We retired around age 58. Our 3 kids all married from 2019-2022. There was so much joy during these years despite the unpredictabilities of COVID. 2023 has been amazing because the kids are all settled and for the first time in 37 yrs we are very free. We have travelled internationally for over 20 yrs and love it. Sometimes it was connected to business, sometimes all pleasure, but❤ it caught us and we love it❤. We want to sell our big “family” home next. Then travel twice as much.
This video inspired me to pull the trigger and decide to do a “gap year”. It’s scary to think I won’t have a steady paycheck for a while but your informative videos are helping calm those fears down.
This makes us SO happy to hear. Send us a picture of your adventures when you get going. Hopefully you can find some ways to save costs at home while you are gone. We haven’t done it, but many of our viewers have tried “housesitting” and stayed places for free. Safe travels and good luck. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
Just found your website! Look forward to following you as you travel the world! We retired in 2019 right before COVID. So we took advantage to 20 hikes in 2020, and 21 hikes in 2021 in the US. We are 68 years young and blessed with good health ! We plan on traveling and exploring as long as we can. Oh and by the way my parents took my brother and I out of school for a month in 1965! We explored the Mediterranean countries and Israel. Now are giving the gift of travel with our 7 grands. Safe travels ! You are never too old to learn something new!
Thanks for following along and you guys are so inspirational as well on so many levels. We love hearing stories like yours. Let’s stay connected. John and Bev
If you are considering a gap year at any stage of your your life, we would love to hear from you. We know what traveling the world has done for us and hope to share that excitement with others. Thanks for watching and hope you can follow along on our journey around the world. John and Bev
We have taken 2 gaps years, our first in Europe and North Africa in 1989 before kids, our second with our first daughter when she was 18 months old. Both amazing experiences!! Your videos are inspiring us in our early 60’s to take another gap year or 2! Thank you for your wonderful channel!
Just like our life of living at 9,000 ft in a tiny Colorado mountain village is not for most people - I don’t think constant traveling is for most people - but all that matters is that we are happy with our choices And that’s what being debt free brings - choices Traveling is part of our full lives - happy travels 🧳🌎🧭
Completely agree that traveling changes you. I know I have more of an appreciation for what I have and the opportunities that came my way after seeing how people live in other parts of the world. Thanks for sharing!
Traveling has certainly changed us and we knew it would. The one that surprised us was the downsizing. It has been really impactful as well. Happy journeys, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
Thanks for the video! We are anticipating full time travel when we retire. Wanted to do a gap year after college, but got sucked into a very good job offer, and before we knew it, 38 years have gone by, house, mortgage, send kid to college, etc. Kind of hard to part with our house, but it will be worth it!! Looking back, the best times we had were while traveling. Currently building a van to hit the road, then hope to trade with other RVers worldwide. Can’t wait!!!
So funny I found your video as last summer I told friends and family I was taking the summer off for a gap summer in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Egypt and Andorra. Its the best thing I ever did and I am planning for a year when I retire in a year.
We love it! Sounds like an amazing trip. Best of luck with your retirement and hope you can follow along on our journey. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com
This is so great.The best video yet! We are NZers, late 50's (early retired) heading away with our kids and grandkids in September-October to Spain to walk the camino. You probaby know that is an 800km pilgrimmage walk. We've booked rooms so we can stay together. We have more adventures planned but love following your journey. If you come to NZ do get in touch. We'd love you to come and stay and we can show you some of our beautiful country.
Thanks and that’s awesome! Can’t wait to hear about your Spain adventure. We plan to be in New Zealand for sure next February and would love to get together. Can you message us on Instagram to connect. Thanks, John and Bev
@@RetirementTravelers we went to Tianjin, and took a 3 day 2 night tour, to the great wall, forbidden city, we saw a play, and went to a traditional tea house for a ceremony, and had a lunch in a small community village, in someone's house. The tour company, was well the government ultimately. So we weren't always aware of where the bus was taking us, but it was all a great adventure. Our tour guide was wonderful and saw to all of the details. We had a hot pot dinner in our hotel restaurant that was incredible. We honestly are willing to do it again. We will take trains, and check on tours offered, to be able to get in and out of areas easily.
@@RetirementTravelersI almost forgot 😅, I thought I was booking an adjacent airport to Shanghai, no it was 45 minutes away in Xi an. We must have been the only Americans who ever flew out of there. We had a 6 hour wait for our flight, and we were on display for everyone to pass by us and stare. The security made multiple passes, until the saw us eating noodles from the gift shop in cups. Okay, now we are good.
I love this video. You guys reminded me what’s important in life! I took a couple of gap year in between careers, and it’s the best thing I did for myself.
