Shoestring Retirement: Travel, Freedom & Positive Mindset
This isn't a "how-to" on manifesting (there are tons of those out there), but it is about setting yourself up for success. Here's the deal: Your current beliefs, thoughts, behaviors, and lifelong patterns have landed you exactly where you are today.
Carvoeiro, Portugal
Image shot at Benagil Caves Trail, Corvoeiro, Portugal
Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results. Willy Nelson
Manifestation? Therapy? They're both powerful tools for rewiring your brain. As I barrel toward 60 (and loving it!), I can tell you firsthand that wading through the mental muck is totally worth it. You emerge stronger, wiser, and ready to rock.
This isn't a "how-to" on manifesting (there are tons of those out there), but it is about setting yourself up for success. Here's the deal: Your current beliefs, thoughts, behaviors, and lifelong patterns have landed you exactly where you are today. That's a core concept of manifesting and the Law of Attraction—taking full responsibility for your life.
Manifesting, at its heart, is about taking the reins and creating the life you want. It's about being in control. There's a whole philosophy behind it, and it's fascinating stuff.
My take? It's about practical application. Want to improve anything? You gotta look at where you are now, own that you got yourself there, and realize that you have the power to change things. Thoughts become feelings, and feelings become actions. Sticking with the status quo? Guess what? Not much will change. So, want change? Start by owning your life.
Been there, done that. I was broke, in debt, jobless, and living at my dad's (on borrowed time, let's be real). But that temporary spot gave me the space to figure out my next move: renting my own place. I found a job, hustled to make ends meet until it started, and boom—new chapter. No one made me do anything. I decided, I acted, I achieved.
Fast forward 12 years, and life is way better. But with 60 looming, it's time to tackle the big R: Retirement.
Before I even thought about retirement, I'd already put in the work: years of therapy, soul-searching, shadow work—digging deep to understand why I kept repeating the same old patterns and figuring out how to boost my finances. Turns out, my savings weren't going to cut it, my pension would impact my social security, and just hoping for the best wasn't a plan.
Plus, I've never done anything conventionally. Retirement won't be any different.
But here's the key: To even think about changing my situation, I had to be healthy enough to reflect honestly. And to get there, I had to:
Acknowledge my strength: I've survived a lot: the loss of loved ones (including my son, father, in-laws, and beloved pets), past abuse, health challenges—I'm a survivor, plain and simple.
Take responsibility: I own my life, the good and the not-so-good.
Create a plan: My financial game plan was clear: 1. Pay off debt. 2. Ditch the toxic job and downsize. 3. Figure out retirement.
Embrace my passions: I love learning, adventure, fun, joy, languages, cooking, exercise, travel, and keeping my mind and body active. I'm not afraid of hard work or taking calculated risks.
Let go of the baggage: I've learned to release the anger and toxicity from past relationships. Maybe it's forgiveness; maybe it's just choosing not to dwell on the past. Whatever it is, it works for me.
It's been a journey, not a sprint. And if you've done similar work, give yourself a massive pat on the back. It's a fantastic place to be.
I wouldn't be where I am without doing that inner work. There are no shortcuts—the only way out is through.
So, I'm launching a journal to document this next adventure: navigating from our health issues, employment concerns, and general life struggles to living our dream and creating a sustainable income well into our 80s.
More on that soon, but the bottom line is that I want to work, but it needs to be meaningful, flexible, physically manageable, and mentally stimulating. And ideally, online, so I can be geographically free.
I know I'm not alone. Many of us want to ditch the 9-to-5 and find ways to earn a good living with fewer hours. That's the goal! This website will explore how to make that happen—working for yourself and retiring on a shoestring budget. We plan to do all of this from two worlds: Colorado and Portugal. Hence, the idea of traveling while retiring with two really cool home bases has now been launched.
So, here's the big question: How do you retire on a shoestring? A frayed, dirty, falling-apart shoestring that feels like it's barely holding on? Let's find out together!
