In 2013, Debbie and Michael Campbell, two American retirees, sold everything to travel 365 days a year. They are in 85 countries, 265 cities and 270 Airbnb!
These two Americans call themselves the “Senior Nomads” and, from every point of view, it’s a couple … who are moving! Debbie and Michael Campbell, 65 and 75, have left everything to travel the world and experience an extraordinary couple adventure. “We had just retired in 2012. Our four children were with us in Seattle for the holiday season. They pitched the idea ofa long trip. They told us about the Airbnb concept, the site for renting apartments between individuals. We told them that we would never have enough money to live this dream. “
“And then we did calculations and simulations, we lived for a while with less money to see if it was feasible. And we realized that, yes, we could. As long as you are thrifty and avoid overpriced hotels and restaurants. ” To ensure a small starting nest egg, the two retirees sell their sailboat and their car. And finally, to guarantee regular returns, they rent out their villa.
In eight years, they have visited 265 cities and 85 countries!
In July 2013, they are all ready, the great journey can begin. Eight years later they have to their credit 265 cities and 85 countries visited, including Israel, Morocco, Russia, Turkey, Mexico, Cuba, Italy, Serbia … with only three returns to the country. And still in Airbnb apartments, with a average budget of 80 € per night. “In our head, each time we arrive in a new accommodation, and this has happened to us 270 times, it is as if we were at home for the duration of the stay, ten to fifteen days on average”, tells the sparkling sexagenarian.
She, who ran a design agency for a long time, does the shopping and cooks meals. He, a former organizer of sporting events and ex-Formula 3 driver, takes the helm and the accounts, but also does the dishes and laundry. Together, they maintain ties with the family on the Internet. Their daily life is simple, but full of surprises, meetings, discoveries.
“In retirement, either you take care of the grandchildren … or you take a motorhome!”
This life of globetrotters, which fits in two bags of 23 kg each, made them “more tolerant and more curious still. We are constantly learning”. And too bad for the cranky who find that at their age, it’s a little crazy to have given up everything and “roam” like students.
“When you retire, either take a motorhome or buy a house next to your children’s house and take care of the grandchildren. That’s not how we saw each other, even less in a rocking chair or on a golf course “, answers with one voice the senior couple who opened a blog, The Senior Nomads, and wrote a book, Your Keys, Our Home (Your keys, our house) on their way of life. Do they think they will one day put an end to this joyous bohemian life? Not until four conditions are met: “Continue to have fun, be healthy, stay roughly within budget and still be in love.”
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© INSTAGRAM SENIORNOMADS
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Debbie and Michael Campbell
They’ve only lived in Airbnb homes around the world for 3,000 days.
© INSTAGRAM SENIORNOMADS
4/12 –
Debbie and Michael Campbell
They have already visited 85 countries and have only returned to the United States three times since their departure in July 2013.
© INSTAGRAM SENIORNOMADS
5/12 –
Debbie and Michael Campbell
The retired couple stay on average ten to fifteen days in the same place.
© INSTAGRAM SENIORNOMADS
6/12 –
Debbie and Michael Campbell
They retired in 2012. A year later, they took off.
© INSTAGRAM SENIORNOMADS
7/12 –
Debbie and Michael Campbell
Their globetrotting life fits into two bags of 23 kg each.
© INSTAGRAM SENIORNOMADS
8/12 –
Debbie and Michael Campbell
Debbie does the shopping and the meals, Michael does the dishes and the laundry.
© INSTAGRAM SENIORNOMADS
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Debbie and Michael Campbell
To share their experience, Debbie and Michael created a website and published a book.
© INSTAGRAM SENIORNOMADS
10/12 –
Debbie and Michael Campbell
It was their four children who inspired them to go on a trip.
© INSTAGRAM SENIORNOMADS
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Debbie and Michael Campbell
To ensure a steady flow of cash, they rented out their Seattle home.
© INSTAGRAM SENIORNOMADS
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Debbie and Michael Campbell
In eight years, they have changed homes 270 times.