I have been selling you sun, exoticism, cheap living, travel… for the past few months, and many of you are saying ”oh my god! You are living the dream!” and other super kind comments that make my day, and remind me how grateful I am to be living this kind of life.
But let’s be frank for a minute. Who would REALLY want to live here with me? FYI, I don’t snore and make the best guacamole! Still, would you take the almost 100 degrees heat some days, the bugs, snakes, cockroaches, scorpions, mosquitoes? Would you live without make up because your pores sweat too much and be able to pack all your clothes for the year in one suitcase? Would you like to have only a small town 30 miles away to rely on for daily products, and a major city 9 hours away if you need serious health treatment or a decent mall to buy clothes? Could you stomach the city’s crime, or handle public workers to get what you need without bribing them?
I know I do, and all those things are quickly forgotten when I wake up every day in front of a huge body of clear water, enjoy food that is almost entirely grown by local farmers and tastes like food, or can afford a multitude of workers to handle anything for me.
This is as close to my dream life as I have gotten. I made some concessions on the distance to Europe, the critters, etc. because otherwise I would still be miserable in an office working towards my goal. Your dream is probably different from mine. I know seeing my friends and family three times a year is plenty, when many of you can’t be more than one hour drive from their parents. Other do not enjoy being abroad, in an unfamiliar setting. That is completely fine. Your dream is yours, and yours only.
Are you working towards it? When I was still in college, I knew I wanted to see the world before I settle down. I started saving aggressively and graduated with $25K in savings that allowed me to buy a first rental property and travel the world for a year. Then I wanted to work abroad, so I started looking like crazy, and within a week, I had a job in Guatemala. One job followed the other, taking me to three more countries before I came back to Guatemala.
All of this sounds like I went where the wind would take me. Partially only. I never accepted a job that was not paying enough for me to live comfortably, keep saving and traveling. The last job I took in the UK was because I wanted to buy a second rental. I did just that and then left to explore some more.
Every few days, for the past 10 years, I have been working towards my goal. By saving money, by looking for passive sources of income such as trading, or freelance gigs to make extra money. (Trading has a learning curve but on the upside the platforms have never been easier to use, and most trading companies offer a choice of platforms so you can find the one that’s right for your needs).
I now own my little house by the lake, do not need to step foot in an office ever again, and generate enough passive income to spend the rest of my life doing what I please.
It is not luck, it is will. And you can achieve anything too, if you really want it so bad that goal will become your #1 priority. Work four days a week, be a stay at home mum and maintain a comfortable lifestyle on one income, start painting, running or go back to college. Whatever floats your boat, do something to get it.
But make sure that goal is 100% you. Decide to have children because you want them, not because all your friends are pregnant and your clock is ticking. Decide to buy that insanely expensive car/watch/dress that you have been dreaming of for years and makes you feel like a million bucks because you will thoroughly enjoy it, not because the Joneses have one too. Decide to simplify your lifestyle if it makes you feel free, and stop listening to the naysayers who insist you need a McMansion.
Don’t try to reach my goal, it is mine. I can tell you how I got there, and how you can get to yours. Determination. That is all you need. Provoke your luck. Knock on doors, pick-up the phone and ask for help, find a mentor. Don’t take no for an answer.
No mountain is too huge to climb, if you start small. Put $20 towards debt. Run for two minutes. Eat one fruit per week. Before you know it your actions will snowball, you will be debt free, run a marathon or eat your five portions of fruit daily. Just remember to do what YOU want. Take a moment to think about your life plan, alone or with your spouse. Detail each goal to a maximum. Picture yourselves there. Are you happy? Adjust until you are.
Marketers, peers, medias, blogs… everyone has something to sell you. All day long you will read fantastic stories about people who did amazing things. Niall Doherty has a list of 100 just off the top of his head. Niall himself has been traveling the world for the past two years without flying. How cool is that? For 5% of crazy travelers, a nirvana. For 95% of people, that is hell on Earth.
Remember what your goals are, copy the method to get there, but change your goals if they are not truly you.
Good point Pauline. It take hard work, dedication and sacrifice to achieve the goals that you want. If you do stuff just because other people want you to then you’re living their dreams, not your own.
I fell into that living other people’s dream for a while, it is not easy to know what you want right out of high school but with time you can get a better image of your real dream.
Truly inspirational – and SO TRUE! 😀
Thank you
What a great piece Pauline! Inspiring…and you also made me hungry for some guacamole while you were at it 😀
Thank you Greg, if you stop by for lunch, there should be some 🙂
Love this post. And in answer to your question: If that picture is the view from your place…I. WILL. LIVE. THERE. WITH. YOU.
