We raised our family in a 7,500-square-foot home. Then, we retired early and sold almost everything to travel the world.
My husband and I sold our house and belongings and retired earlier than planned. We've been traveling the world ever since, and have no regrets.
Shelly Peterson originally planned not to retire but a health scare prompted her and her husband to reconsider their retirement plans. After selling their 7,500-square-foot Arizona home, the couple decided to sell almost all their possessions and travel the world. Shelly says they made the right choice overall, despite some challenges.
The couple had raised four daughters in their home, where they celebrated birthdays and hosted family gatherings. However, after their daughters moved away, the house began to feel less needed. A health scare in 2021 further changed their perspective on how to spend their later years. After the scare, Shelly realized that later is not guaranteed and began reevaluating their retirement plans.
In 2023, they sold their business and home, downsized their belongings, and traveled the world. They now rent an Arizona condo as a home base while traveling. While they miss being close to their family, the couple feels the freedom of full-time travel is life-changing.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
