We’re a family of four—two parents, Tania and Sean, and our two little adventurers, Atticus (7) and Aurelia (5) – on a mission to turn a long-held dream into reality. Our story is one of rediscovering a passion for travel, reconnecting with what truly matters, and stepping out of the 9-5 routine to embrace a life of adventure.
When Tania and I met eight years ago, we always talked about travelling the world. It was a shared dream that brought us closer, and for a while, it felt like it was within reach. But life had other plans. A year into our relationship, we welcomed Atticus into the world, and two years later, Aurelia arrived. Just like that, parent life began, and travel took a back seat.
For most of my 20s, I dreamed of travelling the world. I envisioned all the places I would go and the adventures I’d have, but guess what? I always found an excuse, self-sabotaged, or chickened out. Instead, I carried on living my monotonous life, convincing myself that travel was out of reach.
We told ourselves it wasn’t the right time, that we needed to settle into careers, routines, and the “norm.” For the next six years, we fell into the 9-5 grind, building a life that looked great on paper but felt unfulfilling. We loved seeing our kids grow up, but we couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
It hit us one day—we were living the old fable: “Treasure these moments while they’re young; it goes by so quickly.” We realised we were missing the one thing we couldn’t get back: time.
In January 2024, we started to seriously ask ourselves a question that had been lingering for years: Can we actually go travelling long-term? And if so, where?
At first, it felt impossible. How could we make this work with kids, careers, and limited savings? But the more we talked and planned, the more the idea took hold. To test the waters, we booked a three-week holiday to Montenegro in the summer of 2024.
That trip was everything we hoped for and more. We explored breathtaking landscapes, discovered hidden gems, and saw our kids thrive in a new environment. It curbed our travel itch for a while, but it also solidified something deeper: We didn’t just want to travel. We wanted to live in new places, immerse ourselves in other cultures, and give our kids a chance to see the world.
By December 2024, we decided it was time to stop dreaming and start doing. We booked our flights for August 2025. That was it. We were committed to long-term travel—a year of exploring South America, learning Spanish, and embracing a completely different way of life.
YIKES! Now, we’re in the midst of an eight-month whirlwind to prepare. From decluttering our home to planning itineraries, it’s all hands on deck as we make this dream a reality. The best part? We’re doing it without a big safety net of savings. Instead, we’re trusting that the universe will provide—through opportunities, signs, and the amazing people we’ve already started to meet along the way.
You may notice that most of the photos we share of Atticus and Aurelia will either show them from behind or with sunglasses covering their eyes. This is a deliberate choice. While we want to share our journey and inspire other families, we also want to respect our children’s privacy.
They didn’t choose to have their lives shared online, and as they grow up, they might not be comfortable with their faces all over the internet. By protecting their privacy now, we’re giving them the freedom to decide how much they want to share about themselves in the future.
This isn’t just about us. It’s about showing other families that it’s never too late to follow your dreams, even with kids in tow. Whether it’s learning how to travel on a budget, making time for adventure, or stepping out of your comfort zone, we hope our story inspires you to take the leap.
So join us as we navigate this exciting, slightly terrifying, and absolutely rewarding chapter of our lives. From the planning phase to our first steps in South America, we’ll be sharing it all—the highs, the challenges, and the lessons we learn along the way.
Here’s to chasing dreams, making memories, and proving that adventure is for everyone. Awin
