Being A Location Independent, A Virtual Assistant And A Mother – Why Exactly Do I Travel And Live In Different Places?

by Michelle Dale on

Recently, I have been announcing yet another move we are doing, this time from Spain to Italy, in 7 weeks from now. Whilst my digital nomad buddies are all like, “Cool, what took you so long this time?” My more static acquaintances I have made who have lived and grown up in one place all their life are asking, “Oh that’s nice, but why would you want to move around so much?”

Generally when this question is asked of me I have to come up with an answer that doesn’t even come close to actually sharing the reality of why we do it, or more importantly, why we do it as a family. I say, “We love to travel” – and that basically will cover it in a nutshell, but for those of you still thinking… “hmmm okay, but why can’t you just go on holiday twice a year?” – here is a visual (video) of why I like to move around so much and live in different places (the keyword is ‘live’ – not visit, not spend a couple of weeks as a tourist sightseeing – I want to really ‘live’ in the country, and do as the locals do…), as in the video in the top right corner of this post.

In a nutshell, we travel because there are so many beautiful things to see and experience in this world, that we want to see and experience as many of them as we possibly can before it’s too late. Before we need to settle in a spot and say, “let’s plant some roots,” but even then, we won’t be going back to where we originally came from, we’ll pick a place that we love, somewhere warm and sunny most of the year! Also it won’t stop us from travelling whenever we can, because once you get bitten by the bug, it’s hard to stay put

“But What About Your Kids And Their Stability?”

Yep, this comes up a lot too, what about our children who are now 2 and 3 years old – how is this effecting them? Well, I answered this in the video post below. As you can probably see, they are having a terrible time because of our lifestyle choice (LOL! that was a joke), in fact, I think they would like this kind of lifestyle more than traditional daycare, or mummy and daddy working the 9-5 just catching up before bedtime or on weekends. I have been there from day one, first steps, first words, grazed knees, and all the funny moments that so many parents will miss, I feel incredibly privileged to be a virtual assistant and to be able to have this time with my kids, because I could never have gotten it back later on.

Being location independent parents is centred around 2 things – the first is the ability to work from anywhere, that’s where virtual assistance comes in for me – I can do something I love to do, from virtually anywhere with an Internet connection. I run the virtual assistant business to have the lifestyle, and also now to help other people break out of the trap of their current life and make a new one of their choosing. The second is that the parents (yes you, if you have kids) are happy – this means, not overly stressed, ‘living’ and not just existing, not worrying about the boss, the commute, or who’s going to babysit the kids in the school holidays – it’s about you choosing a life that will make you happy, and then as a result you have content and happy children, and an improved way of life. There are children all over the world, their are schools and educational institutions all over the world, and is Harvard or Cambridge something I am considering for my kids right now? Nope, it’s not… Their education right now is life and experience, and when they are a little older, we’ll make the choices which we feel are right for us as a family.

So there you have it! What do you think of location independence? Or Blog Posts Like This – Would It Interest You To See More? Comments below.

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http://twitter.com/Cynthiness84 Cynthia Cano

There are so many stories and posts being told lately that relate to how society throws us “shoulds” and it’s really up to us and our individual circumstances to create a life that works for us… Thank you for sharing!!

http://virtualassistant-live.com/ Michelle, Virtual Miss Friday

You’re welcome Cynthia It’s so true, we can easily become integrated into a culture and society and believe that’s the way things should be done, but there are so many options available and it’s down to the individual to explore them, and find out what makes them happy.
Thanks so much for the comment!

http://www.marthassos.com/ Martha Christie

Wow Michelle – This is an absolutely fabulous blog post today.

You are an amazing mum who is brining up two beautiful children in a world that is full of amazing things for them to see and do. My children have never been abroad, never seen outside the UK. They are going on their first holiday abroad to the US (and I’ll be working!).

Like you, I have two children however their ages are a little different from yours (11 and 5). I want my kids to experience a variety of culture and experience a bit of the world. They have done the whole crèche (kindergarten) thing and socialized with other children (sometimes not a good thing lol).

In 3 years, my eldest will be sitting exams so although I am looking to move Spain next year, I will stay there until his exams are finished and then possibly look at moving from there onwards.

I don’t want my children to be stuck in the mindset that the world is just a holiday destination. I want them to look at it as a new and exciting venture, ready to be explored.

You’ve just inspired me even more

All the very best for your next move (adventure).
Martha x

http://virtualassistant-live.com/ Michelle, Virtual Miss Friday

Oh, thank you so much Martha, I really very much appreciate this comment. I think it’s great that you are getting out there and giving this a try with your family, the funny thing is, is that when you finally get to the destination life is much easier than you anticipate, and something just kicks in and you get on with it. I won’t deny, it things aren’t as easy in the beginning when you’re dealing with people in another language, but you soon find help, and adapt.

