We are celebrating our 12th Anniversary of becoming Senior Nomads.
It has been an incredible adventure, and we have been fortunate enough to travel the world as curious, lifelong learners. However, our nomadic life is winding down. Over the past twelve years, we have spent time in 95 countries across six continents and called over 330 Airbnbs “home”. We learned a great deal about the world, and other people, but also about ourselves. At the close of this post, I will share Twelve Lessons that Michael and I gleaned from this incredible journey. We hope you find them helpful and inspiring!
What does it take to be a Senior Nomad?
“Should you want to become one, a few requirements: Be willing to cast off your stuff and accumulate no more; have a flexible definition of what it means to be at home; master the Excel spreadsheet; accept, and even grudgingly appreciate, the ubiquity of IKEA.”
- Steven Kurutz for The New York Times, Feb. 25, 2015
That was the opening paragraph of a remarkable story in the New York Times about The Senior Nomads. It ran in February 2015, two years into our journey, but it remains our favorite summary of our vision to travel the world, living our daily lives in other people's homes on Airbnb.
Since then, we've received press coverage in dozens of countries - because when we left in July 2013, the idea of full-time travel wasn't yet common. Now, years later, and post-COVID, thousands of digital nomads and intrepid travelers are embracing the concept that they can live and work anywhere!
The media was always fascinated by our bed pillows. Here is the main picture from an interview in Beijing, China in 2018.
Here’s a fun video from an interview in Milan in 2016. It is one of our favorites. All of our media interviews are available on our website.
However, looking back on our early days, we weren't sure if we would last for six months! Each time we returned to Seattle to see family and friends, we'd ask ourselves, "Do we like this?", "Should we keep going?" And each time, it was a resounding "Yes!" In 2015, we sold our home and never looked back.
Sitting quietly on a mountain top in Baja, Mexico, after a session with the Modern Elder Academy Shaman. He assured us that we would have enlightening experiences around the world while creating deep relationships wherever we traveled. So true!
In 2020, we started a Senior Nomads Facebook Group where followers could share their own travel stories and ask questions. We currently have 18,000+ members, and in addition to fabulous posts about travel, there is a great deal of sharing on related topics. Because we are "Senior" Nomads, most often the queries are about health care, insurance, medications, Schengen Zone requirements, budgeting, packing, and, did I mention health care? However, there are also heartfelt posts about the challenges of downsizing, staying in touch with family, especially grandchildren (spoiler: Nomads are very cool grandparents!), and how to stay connected with friends who have no concept of why we are doing this!
We spent the Fourth of July, 2015 on a small cruise boat out of Kotor, Montenegro. We made some forever friends on that trip. Meeting other travelers all over the world has been one of the greatest joys of being The Senior Nomads.
As I write this post I am sitting in our sun-filled kitchen in Edmonds, Washington, in a home that we've rented through next Summer. We have pots of tomatoes on the deck and a car in the garage! And I must confess, Amazon has made a few deliveries to our front porch as we gradually replace some of our possessions. We also have a delightful three-year-old grandson just twenty minutes down the road, and he is as captivating as any future destination might be. We are feeling very blessed, and comfortable with our decision to slow down.
Grandpa Michael with our youngest grandson. We have six grandchildren altogether, and we look forward to seeing more of them.
So, we have set our suitcases down, but look forward to unpacking twelve years' worth of memories. Michael and I appreciate all of you who have followed our musings over the years. We cherished your sincere interest in our journey, your supportive comments on the blog, and your interesting questions on our Facebook page. Together, we created a positive community of curious, lifelong learners who embrace other cultures with an open heart.
Last week, we sat down and wrote out twelve lessons—one for each year on the road. These aren't travel tips or packing hacks (though we've got those, too); they're the more profound truths that shaped our perspective, grounded our decisions, and kept us moving forward.
We wrote them for ourselves, to make sense of the path we've walked—but even more, we wrote them for you. Whether you're planning a big adventure, living abroad, or simply dreaming of a different kind of life, we hope these lessons inspire you to take that leap. Let them be a compass or a gentle nudge—because if there's one thing we've learned, it's that it's never too late to chart a new course.
