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Living Differently

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This post, and entire “Living Differently” series, was written when I finally woke up to what we’d achieved, and realised that we were living life differently and loving it. It was the moment everything changed for us and our website’s following and monthly views started going through the roof. It was when I first came up with the concept of “Living Differently” and was meant to inspire and help others do likewise. Back then, I wrote the following blog post on how and why we were living life so much differently to the norm.

Living Differently People Living Life Differently
People living life differently, in freedom. In 2024, yes, we’re still living life our way.

What follows is what I originally wrote, several years ago, over 10 years ago we changed our lives and our children’s lives for the better. We have no regrets, changing our lives, breaking away from the norm, was the best thing we ever did.

We ditched our jobs, schools, and all restrictions to start a life of travel and freedom, becoming digital nomads and entrepreneurs. We hope you find our insights helpful in your quest towards living life differently

Living Differently – Secrets

How many years have I been writing blog posts? Don’t know? Well I’ll tell you, it’s 4.

The conversation between Chef and I, the one that changed our lives, took place 4 years ago in our garden in Australia and I’ve been blogging about it from every corner of the globe since.

Only I haven’t.

I’ve been talking about the travel not the lifestyle shift. I’ve had a realisation, a flash of light that shook up my thoughts and made everything crystal clear on a grey London day.

This shouldn’t so much be a travel blog. This must be a blog about living differently.

I’ve been doing it all wrong, writing factual destination-based posts and handy tips and how-tos of family travel. These posts are the bread and butter, they pay the bills (see how we make a living blogging here) but for you, the readers, I don’t need to do that.

Anyone can do that, but not many can write about living a life so different from the norm that most would be scared to try.

We’re not just dreaming or planning, we’ve done it. For the last 3 years. It’s in the bag and it’s been a glorious success.

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The Secrets of Living Differently. How we changed our lives and how you can too.

Here are the secrets of “Living Differently”

You do not have to grow up, get an education, get a job, climb the career ladder, get married, have kids, climb the property ladder, send the kids to school, retire and take cruises in that order.

Nothing is forcing you to live life to any schedule. Nobody is forcing you to do any of those things at all. There is no reason not to live life differently.

You do not have to get a good job with good prospects, stability and promotional opportunities. You don’t ever have to work for somebody else if you don’t want to.

You do not have to seek acceptance from society.

You don’t need pieces of paper to be educated, you can teach yourself anything.

Kids are not required to go to school in most countries.

You don’t have to buy the latest gadgets or buy anything at all to prove you’re a success or not poor or to improve your image. You just don’t.

Living your life joyfully doesn’t have to be expensive. There are many ways to live within your means other than earning more and more money and sacrificing more and more of your precious time for that paycheck.

You only need to work for the things you really need, be they personal satisfaction in your working life, to give something back to global humanity, or bed and board.

Do you see? Do you see that you can be the creator of your own lifestyle and that there is NOTHING to stop you living differently, only yourself.

And you know why they’re secrets? It’s because the world, as it stands, would stop turning if consumerism was no longer a part of the typical human make-up.  

Schools teach us to be good consumers and follow the above lifestyle schedule, earning more, paying more taxes, buying more. They provide half an education because they don’t want people to think too much.

But there is another way. We found that way by chance after 30+ years of living a “normal” life. Normal and of average ordinary happiness with a large measure of boredom and monotony on the side.

Changing our lives to live them differently was the best thing we ever did. I know we’ve had our ups and downs but these last 3 years have been mind-blowingly fantastic.

So thanks if you’ve been with us all along, a lot of you have become good friends, real and virtual and you mean a lot to us. If you’re new, sign up to follow. I’ve found my voice and I have a lot more to say!

If you’re here you will most certainly want to read this post on raising money, economising and making money to fund a lifestyle of “Living Differently”

You may also be interested in options for your kids’ education outside school. Just click the links.

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You Can Access Published “Living Differently” Posts Here

We have “Living Differently” as a category on this website, click through to see all of our content relating to alternative life choices.

Living Differently: Uncertainties, Stories and Bookings

Living Differently: Owning Less Living More

Living Differently: Make Your First $1000 from Amazon Affiliates

Living Differently: Owning Less Clothes and Dumpster Diving

Living Differently: Parenting

Living Differently: The 12 Month Countdown To A New Life of Travel

Living Differently: Homeschooling

Living Differently: We Bought a Farm! (This one opens in a new tab, on our new website, permaculture, homesteading, self sufficient lifestyle).

2024

2024 Update: We were forced into being more “normal” in 2020 when closed borders stopped us from travelling. We were caught in Australia, there was no way to get out. Despite buying a farm and a whole load of animals, we still find ways to travel a lot, and we’re certainly not normal! In the last couple of years, we’ve been to Japan, Jordan, Thailand, Bali, the UK, and taken domestic trips, most recently Sydney. The kids are grown, I’m still a travel blogger, my husband has a part-time job that he loves. Life is still fun, but you can’t travel forever as a family. I wish we could, I miss full-time travel, with my family, still. In 2024 I’m taking off to travel solo and I’m running a marathon, I’m well over 50. Watch this space!

If you'd like to hire a car during your stay, use this car rental comparison tool to find the best deal!

We also suggest you take a look at this company to get a quote for all kinds of the more tricky adventure or extended travel insurance.

Try Stayz / VRBO for an alternative way to find rentals on homes/apartments/condos in any country!

jak

Tuesday 20th of February 2018

Wow I did this with my family in 2010, moved out of the USA, which I believe is not as common for Americans to do ;) and we lived abroad for 3 years. I had a Wordpress blog for family and friends, however, you made the most of it financially, that's great!! Wish I had had that mind set, but who knows I can sense inspiration coming on from your adventure /entrepreneur spirit.! Well done! I'm sure I'll stay tuned.Best of luck.

Alyson Long for World Travel Family

Tuesday 20th of February 2018

Thank you Jak and glad you had your own adventure. It's 5 years now for us and we're one of the biggest travel blogs in the world. Still love this life!

Nanouk | Digital Nomad with Kids

Friday 17th of February 2017

Totally agree! Although, in our country, it's illegal to not send your kids to school. They call it an 'education' obligation, but rather it is a 'school' duty. We therefore need to deregister. But I totally agree that you can be the creator of your own life.

alyson@worldtravelfamily

Friday 17th of February 2017

What country is that Nanouk? There are quite a few with oppressive rules like that but there's usually a way round it. You mean deregister as a citizen of that country? Sounds drastic.

Natalie

Sunday 25th of December 2016

What a way to think outside the box! Too many think that if they follow the path set out like everyone else they'll be happy. Happiness comes from within! Make the life YOU want!!!

Travel can be the best way to learn about ....anything and everything! Explore, wonder, learn, seek... We travel with the kids and strive to make it educational. I write travel guides for my own kids and then publish them when we get back from our travels so others can use them! The world is a classroom!! Have fun with it.

Linda

Friday 19th of August 2016

Great post, thanks so much for sharing.

Nita

Friday 29th of July 2016

It takes people a long time to actually come to this realization. However, for most people, they like the security in checking off each box that highlights success. For us, I do like having a job, a decent paycheck and food on the table. However, we just decided to move to the place we most enjoyed traveling to. It's been the best decision ever for us. Also, it's curbed my desire to travel all over the world to find my place of rest and discovery. Yes, we still like to see new places, we just like staying in our new 'home' place more :-D

alyson@worldtravelfamily

Friday 29th of July 2016

And where's that Nita?

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