In this issue…

• Life in a backpack: Adopting a new way of living—a nomadic way.

• Biz in a backpack: How do you support yourself while traveling?

• Snack pack: But, what about the kids? What do they think?

• Suitcase: A featured location that I know you’ll love.

• Camera bag: Pictures of our family’s latest fun.

It was the height of the pandemic.

The season was morphing into a dead Utah winter.

And we saw the writing on the wall.

If we stayed put, we’d be trapped.

We’d be locked inside trying to squeeze 2 full-time jobs into small pockets of the day when we weren’t homeschooling our daughter. And we’d be juggling it all while this thing ran amok 👇:

You get the point.

So, we said no. To “the rules” and the “shoulds.” To hibernating. To the bleakness of pandemic life. To going bonkers.

And, we pivoted. We packed up our family and moved to Isabela, Puerto Rico.

It was everything we needed and more.

The new time zone gave us the flexibility to have one parent working while the other was on homeschool duty.

We had space to roam in the open air (and sea) while still maintaining a safe social distance from others.

We created a life within a scary time that was healthy, productive, and happy.

That experiment led us to adopt a new lifestyle. We prioritize time together, meeting new people, and experiencing more of the world’s goodness.

If you’re part of this newsletter, it probably means you’re interested in carving out more space for flexibility and freedom.

Moving forward, I’ll share more in this section about mindset shifts and practical ideas for making this work.

Thanks for being here!

-Ashley R. Cummings

Okay, okay, Ashley.

Nomadic life sounds nice and all—but money doesn’t grow on trees.

I know. You’re right.

Believe me—I know.

But, I have some good news:

There has never been an easier time in the history of ever to monetize your time and talents. And you can do it from the comfort of your own home, or Spain, or Australia. Or wherever.

Why? The internet.

Here are just a handful of tools you can use to monetize:

• Digital marketplaces. Digital platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Patreon, Etsy, and Fiverr provide direct access to hungry customers.

• Social media. Facebook, TikTok, and IG make it possible to build a personal brand and reach a global audience.

• E-commerce. User-friendly e-commerce tools and platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce make it simple to set up online stores to sell products and services.

• Online courses. Platforms like Udemy, Teachable, and Skillshare make it easy to create and sell online courses.

• Subscription models. Services like Beehiiv* and Patreon allow creators to monetize content through subscription models.

• Remote work opportunities. The rise of remote work has opened up opportunities for people to offer their services globally.

• Affiliate marketing. Opportunities to earn commissions by promoting products and services through affiliate marketing have expanded with programs available on major e-commerce sites. *This is an affiliate link.

• Content monetization. Ads, sponsorships, and partnerships can help monetize blogging, podcasting, newsletters, and video content.

This just in: 2024 is the year of the online gig economy. And the barrier to entry is low.

In upcoming issues, I’ll break down how to secure revenue streams that support the nomadic lifestyle.

Pressing questions parents may have:

• How do you adopt a nomadic lifestyle with kids?

• How do kids feel about traveling and worldschooling?

Well, let’s ask one. I’m passing the mic over to my daughter to share her thoughts.

Take it away, A.…

A: Now, as you probably know, I’m a kid. A ten-year-old kid, a worldschooling kid.

It all started last year at the beginning of the school year.

We went to Greece for three months, and we’ve now been in Mexico for six.

Sometimes it’s hard, and sometimes it’s amazing.

So, since I don’t want to go into too much detail about this whole thing, I bring you the moment you’ve all been waiting for:

A’s WORDSCHOOLING PROS AND CONS!

 Pros:     

1. It’s a chance to explore the world. There are so many things to do in any place, and there will always be cultural stuff or nature stuff, etc.

2. It’s a great learning experience! We plan to go to a lot of museums and famous places.

3. The learning is pretty flexible, so it could be at your own kids’ pace. You can either do homeschool, online school, normal school (if it’s long-term, like 2 months or more) or a mix! 

4. You can go to a certain place for however long you want! You can rent a house, get an Airbnb, etc.

Cons: 

1. You don’t get to be home much. Sometimes I experience bouts of homesickness. It. sucks.

2. You have to travel lightly sometimes. I can’t bring much stuff (for instance, books), but it’s not so bad.

3. You have to say goodbye to any friends you make along the way. Sad. 

Featured location: Naxos | Legato Spa Suites

Dying for some time to yourself but don’t want to pay a million dollars for a luxury wellness retreat?

May I recommend buying a ticket to Greece and booking Legato Spa Suites in the off-season?

Ya’ll. I paid $129/night for a suite with a massage chair, hot tub, big bed, spa shower, and sauna.

I read. I went 4-wheeling. I ate. I laughed. I cried. I recovered.

Put it on the bucket list.

travelwithashley

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