How to Retire Early for Adventure
Don’t feel bad if you spend many of your work hours daydreaming about quitting and going on an adventure. Blame your ancestors.
For 99% of human history, our nomadic lifestyle linked movement with survival. Our brains evolved to derive pleasure from discovering the new and unfamiliar. Research even suggests the existence of a “wanderlust gene” that may predispose individuals to crave adventure.
Adventure is in Our DNA
In other words, adventure is in our DNA. It’s no wonder, then, that “travel” was the most frequent last wish of those suffering from a terminal illness in a 2022 study.
Simply put, adventure offers excitement and purpose not found in an office. This is why travel and volunteering are often among the ways people plan to spend their free time upon retirement. Those in the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement want to do them sooner rather than later.
Contrary to popular belief, people who achieve FIRE status aren’t pursuing a cliched sedentary lifestyle, tanning on the beach or playing golf. Read FIRE-themed forums or books, and you’ll see that financially independent individuals often seek greater purpose and meaningful work to enrich their lives.
Benefits of Early Retirement for Adventure
If the benefits of travel and adventure could be distilled into a pill, we’d all be addicted.
Travel has been shown to improve health, lower stress, enhance creativity, and increase happiness and life satisfaction. Similarly, studies indicate that volunteering and contributing to your community positively impact health by reducing stress and increasing positive emotions, thereby decreasing the risk of physical and mental health conditions.
Combine the two, and you have a recipe for an enriching life.
You might be thinking, “Can’t you simply travel and volunteer while still holding a job? Isn’t that what vacation days are for?” That’s true, and we should all consider traveling and volunteering more. However, many FIRE advocates see early retirement as a unique opportunity to redefine what retirement means. Instead of seeing it as an end, it becomes a new beginning filled with possibilities.
With no job tying you down, early retirement allows you to travel extensively, whether it’s backpacking through Europe or exploring Asia. Experiencing new cultures and environments fosters personal growth, broadens perspectives, and can lead to new hobbies and interests.
Moreover, early retirees can travel off-peak, enjoying destinations without the crowds and at a lower cost. They can choose to stay longer in places they love, allowing more time to engage in volunteer assignments without the pressure of limited vacation time.
Travel Destinations and Volunteering Opportunities Abroad
If retiring early and seeking adventure aligns with your goals, you can find destinations that cater to both your adventurous and altruistic sides.
Kick the Tires
Many companies can match you to the kind of volunteering experience you want. For example, the top destinations abroad include countries ranging from India to Australia. These trips offer breathtaking landscapes, rich histories, and diverse volunteer programs, such as teaching, conservation, and community development. You could help elephants in a Thai village or provide medical services in Peru.
However, before participating in a volunteer program abroad, ensure it is ethically managed. Seek guidance on how to tell if a program is credible. For instance, volunteers’ work should not replace local jobs, and programs should be audited regularly with input from the local community.
How to Get Started
Traveling to new places can be daunting, especially if you are unfamiliar with the customs, don’t speak the language, or don’t know anyone at first. Therefore, it’s critical to organize your international volunteering through a reputable and reliable resource.
If you’d like an experience tailored to retirees, check out some suggestions available for this demographic.
If you belong to a religious community, you might be interested in their work programs abroad. Just be mindful, as the quality and professionalism of these programs vary widely.
Planning and Preparation
Whether you’re looking to head overseas to feed your adrenaline cravings or provide assistance to those in need, extended time abroad requires careful preparation. Here are a few key planning steps to ensure a smooth experience:
Financial Planning:
Create a detailed budget that includes travel and living expenses. Secure a local bank account to avoid potential delays and issues with international banking services. For international money transfers, use services with low fees, and review your credit card’s foreign transaction fees, opting for cards that do not charge currency conversion fees.
Visa and Entry Requirements:
Research visa requirements for each destination. Ensure you have the correct visa for your intended activities and be aware of new requirements for specific destinations.
Safety and Political Stability:
Stay informed about your destination’s safety and political stability by registering for travel alerts and updates from your home country’s embassy.
Health Considerations:
Before leaving, ensure your vaccinations are up to date and schedule a health check-up. Understanding the healthcare system of your host country is also essential for your safety and peace of mind.
Retiring early doesn’t have to be an exit from work but rather an entryway to adventure, exploring the world and making a difference. It offers many benefits, including a renewed sense of purpose.
