How We Made the Move to Full-Time Travel & Why We Continue to Embrace a Nomadic Lifestyle
TRAVELDIGITAL NOMADFAMILY TRAVEL
Meghan Gunseor
8/5/202411 min read
The decision to transition to a full-time travel lifestyle was a major life change for our family, as it would be for anyone reading. It was driven by a deep desire to spend more quality time together and explore the world. In this post, I’ll share how we made the move to full-time travel, the challenges we faced, and why we continue to live life as nomads. Whether you’re considering full-time travel yourself or are curious about the nomadic lifestyle, this guide will offer insights and practical advice to help you take those first steps.
For us, the journey to becoming full-time travelers began with an unexpected turn of events. My husband, a military veteran, experienced an injury that resurfaced years later, significantly affecting his mobility at the time. This change led to him spending more time at home with our son, which prompted us to reevaluate our lifestyle. Not long after, I became ill, suffering debilitating migraines daily, along with some additional neurological complications and found myself at home as well. The realization that we were spending no meaningful time together as a family before this point in our lives became a pivotal moment for us. It led us to explore the possibility of full-time travel as a way to reconnect, break free from the restrictions of our current lives, and simplify by shedding the excess possessions we had accumulated over the years.
Travel has always been a shared dream of ours. We set a lifelong goal to visit 100 countries together, and the idea of exploring the world has always been part of our conversations. Initially, we thought we would wait until retirement to fulfill this dream, but we soon realized we didn’t want to wait any longer. The desire to experience different cultures and see the world was too strong to ignore, so we decided to take the leap into full-time travel much sooner than we had ever planned. Additionally, we never imagined we would be traveling to this extent with a young child. It was a pipe dream we assumed we might pursue later in life, after retirement, but it quickly became our reality.
From Idea to Action
Once we decided to pursue full-time travel, things moved quickly. My husband stumbled upon the idea of traveling full-time in an RV, which seemed like the perfect starting point for our adventure. At the time, we had no idea how popular this lifestyle actually was—that’s how disconnected we were from the community of families already embracing full-time travel. Within three months, we had downsized our belongings, sold all our furniture and our second car, planned our route, and hit the road. It was a whirlwind of preparation, but the excitement of embarking on a new lifestyle kept us motivated.
Despite our enthusiasm, we had significant concerns about making this move. Our two biggest fears were financial stability and our son’s education. We knew that leaving behind traditional jobs would come with financial uncertainty, but we were determined to make it work. Initially, we planned to return to a traditional lifestyle once our son reached school age. However, as we witnessed the positive impact that our time together was having on him, we began to explore homeschooling and eventually world schooling as long-term solutions. Remarkably, this decision came from two parents who had never even considered homeschooling and had never heard of world schooling before we started this journey.






Financial Preparation and Evolving Travel Plans
Financially preparing for full-time travel was challenging, even with good jobs and a stable income. We sold nearly everything we owned, from furniture to canceling our subscription services, to fund our travels. While we could have earned more if we had taken our time selling items, we were eager to start our journey and decided to donate most of our belongings. We also rented out our home for the first year, which provided a safety net in case full-time travel wasn’t for us. However, managing the property from afar proved stressful, and a year later we decided to sell the house—a decision that lifted a huge weight off our shoulders. I know this might be contrary to what you’ve heard from others, but for us, as you’ll often find here, it was more valuable to reduce stress than to hold onto a rental property, even one that was making a profit. It may not have been the best financial advice, but it certainly increased our happiness.
During this time, we also eliminated all debt. Once we transitioned to international travel, we no longer had auto insurance or a truck payment, and we kept our bills to a minimum, only maintaining essentials like our cell phones. We became acutely aware of the trap of living in a credit-based society and were determined to remove that ball and chain once and for all.