I was walking back from the park today with my kids and went to cross the road, I heard a moped coming down the road and it had a boy on it about 8 years old, and a man, possibly his father, the funny thing was the boy was the one driving the moped and the man was on the back… Things like that you never see in England, and while I was thinking, omg I would never do that with my kids, for some reason it made me smile

http://www.ecreativewritingideas.com Emelina Minero

I think location independence is amazing, and there is a huge difference between living in a place and visiting a place. I just got back from a 2 month East Coast travel (I’m from CA). It was my independence location test. I was testing my freelance work and my ability to work from wherever. I visited 6 states and 13 plus cities while I was visiting all of my friends from college, people I haven’t met, and a cousin. It was awesome! I got back a week ago.

Although it was amazing, some of my visits were only 1 to 2 days, others a little over a week. So I was moving a lot, going back and forth across the East Coast. I was able to capture moments of living locally or just living in the moment, which is amazing, but it’s not the same as living in one location for longer than a vacations visit and really just being absorbed into that culture. That’s what I want to do.

It’s amazing to read stories like yours or Chrstine Gilbert’s, or Colin Wright’s, to see that people are traveling around the world, living around the world, and making it happen. I was able to study abroad in Spain for a semester in college, and I would Love to go back, not just to visit, but to live there for a little while. And how cool that you’re going to Italy. I’ve never been and would love to explore more or Europe.

I love one of your ending quotes, “ Their education right now is life and experience, and when they are a little older, we’ll make the choices which we feel are right for us as a family.”

You were talking about your children and how travel impacts their lives. I thought this was perfect. I agree whole heartedly that life and experiences are great education. I think a lot of people forget that or devalue it.

It was so cool to read about your family and kids. My oldest sister just had her first baby girl a week ago, and when I start a family, I’m sure I’ll still be wanting to travel, and it’s cool to see that I can do that with my kids.

Thank you.

Emelina Minero

http://virtualassistant-live.com/ Michelle, Virtual Miss Friday

What an excellent story Emelina, thanks so much for sharing! We often do mini trips here and there from within the country we are staying, it’s nice because they are like mini holidays in one very long holiday!

I do hope you get to Europe at some point, I think you’d like it, especially since you have been to Spain and liked it. I am also really stoked that you did your East coast trip and had a great time, doing it once just gives you the confidence to get out there again and see what else you can find!

Awesome comment, thank you again

Claudia Multilingual and Trave

totally agree with you! I grew up that way. Lived in 3 different countries and flexibility is what a child learn from this experience.

http://virtualassistant-live.com/ Michelle, Virtual Miss Friday

Claudia that is so true, it’s really amazing how children adapt, we still have our routines and things you would expect any family to have, but we just do them in a different place

Thanks so much for the comment, and for sharing your experience growing up.

http://internetmoneymap.com Mark Aylward

Michelle
Very cool
I am a single dad and entrepreneur and the ability to work from the Starbucks next to my child’s school or a school gymnasium during a volleyball tournament has enabled me to see EVERYTHING my kids have done for the last 10 years and made enough money to support their interests.:)
Cheers and Good Luck
Mark

http://virtualassistant-live.com/ Michelle, Virtual Miss Friday

Hi Mark, that is brilliant I have never considered working from a school gym during a volleyball tournament! It’s also very cool that you have created a lifestyle for yourself that allows you do that as a single Dad, my hat goes off to you, rock on

ClockwiseVA

Good for you! You are living your life the way that makes you most happy. Exploring new places can be so rewarding, especially when you are used to moving around. There is so much of the world to see; vacation time just doesn’t cut it. I agree that your kids will be enriched by this experience and learn so much as a result of it.

All credit to you and your family! Happy travels
Linda

http://virtualassistant-live.com/ Michelle, Virtual Miss Friday

Hi Linda, welcome to the blog, and thank you so much for the comment very much appreciated. Indeed living any kind of lifestyle on your own terms can bring about happiness, I am just so glad I didn’t hang around waiting for retirement lol

Thanks again

http://twitter.com/VIPVirtualSols Alexandra Popovic

Bravo Michelle for having the courage to go out of the norm and do what many only wish they could! I also got these questions (and still do) when we decided to pursue quality of life in ’06, pack up and live in eastern Europe when our kids were small (then 5, 2 and 1). We figured it was at least worth investigating whilst we still could, and even though it didn’t work out for various reasons, the kids absolutely LOVED it and I’m glad they got to experience so many things they never would have otherwise. We are all certainly richer for the experience in terms of life lessons.

In fact, it’s what lead me to “think outside the box” and try what I thought would be a little hobby ie starting my own VA business! I’m pretty sure had I not gone through such huge changes/growth, I wouldn’t have even considered it and eventually gone back to the corporate workforce once the kids were all in school, spent almost half my day commuting to work (been there done that!), paid ridiculous amounts of $$ for daycare having other people practically raise my children.

