You may remember that a few months ago we went on kinda a PR blitz letting local media know what we did and getting air time. Shoot you might even be reading this because you first ran across our Mlive article, NPR interview or one of the TV spots we did.
At the same time we've been working the Podcast angle and been receiving a lot of air time.
Evidentially we have a good story!
This is all in an effort to build our new business nomadtogether.com which has become a resource for other location independent families like ours. Let us know if you have an interest in living a similar lifestyle, we have our first book coming out shortly called Family Freedom, a guide to becoming a location independent family.
Back to the media thing,
This month Becky was covered in a national magazine put out by Time Magazine called All You.
We're posting the content of the article here for your pleasure!
Also you can see it in full color in this PDF
Enjoy!
I DOWNSIZED MY LIFE AND NEVER LOOKED BACK!
Believing that less is more can be tough when we’re bombarded with advertising for five-figure clothes, five-star vacations and the latest-model everything. Saying “no thanks” can make us feel as though we’re missing out. Not so for the three inspiring women profiled here. Each one decided to pare down rather than trade up, getting rid of a second car, say, or even a permanent address. Although their motivations differed—freedom to travel, the need to care for a sick child, the chance to live by the beach without owning waterfront property—they all came to understand the same basic truth: By giving up material goods, they gained the most important thing of all.
By letting go of many possessions and living small, these three women found a sense of contentment that money can’t buy
Imagine putting not only your home on the market but also nearly all its contents, including furniture, toys and your husband’s favorite electric drill. That’s just what Rebekah and her husband, Paul, did last year. “I never had second thoughts,” says Rebekah, a stay-at-home mom. “I knew these decisions were unusual, but doing so got us closer to the dream lifestyle my family wanted.” Rebekah and Paul, 35, have always loved traveling. Before starting a family, in fact, they volunteered with church missions overseas. Having kids meant putting down roots near family members in Newaygo, Mich. But neither felt content remaining in one place for long or having lots of material possessions. “There is such an emphasis on consumerism in our country,” says Rebekah, who says she, too, used to be sucked in: “I had snorkel gear in my closet although I’ve been snorkeling only once in my life!”
In the fall of 2013, Rebekah’s brother agreed to buy her four-bedroom ranch house. She saw the chance she’d been waiting for—to unload not only their house but many of her family’s belongings, and to finally to see more of the world. Because Paul is a digital marketer, he can work off his laptop wherever he lives. And Rebekah homeschools their children—Alia, Josiah, Thys and Zander—so there was no need to get school permission. “They were super excited,” Rebekah says of the kids.
In January 2014, Rebekah began listing some belongings on eBay. The family cleared out most of the rest in a massive yard sale, putting what little remained in storage. By March, the family was headed to the Philippines; they spent the next six months crossing the globe while living frugally. “We used our credit cards to earn frequent-flier miles,” Rebekah says. “And we chose destinations [including Thailand and Bulgaria] that had a lower cost of living.”
The trip was eye-opening for Rebekah. “It showed me that we don’t have to settle somewhere to have a home,” she says. “It’s about being together.” Now back near their relatives, they’re renting a smaller place, with no plans to buy again. And they’ve changed how they think about other expenses, too. “We spend more on experiences and less on things,” Rebekah says. “Our kids do the same. They buy a backpack patch to remember where they went instead of a plastic toy that will soon be broken.”
She and Paul have started a business at nomadtogether.com to help other families become “location independent” and follow them in their quest for a simpler life. They hope to teach others that living with less also has its practical side. “It has made it easier for us to clean, to pick up the toys and even to decide what to wear,” Rebekah says. “Everything seems less overwhelming. I had no idea that owning stuff was such a weight around my neck.”
The article continues about the two other families who also downsized, See it here.
We're hoping to get some follow on coverage locally, but would also love to get some coverage nationally. Do you know of someone who could help? Becky's wish/dream/bucket-list/joke is to be on Good Morning America. It'd be awesome if you could help us get there!