Thanks for following along,
Debbie and Michael Campbell
TWELVE LESSONS FROM TWELVE YEARS OF TRAVEL:
1. Treasure Experiences over Possessions
We chose to divest ourselves of almost everything we owned, including our house so to become The Senior Nomads. It wasn't easy to adjust to living out of our suitcases, but we soon realized just how little we needed to get by. We often said, "If you can't eat it, drink it, experience it, or get somewhere on it, don't buy it."
2. Curiosity is the ticket
If Michael hadn't been curious about the 15 former Soviet Republics, we might not have visited some fascinating countries, including Moldova and Turkmenistan. And I've led us to some amazing settings from my favorite novels. Follow your instincts, and you will be rewarded. And always allow for serendipity!
3. We are the Foreigners
Everywhere we've traveled, people want to be safe, to love freely, to be happy, and to feel seen. And yet the way they seek those things is gloriously diverse. And while that may be very different from our way of life, we've observed firsthand that contentment can exist in conditions we might consider unacceptable. Recognizing sameness, while celebrating differences, is the heart of travel and humanity.
4. Learn the language of Courtesy
Even when words fail, kindness translates. A smile, a respectful gesture, and even the most awkward attempt at a few phrases can open doors—literal and metaphorical. It's not about fluency in French or Japanese; it's about fluency in respect and courtesy. And who knows - that person who insisted they didn't speak your language…just might after all!
5. We are Braver than We Thought
After twelve years of travel, we have more self-confidence than we had at the beginning. We learned to meet unexpected challenges with grace through trial and error. And humor. Now, we doubt there is a country we wouldn't visit (unless it was dangerous), a food we wouldn't at least try, a bus we wouldn't take, a metro system we couldn't decipher, or, most of all, a building we wouldn't enter. That comes from finding some excellent Airbnbs hidden behind some pretty unwelcoming exteriors.
6. It's not what happens to you, it's how you respond
Cancelled flights, disappointing Airbnbs, boarding the wrong train, lost phones, tummy trouble, and even being pick-pocketed are just a few of the curveballs we've been thrown. But drama is optional. We've learned to pause, breathe, and look for the silver lining. It's almost always there. Somewhere!
7. Forgive and Forget
Living in close quarters, in unfamiliar places, with jet lag and lost luggage? Forgiveness is key. Laugh often, let the little things go, and remember you're on the same team—even if you swear the other person had the train tickets!
8. We Are Closer than Ever
I am a Doodling Daydreamer, and Michael is a Rows-and-Columns Guy. After some initial adjustments and 47 years of marriage behind us, we acknowledge our strengths and respect each other's unique contributions to our adventures. Or, as Michael likes to say, "we are rowing our boat in the same direction."
9. Numbers Are Your Friends
It is essential to create a budget and stick to it. Because we tracked our spending meticulously, we knew when we could occasionally splurge by saving somewhere else. We could not have sustained twelve years of full-time travel without financial discipline. And it's more fun than you think!
10. We Need the Grid
Since we weren't on vacation, we didn't have the desire to drop off the grid. In fact, we couldn't do what we did without the World Wide Web - and now AI! We needed the internet to communicate with family and friends, plan our travels, write our blogs, do our banking, and navigate each new city. We prioritize fast Wi-Fi in our Airbnbs, use Google for everything, and rely on a few favorite travel apps. And WhatsApp, FaceTime, and T-Mobile keep us connected wherever we are.
11. Keep a Journal
Not every day is spectacular, but every day is worth remembering. It has been very satisfying to write notes on where we were, what we experienced, and even what we spent at the end of each day. We have filled 27 journals with musings, ticket stubs, receipts, and doodles - and they are more precious than any souvenir.
12. Home is Where We Lay Our Pillows
We travel with our bed pillows. We may have decided to do that on a whim the day we left Seattle in 2013, but we are so glad we did. Now, wherever we lay our pillows, we are home.
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