Thank you Tony, yes this is my hammock on the deck 🙂
“No mountain is too huge to climb, if you start small” Could not agree more Pauline! I think that’s a key that many don’t realize when they want to climb out of something or want something. Taking those small steps can build great momentum that’ll carry you through. Great post!
Thank you John.
I think our dreams are pretty close to yours, but with less crime =) I think I’m far too trusting of people to live in an area with that high of a crime rate.
I’m probably one of the people who said you are “living the dream” and yes the bugs, snakes, life in a suitcase would not bother me. Like you I bought my first house just out of Uni at around age 21 because I somewhat knew what I wanted to do with my life and travel was a big part of it. Although I’ve been to many countries like you I’ve done alot and seen alot and I agree with you that as an individual we have to set our own goals and just live them letting nothing get in the way. We only live once, make it a good one!
You did some very smart moves at an early age and now you are reaping the rewards, that is awesome. If you don’t mind the bugs I have some plots for sale 🙂
Listen to you, little Miss sales lady.. haha! Maybe we’ll think about coming to visit first then decide only if you promise the “worlds best guacamole”.
of course! eating some right now… I should open a Guacamole Addicts Anonymous support group too, I feel like every time we talk I am having some.
We will make some tonight as they are nice and ripe now. I might have to try your recipe. Is it on the blog? It is very addicting especially when we cut up pita and crisp it in the oven to dip…
recipe coming out next week!
I really enjoy reading about your adventures and how you are living your dream. It is really inspiring. I can’t say I am living my dream, but I am working towards it.
Also thank you for sending me that information about the property down the road from you. I ran it by my old lady and she was receptive, but decided she didn’t want to deal with all the labor involved and the heat (she isn’t a hot weather person). Who knows, maybe when you have some of your 90 acres a little more developed she will change her mind, either that or I can convince her to let me buy some land in the Mendoza province of Argentina!
An old house in the wine country sounds like a South American version of Tuscany! I can’t do anything about the heat but our plan is to help people build their houses and provide plans, builders etc. to those who want to get there when it is all finished.
Since October I would say we have had about 5 very hot days, I expect 30 or so per year, mostly around April/May which would be a good time for a yearly trip back to the US anyway. That would be the extra perk of Argentina, when it is winter down there it is summer up North so you can spend the year chasing the sun (or not too much sun, for the lady).
Great encouragement and challenge for all of us chasing our dream. Dreams are truly an exercise of passion, the will and intense discipline. Awesome that you are living yours!
Thank you Brian, I wish it was just about dreaming and wishing but you do have to work hard to get there.
“Are you happy? Adjust until you are.”
Well said, Pauline. Well said 🙂
“But make sure that goal is 100% you…decide to buy that insanely expensive car/watch/dress that you have been dreaming of for years and makes you feel like a million bucks because you will thoroughly enjoy it, not because the Joneses have one too.” Well said, Pauline. I tell this to my clients, my girls and anyone who will listen to me. Be sure your goals are you own and put the work in to make them a reality. There is no magic pill or wand that will give you what you want – only you can do it. I’m grateful I’m found your blog; you are such an inspiration to your readers.
awww thank you Shannon! I am pretty sure if you work 30 minutes a day towards your goal you will get there sooner than you expect. If you break it down into mini goals for your clients it may be less daunting.
Great post Pauline! We all have our own goals & should focus every day on achieving them. I do love reading about the experiences of those of you who have achieved your version of the dream though. It’s motivation and proof that it can be done. I’ll pass on the critters and overbearing heat though 🙂
haha everything has a cost! we do have AC now, so it’s just critters.
Wow, what an inspiring post. I just want to get up and take on the world. Thanks for sharing!
go for it Ross! 🙂
Great post Pauline. Several people have also said to my husband and I that we are so lucky to live the life we do. I also tell them that it has little to do with luck and a whole lot to do with intention and goal setting. Anyone can live how they wish, it may take a few years of planning but it’s doable. Enjoy your piece of paradise; you’ve earned it 🙂
Thank you K.K. People often see the end result and not the work behind it. But really most of them are scared to try and dismiss any encouragement by “I couldn’t”, “yeah, I know, but”… to justify why they don’t move towards their goals.
For me it’s mostly luck. And because I know it’s luck, Im thankful and try and work as much as possible.
Luck AND preparedness= opportunity.
I would love to never wear makeup again! However, I think I’d need to be a bit close to a town. I love where I live for the most part, but my goal is to be able to travel when we want and work because we want. I love seeing when someone achieves the dream. Very inspiring!
Thank you Kim. The town 20 miles away has most products we need but lacks the town feel. For non life threatening emergencies there is a small hospital and for everything else there is an airport… it does feel isolated so I get why you would want more life around!
I`m so happy that I found your blog, Pauline! Ever since I started reading it, I`ve learned a lot more about myself, about what I want with life, and how I want to get there. You`re an inspiration to us all!
awww thank you for your kind words, I really appreciate it.
