I had heard of grey nomads before. I imagined lovely oldies travelling the country in their caravans, having adventures, experiencing new things, meeting amazing locals, and seeing amazing sights. There were a few of those to be sure.
But as we discovered on our recent three month trip up the East Coast of Australia, the vast majority of grey nomads leave their homes in the southern states of Australia during winter and travel directly to a large caravan park in the north of Australia where the climate is much more enjoyable during winter. And they stay in the same caravan park for three, four or five months. And they do this every year for ten years. The same caravan park. With the same people. Who all do the same thing every year.
The ladies have craft mornings on Tuesdays. The men go fishing if the conditions are ideal. Or they sit around and share fishing stories. Every day.
I am not oversimplifying it. That is what happens.
It seems to me they are transplanting their usual day-to-day life for the same day-to-day life in a warmer location. Except there is really not much to do.
I realised that I could not live like that. Three and half months travelling was enough for me. I felt like a long-term sightseer. We didn’t really connect with anyone. We didn’t make a difference to anyone. I missed my family and friends. And I wondered ‘is this all there is?’
And the trip ignited a passion in me for helping people work out what they really want to do with their lives—now and in retirement. And actively planning their retirement so that it is something they look forward to and find fulfilling. And incorporating our long-awaited retirement dreams into our lives now.
What sort of grey nomad do you want to be?
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