When we first set out in our truck all those years ago, our initial goal was to find the best place to raise our son, which we never questioned would be in the United States. However, as we traveled, we realized that no single place felt like the perfect fit or truly felt like home. Our travels gradually evolved from exploring the U.S. in an RV to international travel. We began by staying roughly a month in each location, extending to three months when we first landed in Colombia. But then we started moving more frequently, sometimes never spending more than a week in one place. We found ourselves rushing to see everything Colombia had to offer as we came up against our time limit in the country. We loved the fast pace and the freedom of having our own vehicle. I don’t know many other travelers, let alone Colombians, who have driven as much of Colombia as our little family has.
From there, we ended up backpacking through all of Central America, making our way across Mexico by train and bus, and eventually up to Washington State. We’ve found that a mix of long stays and short, intense backpacking trips suits us best. Now we find that we spend most of the year slow traveling, with bursts of faster-paced travel to keep things exciting.
Daily Life as Full-Time Travelers and Digital Nomads
Our daily routine as full-time travelers varies depending on our location and goals and has evolved over time. We typically start our day early, around 5 or 6 AM, although you’ll find that many countries we visit aren’t exactly filled with morning people. My husband always begins his day by making each of us a cup of coffee, followed by his workout, while I start my morning sipping coffee and working on one of my businesses. Between 7- 8 AM, when my son wakes up, you can usually find us heading to a local cafe, enjoying our second cup of coffee and planning our day, while our son grabs a bite to eat. Depending on where we are, we might spend the day exploring, hiking, or visiting cultural sites. My husband, as our son’s primary educator, spends time before we arrive in a new area learning everything he can about it and planning activities that will facilitate our son’s learning. If I have work to do, they go off to explore without me, usually choosing something that I’m less interested in.
We try to have dinner around the same time each evening, whether we’re cooking at home or dining out. No matter where we are in the world, we also maintain a consistent bedtime and night routine for our son, which helps provide stability.
Life as a Digital Nomad
Balancing work with travel can be challenging as a digital nomad, especially when managing multiple businesses. I run three businesses, and while my husband plays a crucial role in handling daily tasks and managing our time effectively, the responsibility of running and maintaining our businesses falls on me. To maintain balance and keep everyone happy, we hold regular planning meetings as a family. My husband and I sit down together monthly to review finances, business needs, time commitments, activities, and our son’s education. This helps us stay on track with our goals and ensure we can balance everything on our plate. We plan for when one of us might need to pick up some slack or if one of us will have a particularly busy period. These meetings help us support each other where needed and ensure that one, if not both, of us is always fully present and intentional for our son. Our son also gets involved with these meetings by expressing his interests and desires for the locations that we are visiting.
Stability seems to be a hot topic for both supporters and critics of our lifestyle. One thing we've never quite understood is why some people feel the need to voice their opinions on how others choose to live. For us, maintaining stability—both for our family and in running successful businesses—comes down to a few key consistencies in our lives.
Two key habits that keep us grounded while traveling are staying active and maintaining a consistent nighttime routine. We try to be intentional about what we can control in our lifestyle, and fitness is a top priority. Our son has a daily goal of 15,000 steps, and we even use this as an incentive for screen time, which we always ensure has an educational component—probably one of the best practices we’ve implemented in our “household.” Earlier this year, at the age of four, our son even participated in his first 5K in Mexico.
In addition to fitness, we also stick to a consistent bedtime routine for our son, as I mentioned earlier. This routine provides a sense of normalcy and stability, no matter where we are. As a result, he barely notices that he’s laying his head down on a different pillow most nights because the rest of his nighttime routine remains the same.






Financial Sustainability & Advice for Aspiring Travelers
One of the most common questions we get is how we afford to travel. Our travels are funded through the businesses I run, primarily CMG Business Management. My focus has always been on maintaining location independence, allowing us to work from anywhere in the world. This flexibility has been crucial in sustaining our lifestyle. When it became apparent to us that I would not be returning to a “normal” job, I knew finding something that was location-independent was my primary focus. I wasn’t quite sure what that would look like, but I knew I would only work if we could go anywhere we wanted, whenever we wanted. That freedom was something we had experienced that we were unwilling to give up.