Another awesome post, Pauline!!!! You have a great gift for putting things in perspective. 🙂
Great post! It’s that whole grass is greener thing. Everyone who goes to visit Hawaii walks away saying that want to live there…in paradise, but most don’t know what goes into it or what it’s REALLY like. It’s just the “idea” of it, which I think is what people feel when they read your blog. They like the idea of what appears to be “long relaxed days by the water..tending to the garden…having time to cook, etc. For me personally, I hate bugs and critters. I hate camping…so I would have a hard time with some of the things you do. I also like the “idea” of this backpacking…wandering around the world idea, but truthfully I hate to be away from home for more than 2 weeks ish. I’m just a homebody. But I could easily live across the country from my family..easily. 🙂
lol my family isn’t too much drama but we got used to the distance, skype and email do the job. Like any place, I am sure you can list 10 bad things about Hawaii (high costs of everything, having to fly 4 hours to go anywhere, pretty sure they have disgusting critters too… just to start with) and that doesn’t show on an idyllic beach picture. We should make the most of what we have right here right now.
I love all that you mentioned, Pauline. I almost jumped up in the coffee shop and yelled, “YES!” when you said not to do things because others are doing them. Your personal examples are so important because we can say, “Ah, I couldn’t do that,” or “I might be able to..” which leads us closer to “I WANT to ______.”
If it is not your thing, don’t do it!
Thanks for the inspiration!
haha don’t jump you will spill coffee all over! I had a hard time figuring out what I wanted for myself, there was the normal path everyone went through, graduate, buy a house, get married, have kids… and every time I tried to get close to that something told me I shouldn’t. One of the great things of getting older is getting closer to knowing the real you.
Isn’t that the truth?!? My 30 year old self would never recognize me!
Thanks again, Pauline.
I admire your drive and focus in attaining your goals. I have a few now that I am finished with school, but I definitely haven’t been as diligent in attaining them as you. Thanks for the inspiration!
thank you Nick!
Love this post. Although your life sounds wonderful (we’ve already talked about my love for guac) I’m not sure I would love the snakes and critters. I’m not sure what my ideal life is yet (it seems to change as I get older), but I think I’m working towards the right general direction.
it definitely changes with age, you get closer to the real you. keep going!
I laugh when people talk about keeping up with the Jonses, because I don’t even know the Jonses when it comes to my spending!
I dream now, but didn’t when I was your age. What a nice post and very inspiring.
Thank you Marie, glad you enjoyed it.
I love this post! It’s so true, no matter what your goals are, the first step is to set them, the second step is to begin reaching for them.
thanks Jordann, you look very determined with yours, which is rare at a young age, good for you!
Haha. I don’t know much about Guatemala and I don’t like the tropics, so I would never simply say you’re living THE dream – it’s not mine – but I think it’s awesome that you’re living yours. Identifying your own goals and setting out your own path is what it’s all about.
my part is pretty tropical but the rest of Guatemala has a heavenly springlike climate all year round. I saw it wasn’t on your RTW list!
Wow. You said it. Determination is huge. Millions/Billions of people have goals, or thought of what they wish their life could be, but they lack the determination to make it happen. This is very inspiring! 🙂
Thank you Johnny. We all have excuses not to make things happen, mostly it is because we lack motivation. Acts speak for you, you can claim you want X but if you do Y that is because deep down you don’t.
Maybe deep down you really do, but you just don’t believe in yourself enough to make it a reality.
Good! I`m so happy that I found your blog, Pauline! Ever since I started reading it, I`ve learned a lot more about myself, about what I want with life, and how I want to get there. You`re an inspiration to us all!
Great! I am definitely going share this with a few of my friends. Very cool blog.
Wow…Truly inspirational – and SO TRUE! Thank you!
The best lifestyle. I loved your content, thank you for sharing your content, I loved it.
http://www.bracontece.com.br/
I have a few now that I am finished with school, but I definitely haven’t been as diligent in attaining them as you.
They like the idea of what appears to be “long relaxed days by the water..tending to the garden…having time to cook, etc.
They like the idea of what appears to be “long relaxed days by the water..tending to the garden…having time to cook, etc. For me personally, I hate bugs and critters. Good.
Nice blog thanks
This was my question! : Would you like to have only a small town 30 miles away to rely on for daily products, and a major city 9 hours away if you need serious health treatment or a decent mall to buy clothes?
And i got the solution!
Thank you so much!
____Sharon
Awesome article thanks for sharing with us. If you have trouble to access facebook or utilizing their feature then click on Facebook Customer Service. They are good. They provide help 24*7 hours. They have a team that has enough knowledge and experience to solve user query.