Thanks Joe. The learning curve with full-time world travel is steep, but we are loving it. Keep up the great videos and come meet us somewhere 😀 John and Bev
I absolutely love your videos. Never heard the term “Gap Year” before, but it makes so much sense. I believe we’re of similar demographics, and I’ve traveled quite a bit in my lifetime as well. But this year is the year that the slow travel begins. Thanks for sharing and continued good health to both of you. Hope one day our travels will intersect.
Thanks so much and glad you are enjoying our videos! Best of luck with your slow travels and we love meeting people around the world, so hopefully our paths will cross. Where do you begin your journey? John and Bev
We’re planning on Central and South America beginning with Mexico for the next two to three years. Although we also have plans to be in Panama in June and Jamaica in July/August.
Thanks and we do hope to inspire you to take the plunge of early retirement. We are loving our journey around the world. Best of luck with your decision and let us know if we can help in anyway possible. John and Bev
yessss, great idea! u guys have def inspired me to do a cross state journey to my new retirement location of florida’s together with my furr babii’s!! why not start out small and c all that i can see on my way there🥳🥰 ty!!! continued blessings and travel mercies to you both 💜🙏🏽💜
Thanks so much. Glad we could inspire you to travel. Enjoy the journey and definitely see all you can see. Hope you can follow along on our crazy adventure around the world. John and Bev
Today I suddenly wondered "What about footwear?" Do you both travel with a spare pair of walking/hiking shoes? Do you rotate your shoes every few days with all the walking you do? Does John have shoes just for running? Have you been running while travelling abroad?
No spares on walking/running shoes. We buy a new pair of Hokas every 6 months. I always run when traveling, unless I’m injured, which is now. 😔☹️ Thanks so much for following along. John and Bev
Not tired of those uniforms at all! I love them!!! Unfortunately, with student loans breathing down your neck as soon as you graduate from college, taking a gap year is not an option for many😒 I'm actually encouraging our daughter to take a year or two off before going to college, to travel, which is what I wish I had done.
Thanks so much and glad you like the “uniforms”. They bring us joy through the people we meet. So happy that your daughter may take a gap year. That is so exciting. Keep us posted. John and Bev
Heeeelllloooo! Firstly we were worried John had lost his uniform 😂. Secondly, what a fantastic positive message in this vlog, thank you....we've sent it to all of our kids, so maybe they will see that's what we are planning to do in 411 days, is not that crazy 😅😂...its just a gap decade, or two or three. We cannot wait to meet you two, safe travels.
Thanks for following along! They were one of the few things we didn’t part with 😳. We still get to play a few times per year and they are with a family member since we don’t own a home. John and Bev
What apps do you use to locate great things to see and do in an area you are interested in visiting? How do you hunt a place to stay overnight? How do you find the best places to eat? How do you pay for most things? Cash? Venmo? Do you use Uber and Lyft more than renting cars?
We use of Chase travel card for as much as possible to earn points, cash otherwise. We try to take public transportation whenever possible, with an occasional taxi or Uber. John and Bev
Great info! We are 4 years away from early retirement but want to leave now! Can I ask what age you started full time travel? We will be 54 when we start! Safe travels!
Thanks and that’s awesome. We retired at age 55 at the end of 2019. The pandemic changed our plans around, but it all worked out. Best of luck with your retirement and travels and hope you can follow along on our journey. Safe travels, John and Bev
We are currently still on John’s retiree policy, but looking to go to a cheaper, very high deductible policy this fall. We are currently getting our dental, medical and prescriptions In Medellin, Colombia because it is SO MUCH CHEAPER than in the US. John and Bev
@@RetirementTravelers Just found your vlog so we're catching up! I know it's a decade off for you, two but will you take Medicare too? PartB, Part D and/or Medigap/Advantage plan? What are your early considerations?
@@preventionmsw We’ve just assumed “Medicare” at this point and haven’t really researched the details yet given that we are still 7 years away and we’ve been so busy with current travel and vlogging. John and Bev
Oh yeah, I didn't even notice that this is the first video I've seen in AGES where you aren't wearing the uniform! I guess you do bring other clothes, then?
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Traveling makes us all better human beings. World traveling humbles you, and experience life from a different perspective.
Yes it does. Thanks for sharing. We have been humbled many times on this journey.
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
We retired around age 58. Our 3 kids all married from 2019-2022. There was so much joy during these years despite the unpredictabilities of COVID. 2023 has been amazing because the kids are all settled and for the first time in 37 yrs we are very free. We have travelled internationally for over 20 yrs and love it. Sometimes it was connected to business, sometimes all pleasure, but❤ it caught us and we love it❤. We want to sell our big “family” home next. Then travel twice as much.
