Why We Sold It All to Travel The World Full-Time
Have you ever looked around your living room—at the couch, the table, and that TV—and thought, What if we got rid of it all?
Not just the furniture, but the house, the car, and all the stuff you’ve collected over the years.
Well… that’s exactly what Amy and I started thinking one evening while sitting in the basement of our big house in Waxhaw, North Carolina a year ago (December 2023)
It started with a thought….
…then a discussion, then a dream… and now, it’s a reality!
This wasn’t some impulsive, spur-of-the-moment decision. We didn’t just wake up one day and say, “Let’s sell everything.” It was a slow realization that the life we had built wasn’t the life we wanted anymore.
Let me explain. We loved our house, and all that was within it. It was a gorgeous 6,000 square foot monster with all the space and comfort we thought we needed. We had just finished a basement renovation that included a gym, bar, kitchen, theater, sauna, and screened in porch with a fireplace.
It was what many would call a “dream home”
But halfway through that basement project, Amy said, “What if we sold it all and just traveled, why are we doing this?” And honestly, I’d been waiting for her to ask this question!
Why spend so much time, energy, and money on a house when what we really wanted was to see the world?
We had already talked about traveling more, maybe for a few months at a time, but the more we thought about it, the more we realized: The house is holding us back.
We had traveled a LOT as a couple. For many we had experienced a lifetime of travel already, but to us it felt like we just scratched the surface.
We came to the realization that we felt most alive while experiencing and exploring the world versus rotting away in front of Netflix or the next trip to the neighborhood dive bar!
So, we made the call. We would sell the house, the cars, the furniture, and all of the shit we had… and we would travel full-time.
The Big Sell-Off
Selling almost everything you own is both exciting and overwhelming. The big stuff went first—the couch, the TV, the patio furniture. First we dropped a full inventory of everything we owned into a meticulous room by room spreadsheet, took photos, and priced everything.
Our family got first crack and licks, as we donated a good deal of items. It’s funny walking into certain family members homes to sit on our old couch and watch our old TV! We’re glad it’s being put to good use.
Then Amy worked tirelessly managing the Facebook Marketplace trolls and all the joys that come from dealing with late night arm chair bargain hunters.
Every day, strangers were coming to pick up pieces of our lives.
Some things sold quickly. Others took time.
I remember sitting on zoom calls getting our businesses stabilized and automated to enjoy this upcoming lifestyle and watching all our possessions waltz right out the front door.
So how did it feel…?
Liberating!
Every time another piece left the house, it felt like a weight was lifted. We realized we didn’t need most of it. We only kept mementos from prior travels and a few sentimental items.
By the final month, we were down to sitting on beach chairs in the living room and sleeping on an air mattress because the bed was gone.
It felt great. We were ready.
From House to Carry-On
When we decided to travel full-time, we also decided to go all-in on minimalism. Everything we needed for the next two years had to fit into a carry-on suitcase and a backpack.
We went from 6000 square feet to 2 square feet.
We spent weeks packing and repacking, figuring out exactly what to bring.
How do you fold it to fit more?
What are the weight requirements?
Do I need this extra pair of socks?
What do I need to give up for the extra pair of socks?
It was like a jigsaw puzzle to contain all you needed in life in two small bags… But we got there.
Clothes, tech gadgets, and a few sentimental things made the cut. And yes, our Ember mugs came with us. (They keep coffee hot for hours. If you know, you know.)
Packing was about logistics and figuring out what we really needed to be happy.
Turns out, it’s not much. A few outfits, some comfortable shoes, and the right mindset.
Why We Did It
People ask us all the time, “Why?” Why sell the house? Why leave behind stability for the unknown?
“You have a beautiful home & thriving businesses… why do it?”
For me, it’s about time. Time is precious, and the older I get, the more I realize it. Our businesses are stable. We didn’t want to wait for “someday” to live the life we’d always dreamed about.
For Amy, it’s about freedom. The mortgage, the bills, the endless list of chores—it was all weighing us down. Amy, the budget conscious one in this marriage, kept pointing out how much further our money could go without the house and all the expenses that came with it.
We both knew this was the right move, even if it was a little scary.
We have committed to this life for a minimum of 3 years as we knew it would change us, have some amazing experiences, some ups, some downs, some hardship and all the things.
We wanted to remove the parachute of comfort with a home and lean into a lifestyle devoid of comfort, but rich in experiences.
What We’ve Gained
Freedom. That’s the simplest way to describe it. Without a house tying us down, we can go wherever we want, whenever we want.
Adventure. Every day is a new story. Sometimes it’s incredible, like discovering a hidden beach or meeting amazing people. Other times, it’s frustrating, like trying to buy groceries in a place where you don’t speak the language. But even the hard moments are part of the journey.
Connection. We’ve grown closer to each other and have met some truly inspiring people along the way. Travel connects you to the world and helps you see what really matters.
The Challenges
It’s not all easy. We’ve missed excursions, stayed in Airbnbs that didn’t match the photos, and learned (the hard way) that not all places have the best air conditioning…. Especially not good with your menopausal wife!
We miss family, friends and some of the moments that come with a more domesticated traditional lifestyle.
But every challenge has taught us something. We’ve learned to be flexible, to laugh at the unexpected, and to appreciate the little things… like strong air conditioning!
What’s Next
We’ve finished our first round of travels to amazing places like Portugal, Dubai, Pakistan, Prague, and Munich and will be sharing the journey in both blogs and videos along the way. We have learned so much and experienced a ton that we felt it criminal to not share it with you.
If you’ve enjoyed this, and you’re curious about this life… keep reading, keep watching, and we’ll take you along for the ride. You can check out our first video explaining our expectations of the experience on our Youtube channel below.