Our Big Adventure Begins: Selling Everything to Travel Europe in a Motorhome

Who Are We?

Hey there! We’re the Almost There Family—Kirsty, Jordan, and our two energetic boys, Elliot and Ollie. We’ve decided to embark on a crazy adventure, selling everything we own to travel Europe full time in a motorhome! Keep reading to find out more about our decision!

Why We’re Doing This

After years of dreaming and watching others live a nomadic lifestyle, we finally decided to take the leap. Despite having our dream home and stable jobs, we found ourselves feeling unfulfilled. I, Kirsty, took redundancy from my 12-year teaching career last year and have been on a journey of self-discovery, figuring out what I truly want from life for myself and my family. Jordan enjoys his job, but we both craved something more—more family time, more adventure, more freedom. We were tired of the 9-5 grind and constantly chasing our tails financially, even with two good incomes. After many heartfelt conversations, we realised there has to be more to life than this. There has to be a better way of living. So, we've decided to put all our eggs in one basket, sell everything, and completely uproot our lives to pursue our dream of full-time travel.

The moment we made the decision was both terrifying and exhilarating. We sat down as a family, talked it through, and realised this was our chance to create unforgettable memories together. We imagined the joy of waking up to new landscapes, exploring different cultures, and spending quality time with our boys. The thought of breaking away from the routine and embracing the unknown was incredibly freeing. Of course, the idea of leaving behind the security of our current lives was daunting, but the excitement of new possibilities far outweighed our fears.

We know it won’t be easy—there will be challenges, adjustments, and moments of doubt. But the opportunity to live authentically and show our children a different way of life is too valuable to pass up. We envision teaching them not just from books, but from real-life experiences, and learning together as a family. The world will be our classroom, and every day will bring new lessons and adventures.

This decision marks the beginning of a transformative journey for all of us. We’re ready to embrace the highs and lows, the surprises, and the serendipity that comes with this lifestyle. It’s a bold move, but one that we’re excited to share with you every step of the way. Welcome to our adventure—let’s see where this road takes us!

Preparing for the Journey

Since making the decision, it’s been a whirlwind. We've spent the last few months finishing renovations, sorting through our belongings, and getting our home ready to sell. So far, we’ve managed to sell over £2,000 worth of stuff, but it feels like we’ve only just scratched the surface. There have been bumps in the road, and the process is taking longer than we anticipated. This has been quite tough, especially since finances are tight, and we’re navigating a difficult family situation. Things haven’t always gone our way, and at times, the waiting and delays can be deflating. We’re craving a fresh start and know it’s just around the corner, but the prolonged process can be challenging to cope with. Despite these setbacks, we remain hopeful and focused on the exciting journey ahead.

Our Plans and Goals

Our plan is pretty flexible. We’ll start by taking a ferry to France, then drive along the coastline towards Spain. From there, who knows? We want to explore at our own pace, stay longer in places we love, and move on if we’re not feeling it. We want this journey to be spontaneous and organic, allowing us to truly immerse ourselves in the places we visit.

As for work, we’re fortunate enough to use a nice chunk of our house sale to live comfortably for at least a year. Of course, this isn’t going to last forever, which is why we’re keen to explore new prospects of working digitally. I, Kirsty, have been looking into this for quite a few years but haven't quite made anything work yet. I have lots of ideas and have built my skill set over time. This journey will give us the chance to take the digital world seriously, explore various opportunities, and hopefully establish a stable income stream while on the road. Jordan is also excited about the potential to learn new skills and perhaps even find remote work opportunities in his field. We see this as a chance not just to travel, but to reinvent our careers and create a sustainable lifestyle that allows us to live this way for as long as we wish.

Homeschooling

Homeschooling our boys will be an exciting part of this journey. As an experienced teacher, I have a solid knowledge of what they need educationally, but I'm also passionate about them not being confined to a traditional classroom environment. Our boys are your typical hands-on kids who much prefer the freedom to explore and be curious, and I'm all for it. They're still young enough in their educational journey, so we have the flexibility to adapt our teaching methods to suit their needs.

I plan to take a laid-back and flexible approach to homeschooling. While I’ll ensure they meet key educational milestones, I won’t be strictly following a set curriculum. Instead, we'll learn through our experiences, turning everyday adventures into teachable moments. From learning about marine life while exploring the French coastline to understanding different cultures through interactions in local markets, their education will be rich, diverse, and child led.

For core subjects like math and English, I’ll maintain a bit more structure to ensure they stay on track. We’ll also focus on keeping up with Welsh to preserve their connection to our heritage. But overall, our approach will be holistic and interest-driven, allowing the boys to pursue their passions and learn at their own pace. Jordan and I are excited to create a dynamic learning environment that extends far beyond the confines of a classroom.

What’s Next?

In the next few exciting weeks ahead, we’re crossing our fingers and hoping that our house will officially be sold, allowing us to finally embark on the thrilling adventure of motorhome shopping and kick-start our incredible journey. We can’t wait to share more details about our budget planning, our packing process, and all the ins and outs of motorhome shopping. Our excitement is through the roof, and we’re eager to take you along on this incredible journey with us. So, stay tuned for more updates, and don’t forget to follow us on our socials for all the fun behind-the-scenes content that we can’t wait to share!