Backpacking the World at 52, Our Next Big Nomadic Adventure Starts Here

Letting go, starting fresh, and living the dream all over again

Our last ride on the Citycat - Brisbane

As you read this post, I’ll be having a BBQ with some good friends in Sydney, Australia.

Tomorrow we jump on a plane to Phuket for 3 weeks, to soak up some sun, dig our toes in the sand, eat far too much Massaman & Khao Soi curry, and catch up with our wonderful friends. (We lived there for over 12 years, so it's like going home).

Then onto London to drop my daughter off at Uni, where she'll study songwriting & vocal performance for the next 3 years (she's pretty darn good).

And after what I'm certain is going to be a extremely emotional few weeks as the apron strings are firmly cut and she sets out on her own journey, my sister & I will jet off to the Amalfi coast for me to drown my sorrows in copious amounts of mediterranean salad & pasta.

That constitutes the beginning and more comfortable side to our travels, as after a very cold Christmas back in London, my husband and I will strap on the backpacks and head to South America with no real plan or fixed deadline (other than he wants to be in Vegas for his 50th in July).

And the rest will be where the wind takes us...

Why I’m Leaving Again

15 years ago, we packed up our home and boarded a plane with 3 suitcases, a 4-year-old, about $1000 in cash, and a couple of credit cards to our name. The goal was simple. To travel the world and figure out how to earn online while doing it.

We started in Cyprus. Bounced around Australia (my husband is an Aussie), hopped around Asia. Thailand. Vietnam. Singapore. Then back to Thailand where we settled in Phuket long enough for my daughter to attend school and call it home.

Over the years, our online ventures have funded our lifestyle (and a very pricey International School). Sometimes extravagantly, sometimes ramen noodles were our friend. But we've run the gambit of online business models including, membership sites, ecom businesses, courses, affiliate marketing, coaching, blogging, you name it.

Now she’s graduated. We’ve spent nearly a year in Brisbane while she worked and saved. And the time has come to let go of the apron strings and let her chase her dreams in London… while we go and chase ours again.

What’s Different This Time

15 years ago I was 37. No arthritis. No hormone patches. No clue what Hashimoto’s was (what a pain in the arse that one is - no gluten, dairy, nightshades - super fun while travelling).

I was wildly optimistic, mildly broke, and mostly fearless. I didn’t know what I didn’t know, which was probably a blessing.

Now I’m 52. My knees are bone on bone. My suitcase includes oestrogen gel, progesterone tablets, and a whole lot of electrolytes. I like hot tea and firm pillows. I’ve stayed in fancy hotels and budget bungalows. I’ve made money, lost it, made it again, and I like a mix of both bougie and backpack.

I’m also 30 pounds heavier than I’d like to be. My energy’s not quite what it was. I’d prefer a quiet glass of wine to a loud club. And if the shower pressure’s terrible, I’ll probably mention it. 😳

Not withstanding... I’m excited!

I truly believe that this next chapter will help me move more, eat better, think clearer, drink less weekend wine, and have more outdoor time.

Less sitting. More seeing.

And while I’ll miss my daughter fiercely (we’re very close), travelling just the two of us, my hubby & I, will be easier, and cheaper. Win-win.

What I’m Carrying With Me

Aside from my green tea and a jar of Marmite (non-negotiable), I’m carrying 15 years of memories, lessons, and lived experiences from more than 40 countries.

I've met extraordinary people, seen beauty in places I never expected, eaten food I couldn’t pronounce, gotten lost more times than I can count, and with every one of those moments, I’ve grown braver, wiser, and more open.

And I’m bringing a business with me that feels like a true reflection of who I am and where I’m at in life. The 50+ Nomad Club is my space to share stories, help others fund their freedom, and build something meaningful while living the lifestyle I love. I’ve never felt more connected to the work I’m doing.

I’m also carrying the confidence that only time, travel and the odd language mishap can bring. I know how to find my way around a new city, how to talk to people, how to laugh at myself when things go wrong (which happens quite frequently), and I know that no matter where I am, I have friends around the world cheering me on.

What I’m Leaving Behind

My daughter. That’s it.

The cinema trips. Dancing around the lounge to playlists with wine in hand. Brunches. Late-night chats. Singing at the top of our lungs in the car. Crying over the silly things, and laughing over the big ones.

She’s 19 now, and she's strong, talented and smart. She’s off to a creative arts college in London and I couldn’t be prouder, (or more anxious).

Recently she told me that she’s grateful for the life we gave her in Thailand. That she loved her international upbringing, and the lifelong friends she's already made. That fills me with the kind of love I can’t really put into words. (Especially as a mum — we spend half our lives wondering if we’re doing it right.)

But I know she’ll be fine. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, and having worked in the heart of London myself (and loved every minute), I know that if she throws herself into it, she’s in for the most amazing 3 years of her life. And Mum, of course, will always be just a phone call away.

What This Chapter Means to Me

I don’t know how long we’ll be travelling. 5 years. 10. 20. Maybe we’ll settle again, maybe we won’t. Right now, we’re just focused on living the dream we set out to create all those years ago.

I’m so grateful to have a husband who still wants the same things I do. Who’s just as up for an adventure now as he was back then, (possibly with a few more stretch breaks).

This chapter for both of us is about movement, curiosity, growth and embracing this amazing planet of ours.

I want to learn more, taste more, see more, improve my Spanish, get better at taking great photos, and build my next business in real time while living the lifestyle I talk about.

I’ve also got a dream that keeps tapping me on the shoulder. To start a not-for-profit side of my ecom biz. I want to buy handmade items from villages we visit. Simple things, like jewellery & textiles. Then go live to my community and sell them, with all profits going straight back to the makers & the villages. No big supply chain, just real people supporting real people.

I've been thinking about it for years, perhaps now's the time to make it happen!

And over the next 20+ years, I want to write more books, share more stories, interview inspiring older travellers, and talk about the highs, the lows, the tears and the tantrums, and the terrible buses and magical sunsets.

In a world full of noise and division, I want to be a tiny bright spot. A place for courage, curiosity and community, and hopefully a few belly laughs along the way.

The Road Ahead

So as you read this, I’m probably sipping wine with good mates, buzzing with nerves, excitement and a list of things I’ve forgotten to pack or gave away too quickly.

We fly out tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to taking you with me as I traverse the globe like a kid at Christmas!

Wish me luck friend and tell me, what does your dream next chapter look like?

Let me know in the comments — or just whisper it to yourself. Either way, now’s the time to start turning the page.

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