Great job and thanks for sharing your story. Safe travels.
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
This video inspired me to pull the trigger and decide to do a “gap year”. It’s scary to think I won’t have a steady paycheck for a while but your informative videos are helping calm those fears down.
This makes us SO happy to hear. Send us a picture of your adventures when you get going. Hopefully you can find some ways to save costs at home while you are gone. We haven’t done it, but many of our viewers have tried “housesitting” and stayed places for free.
Safe travels and good luck.
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com
Just found your website! Look forward to following you as you travel the world! We retired in 2019 right before COVID. So we took advantage to 20 hikes in 2020, and 21 hikes in 2021 in the US. We are 68 years young and blessed with good health ! We plan on traveling and exploring as long as we can. Oh and by the way my parents took my brother and I out of school for a month in 1965! We explored the Mediterranean countries and Israel. Now are giving the gift of travel with our 7 grands. Safe travels ! You are never too old to learn something new!
Thanks for following along and you guys are so inspirational as well on so many levels. We love hearing stories like yours. Let’s stay connected. John and Bev
If you are considering a gap year at any stage of your your life, we would love to hear from you. We know what traveling the world has done for us and hope to share that excitement with others. Thanks for watching and hope you can follow along on our journey around the world. John and Bev
Thank you!! We are considering doing this right now! Your video is a resource for me to start our official plan to do our gap year!
@@julievang86 Thanks. That’s awesome and so glad our video was helpful. Keep us posted of your progress. John and Bev
We have taken 2 gaps years, our first in Europe and North Africa in 1989 before kids, our second with our first daughter when she was 18 months old. Both amazing experiences!! Your videos are inspiring us in our early 60’s to take another gap year or 2! Thank you for your wonderful channel!
We love it. Great job. Glad you are enjoying our channel.
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
Just like our life of living at 9,000 ft in a tiny Colorado mountain village is not for most people - I don’t think constant traveling is for most people - but all that matters is that we are happy with our choices
And that’s what being debt free brings - choices
Traveling is part of our full lives - happy travels 🧳🌎🧭
A Colorado cabin sounds pretty nice. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your retirement years.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
Completely agree that traveling changes you. I know I have more of an appreciation for what I have and the opportunities that came my way after seeing how people live in other parts of the world. Thanks for sharing!
Traveling has certainly changed us and we knew it would. The one that surprised us was the downsizing. It has been really impactful as well.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
The long European vacations that we took with our teenagers are some of our very best family memories!
That’s great that you were able to take them. Great memories we are sure.
Been houseless for 6 months it's great so far .
That's awesome. It is working for us as well.
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
How are you doing that? If I sell everything even the house .. then what happens when money gets lower?
Yes, getting out and do it is exactly right! I grew up as a "planner" not someone who "acted". Glad I am finally starting to act on some of my plans!
You are certainly acting on it now! Hope all is well. John and Bev
I love the story about the couple and the Polaroid photo! That's awesome!!
Thanks. We loved that too. It was so cool when they pulled out the picture. That is what travel is all about. John and Bev
@@RetirementTravelers it’s not 30 years, but in my video today I have a photo taken in the same place eight years apart 😉
We will check it out
Thanks for the video! We are anticipating full time travel when we retire. Wanted to do a gap year after college, but got sucked into a very good job offer, and before we knew it, 38 years have gone by, house, mortgage, send kid to college, etc. Kind of hard to part with our house, but it will be worth it!! Looking back, the best times we had were while traveling. Currently building a van to hit the road, then hope to trade with other RVers worldwide. Can’t wait!!!
Thank you so much. Awesome idea on trading RV’s around the world. Good luck with your travels and stay in touch. John and Bev
We love making friends when we travel too! It is one of our very favourite things about travelling!!
Absolutely the best part!
So funny I found your video as last summer I told friends and family I was taking the summer off for a gap summer in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Egypt and Andorra. Its the best thing I ever did and I am planning for a year when I retire in a year.
We love it! Sounds like an amazing trip. Best of luck with your retirement and hope you can follow along on our journey.
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com
This is so great.The best video yet! We are NZers, late 50's (early retired) heading away with our kids and grandkids in September-October to Spain to walk the camino. You probaby know that is an 800km pilgrimmage walk. We've booked rooms so we can stay together. We have more adventures planned but love following your journey. If you come to NZ do get in touch. We'd love you to come and stay and we can show you some of our beautiful country.
Thanks and that’s awesome! Can’t wait to hear about your Spain adventure. We plan to be in New Zealand for sure next February and would love to get together. Can you message us on Instagram to connect. Thanks, John and Bev
"A gap DECADE"...I sure love that 😂❤!!