For those looking to fund their travels, my advice is to find a way to generate income that isn’t tied to a specific location. Whether it’s freelancing, running an online business, or finding remote work opportunities, the key is to ensure that your income source aligns with your travel goals. Additionally, I highly recommend giving yourself a “raise” now by reducing your monthly obligations as much as possible. This is something my husband and I evaluate every six months and have for over 10 years. We go through all our expenses and determine if there is anything we can get rid of or live without. It’s wild how many subscriptions you casually obtain over six months to a year without even realizing it. Some things, though, we are unwilling to give up. We listen to books and podcasts at a ridiculous level, and we will happily pay for those subscriptions because they bring us joy and increase our quality of life.
Future Plans
Full-time travel has changed us in many ways. We’ve become more content with less, and we’ve learned to appreciate the experiences we share rather than the things we own. Living a nomadic lifestyle has also deepened our bond as a family. We’ve grown closer and more in tune with each other’s needs, and our relationship has strengthened as a result. It doesn’t matter if we’re on a boat, in a condo, spending time in a large estate, or visiting family homes—you’ll find the three of us huddled together, enjoying experiences as a family. We’re more tightly knit now than ever before.
As for the future, we don’t see ourselves settling down anytime soon. While we love certain places, like Colombia, we’re still eager to explore more of the world. We understand the grass isn’t always greener, and every country has its faults, but we’re determined to make the best of every situation. When things inevitably go wrong, because I promise they will, we just chalk it up to a better story down the road. You should hear about why we had to stay in Costa Rica a month longer than we had planned.
Slow travel, where we stay in one place for several months, is likely to be our preferred approach moving forward, with the occasional backpacking sprint here and there. However, we’re open to change and will continue to do what’s best for our family as we evolve in our travels.
If you’re on the fence about making the move to full-time travel, my first piece of advice is to ask yourself why. What’s driving your desire to travel full-time? Once you have a clear understanding of your motivation, take the plunge. Start small, figure out what works for you, and make the necessary adjustments along the way. It’s okay for things to change. Who cares if you planned on heading to Mexico and told everyone about your plans, but find yourself more drawn to jumping on a plane to Thailand? Travel for yourself and your family, nobody else. If you think travel will make you Instagram-famous or help you blow up on TikTok, more power to you, but I think you’re making a massive lifestyle choice for the wrong reasons. Do it because you love it, and the other stuff will come if passion and dedication align with what people are interested in consuming.
It’s also important to remember that full-time travel is a personal journey. Don’t feel pressured to conform to others’ expectations or to travel in a way that doesn’t resonate with you. Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with a family, do what’s best for you and your loved ones.
Making the move to full-time travel was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. It’s given us the freedom to explore the world, spend quality time together, and create a life that’s truly aligned with our values. While the journey hasn’t been without its challenges, the rewards far outweigh them. For anyone considering a similar path, I encourage you to follow your heart, embrace the unknown, and embark on the adventure of a lifetime.
If you have any questions about our journey or are considering making the move to full-time travel yourself, we’d love to hear from you! Feel free to leave a comment below or reach out to us directly. And if you enjoyed this post, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for more insights and stories from our travels around the world.


Hi! I'm


Mom, entrepreneur, and full-time nomad, looking to spark a love for adventure in families by sharing our wild and wonderful journey as full-time nomads. Through down-to-earth travel guides, relatable stories, and handy tips, I want to build a community that’s excited to pack up, hit the road, and explore the world together—with kids in tow or not. Thanks for reading!
Join our Nomadic Family!
Don’t miss out on our latest adventures! Join our newsletter and get insider tips, epic travel stories, and exclusive nomad secrets delivered right to your inbox. Ready to turn your travel dreams into reality? Let’s explore the world together—sign up now!