tremendous respect for the Japanese way of life and their food. Enjoy.

What do you think? Do you agree with me on my assessment into the reason why the French as a nation are so much thinner and healthier than other developed countries?

Photo Credit: Fat Woman