People

Karsten’s first retirement anniversary found the family still moving around the world. By year three, a home base, outdoor time with his daughter and small professional commitments had replaced constant movement. Work returned on terms that left the family at the center.

David found room for long trips, sport and blogging after an expatriate career. His and Sally’s retirement plans did not initially match, and years later they were still experimenting with where to settle.

Dale had built a post-corporate life around travel and friendships across countries. In 2020, a Japan visit became an unexpected detour. Later cancellations felt like lost life, while smaller trips and reunions in Mexico offered some of the connection he missed.

This healthcare couple left together, then an early injury interrupted their travel plans. Four years later, a college-town routine mixed music, exercise and visits with grandchildren. They valued flexibility while learning that health could shape retirement as much as finances.

After leaving teaching in Japan, Randy and Lori traveled with few possessions. A cruise dance competition drew Lori beyond her comfort zone. Later that year, she explained why maintaining a travel blog had begun to feel like an obligation.

Paul and Vicki Terhorst retired at 35 and kept exploring. A house in Argentina added another way to live, but years later they preferred fewer possessions and more time on the road.