We do too 🥰
Safe travels,
John and Bev
We got push back from some family members about visiting China. And actually we can't wait to go back again.
It's been 10 years since we visited. It was very interesting. Where did you visit?
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
@@RetirementTravelers we went to Tianjin, and took a 3 day 2 night tour, to the great wall, forbidden city, we saw a play, and went to a traditional tea house for a ceremony, and had a lunch in a small community village, in someone's house. The tour company, was well the government ultimately. So we weren't always aware of where the bus was taking us, but it was all a great adventure. Our tour guide was wonderful and saw to all of the details. We had a hot pot dinner in our hotel restaurant that was incredible. We honestly are willing to do it again. We will take trains, and check on tours offered, to be able to get in and out of areas easily.
@@RetirementTravelersI almost forgot 😅, I thought I was booking an adjacent airport to Shanghai, no it was 45 minutes away in Xi an. We must have been the only Americans who ever flew out of there. We had a 6 hour wait for our flight, and we were on display for everyone to pass by us and stare. The security made multiple passes, until the saw us eating noodles from the gift shop in cups. Okay, now we are good.
Not uncommon for extended family - parents - to be in independent “kids” business when they don’t approve - live your best life 🎉❤
Where do you find (and book) your cooking courses through please?
Usually just on places like Tripadvisor, Get you Guide, tours by locals, etc
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
Inspirational, Thank you! Hope to see you around the bend!
Thanks. Sounds great.
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
Great idea for a video, John and Bev! You are having a gap DECADE ;-)
Or maybe more 🤔 Having a little fun…
@@RetirementTravelers you are writing your own story. Stay wandering as long as you want! With occasional trips home to hang out with your family💕
❤ I'm ready to take a 'gap, rest of my lifetime,' year(s)😅. Just discovered your channel, love it and have subscribed. 09/23/24
Those are some great reasons and something that we are considering as we get closer to retirement. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks. Glad you found the video helpful. John and Bev
Love this gap year video! And we just FaceTimed with you today while you are in Italy! Fun! See you later this year!! ✈️😍
Thanks. Loved the FaceTime and looking forward to your visit. We’ve decided on the gap “decade” instead. 😉
@@RetirementTravelers Yes, gap decade! We’ll be following along.
Just found your channel and loving it! ❤ Thank you for sharing. So helpful and inspiring!
Welcome!! Glad you are enjoying our channel.
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
I love this video. You guys reminded me what’s important in life! I took a couple of gap year in between careers, and it’s the best thing I did for myself.
Thanks and glad you enjoyed your gap years. We are loving our adventure around the world! Safe travels, John and Bev
I loved this wonderfully encouraging Video ! Thank you both.
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it! So happy you are enjoying our channel.
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
Another fun and helpful post! Thanks! 💥
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. John and Bev
I love this video. It helps me with my own reflection. Thanks.
Thanks. Glad you found it helpful.
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com
Love the lessons learned.
Thanks Joe. The learning curve with full-time world travel is steep, but we are loving it. Keep up the great videos and come meet us somewhere 😀 John and Bev
Excellent advice! Safe travels guys! Thanks for sharing your Gap Decade with us! ~Cara 😊
Thanks guys. Hope you will hang with us for a decade or even more!!! 😉🤣 John and Bev
I absolutely love your videos. Never heard the term “Gap Year” before, but it makes so much sense. I believe we’re of similar demographics, and I’ve traveled quite a bit in my lifetime as well. But this year is the year that the slow travel begins. Thanks for sharing and continued good health to both of you. Hope one day our travels will intersect.
Thanks so much and glad you are enjoying our videos! Best of luck with your slow travels and we love meeting people around the world, so hopefully our paths will cross. Where do you begin your journey? John and Bev
We’re planning on Central and South America beginning with Mexico for the next two to three years. Although we also have plans to be in Panama in June and Jamaica in July/August.
Those are some great places. Enjoy! John and Bev
Great Video! Thanks so much for all your information! Hope to have a gap year!
Thanks for following along and glad you enjoyed the video. John and Bev
You two are fantastic!
Thank you so much. Glad you are enjoying our channel.
Happy journeys,
John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
We sub here. My husband and I toy with the idea of “early” retirement, and your videos are full of practical and encouraging advice.
