By Denise McDonough

I did retirement in my own time and on my own terms.

Our youngest had just graduated college and was engaged to marry. My husband and I ran a company making money for the owners. We asked to buy in but were told that wasn't possible. I was 47, my husband 56. We looked over our finances and realized that if we worked ten more years, we would be ten years older but not much richer.

We sold our house, car and belongings, packed up a few things we thought we couldn't live without, and moved with  our three dogs to a Caribbean island in Panama. We bought a house on the water and let life happen. 

I ended up managing properties for part-time expats which did bring in extra money but I mostly ended up involved in charities–raising money to better the education of indigenous children, to spay and neuter clinics for dogs and cats, and to install rain catchment systems for clean drinking water in remote villages. Talk about rewarding!

We did this for twelve years and decided our life was getting too predictable and needed a change. We again sold everything. Our dogs had died. We went to Sri Lanka. Our visa allowed six months, so after that we went to India. India allowed ninety days. On we went. We were having a ball.

Now, six years later, we have lived in twenty-five countries and some forty Airbnbs.

When we arrive in a new place we first find a grocery store, a bar with a good vibe and draft beer, and a gym. Everything we own fits in two fifty-pound suitcases and two carryons. No matter where we are, we go to the gym on M, W, Fs, and run or hike T, Th and Sats. Sundays we do something special—or nothing.

We both started taking Social Security at 62. My husband now has Medicare. We are fortunate to have good health and each other.

We love perfect weather so we are in Playa del Carmen until May. Then on to Madrid.

After that we have not decided.