Thanks and we do hope to inspire you to take the plunge of early retirement. We are loving our journey around the world. Best of luck with your decision and let us know if we can help in anyway possible. John and Bev
yessss, great idea! u guys have def inspired me to do a cross state journey to my new retirement location of florida’s together with my furr babii’s!! why not start out small and c all that i can see on my way there🥳🥰
ty!!!
continued blessings and travel mercies to you both 💜🙏🏽💜
Thanks so much. Glad we could inspire you to travel. Enjoy the journey and definitely see all you can see. Hope you can follow along on our crazy adventure around the world. John and Bev
Great video! Thanks for sharing your collective font of wisdom! 😊
Thanks so much. Glad you found it helpful. John and Bev
Today I suddenly wondered "What about footwear?" Do you both travel with a spare pair of walking/hiking shoes? Do you rotate your shoes every few days with all the walking you do? Does John have shoes just for running? Have you been running while travelling abroad?
No spares on walking/running shoes. We buy a new pair of Hokas every 6 months. I always run when traveling, unless I’m injured, which is now. 😔☹️
Thanks so much for following along.
John and Bev
Feel better soon
Inspiring video! thank you
Thanks so much. John and Bev
retirementtravelers.com/
Not tired of those uniforms at all! I love them!!!
Unfortunately, with student loans breathing down your neck as soon as you graduate from college, taking a gap year is not an option for many😒
I'm actually encouraging our daughter to take a year or two off before going to college, to travel, which is what I wish I had done.
Thanks so much and glad you like the “uniforms”. They bring us joy through the people we meet. So happy that your daughter may take a gap year. That is so exciting. Keep us posted. John and Bev
This is a really good video, very informative. Thank you.
Thanks so much. Hope you can join us for our journey around the world. John and Bev
Heeeelllloooo! Firstly we were worried John had lost his uniform 😂. Secondly, what a fantastic positive message in this vlog, thank you....we've sent it to all of our kids, so maybe they will see that's what we are planning to do in 411 days, is not that crazy 😅😂...its just a gap decade, or two or three. We cannot wait to meet you two, safe travels.
Thanks guys. We can’t wait to meet you either. We hope your kids like the video and better understand their crazy parents. 😉. John and Bev
Very interesting! Love your videos.. So quick question, did you sell/give away your golf clubs?
Thanks for following along! They were one of the few things we didn’t part with 😳. We still get to play a few times per year and they are with a family member since we don’t own a home. John and Bev
What apps do you use to locate great things to see and do in an area you are interested in visiting? How do you hunt a place to stay overnight? How do you find the best places to eat? How do you pay for most things? Cash? Venmo? Do you use Uber and Lyft more than renting cars?
Here is the link to our travel apps video.
ruclips.net/video/gssYn0PEvmA/видео.html
We use of Chase travel card for as much as possible to earn points, cash otherwise. We try to take public transportation whenever possible, with an occasional taxi or Uber. John and Bev
@@RetirementTravelers Thank you!
Great info! We are 4 years away from early retirement but want to leave now! Can I ask what age you started full time travel? We will be 54 when we start! Safe travels!
Thanks and that’s awesome. We retired at age 55 at the end of 2019. The pandemic changed our plans around, but it all worked out. Best of luck with your retirement and travels and hope you can follow along on our journey. Safe travels, John and Bev
I think my retirement will be the end of this year.
Congrats and best of luck with your retirement journey
Wondering what you do for health insurance while traveling??
We are currently still on John’s retiree policy, but looking to go to a cheaper, very high deductible policy this fall. We are currently getting our dental, medical and prescriptions In Medellin, Colombia because it is SO MUCH CHEAPER than in the US. John and Bev
@@RetirementTravelers Just found your vlog so we're catching up! I know it's a decade off for you, two but will you take Medicare too? PartB, Part D and/or Medigap/Advantage plan? What are your early considerations?
@@preventionmsw We’ve just assumed “Medicare” at this point and haven’t really researched the details yet given that we are still 7 years away and we’ve been so busy with current travel and vlogging. John and Bev
i did not have any, because i hate doctors.
How much money do we need to travel like that all the time?
Here is a recent video we did on that topic.
ruclips.net/video/nKoG6bPV9YQ/видео.htmlsi=Shswtqc5Xj7hp0d5
John and Bev
Best therapy after a break-up or divorce: Go travel the world. 😁 😄
Yes it is. Traveling the world is always great therapy.
John and Bev
Oh yeah, I didn't even notice that this is the first video I've seen in AGES where you aren't wearing the uniform! I guess you do bring other clothes, then?
Those were our “dress up” clothes!! 🤣
@@RetirementTravelers 😂😂
Let me sell my AliExpress clothes and travel real soon
Do it!!! 🤣 Best of luck and safe travels, John and Bev
@@RetirementTravelers thank you. Hope it won’t be a hustle selling cheap stuff
It will be worth it. Dream big!!!