We came back to Sydney almost 3 years ago, but you’re right, once you get wanderlust in your veins it’s hard to stay put, but we’re happy here now and we all have European citizenship so who knows what’s around the corner? I know I’m certainly going to encourage my kids to travel and really experience life around the globe (like you said “live” not just holidays!). I also know I have a lot more travel I want to do in my lifetime, so I’m hoping in future I’ll get to do it with my kids, and the cherry on top will be I will then have a (hopefully) thriving VA practice I can take anywhere!

http://virtualassistant-live.com/ Michelle, Virtual Miss Friday

Hi Alex Wow that’s brilliant, you came to live in Eastern Europe, it’s certainly somewhere I would like to go with my family, very different from the west in terms of the people and culture.

I hope that one day my kids will look back on their lives and see how different it has been from what’s considered the ‘norm’ my daughter has spent the ages of 0,1 and 2 in three different countries, and for her 3rd birthday, it will be different again. They may not remember everything, but we have photos and videos, and the same for my son, who is much more aware now of his surroundings and the language differences.

Your VA practise can be the key to opening up the kind of doors, as you say, that many only wish they could do… It has been for me, and it’s been what has supported me and allowed me to do this from day one.

Good luck with everything you do Alex, good for you for thinking outside the box – I am one of those people too

Michelle

EmmylouH

That’s a great setup, Michelle! You are actually doing your kids a favor by showing them the beauty of the world early on

http://virtualassistant-live.com/ Michelle, Virtual Miss Friday

Thanks EmmyLou, I know you had a similar experience with your parents, we are all learning while enjoying ourselves, it’s great.

http://www.briantomlinson.net/ Brian Tomlinson

Great post Michelle, I fully agree with the location independent lifestyle. I for one would love for my kids to experience the world while they are young. (Disclaimer: we don’t have any kids YET) I am of the belief that this will give them a whole different perspective of the world as a whole. For me I can only see the positives in this.

I would worry as they got older but given that technology and social media has shrunk the world, gone are the days that you make a new friend and then you never see them again. Facebook alone has bridged the divide between us all.

Keep doing what you’re doing girl and keep rocking it!

http://virtualassistant-live.com/ Michelle, Virtual Miss Friday

Hi Brian, thanks you very much for the comment, I’ll keep rocking it

If it’s possible for anyone to embrace this kind of lifestyle, it’s well worth it. Not just for the kids but for the parents too. Technology means that we have access to pretty much anyone from anywhere in the world, and being a VA has helped with keeping up to date and cutting-edge in terms of technology, as you say, something as simple as Facebook allows us to keep up with multiple people all over the world, and suddenly everything does seem much smaller.

You have a great entrepreneurship blog by the way

http://www.live-hire.com Grainne Foley

I absolutely love this blog post Michelle, your lifestyle may not be for everyone but it works for you and your family. How lucky are your kids to experience all that they do and how great it must be to visit different countries and learn about other cultures. What great stories they will have to tell and they enjoy it all with their parents, what could be better than that.

Having done a lot of traveling in my life and hopefully will continue to do more and more as my VA Matchmaking business grows, I can’t wait for my kids to see the world and I am so grateful that I can show it to them.

I think sometimes people are afraid to take that risk and therefore they miss out on a lot, clearly you are not afraid and can therefore reap the benefits of an incredible lifestyle that many only dream of.

Thanks for sharing some of your beautiful kids with us

Grainne

http://virtualassistant-live.com/ Michelle, Virtual Miss Friday

Thank you so much for the comment Grainne, I am really pleased you liked the post, and yes indeed, it’s a life that suits us, and there is a huge comfort in us just thinking, well, if some place we choose doesn’t work out, we’ll just head on. Extreme flexibility. But we are all quite laid back as a family and easy going. As you know travel has so many amazing benefits, it helps to be laid back and keep an open mind

Hopefully this could inspire some folk who are wanting to travel but feeling they can’t to just get on and try it.

http://www.virtualassistantatwork.com Cathy VA

Great post – it had fishies AND smiley ducks!

http://virtualassistant-live.com/ Michelle, Virtual Miss Friday

Lol, and don’t forget the bug

http://twitter.com/coachingmums Amanda Alexander

Well Michelle, I’ve just GOT to share this withtYear 4 so that they can get an in-depth answer to their questions! You’ll be the bane of many parent’s lives when their kids are asking “Mummy, why can’t you and Daddy become Location Independent Parents?” Hats off to you girl – I’m full of admiration for your lifestyle and your style!

http://virtualassistant-live.com/ Michelle, Virtual Miss Friday

Hi Amanda, thanks so much for the comment, much appreciated, and nice idea for year 4, feel free

http://virtualassistant-live.com/ Michelle, Virtual Miss Friday

Hi John, thanks so much for the comment, seriously it’s never too just to start, I was 23 when I left the UK, and I have never looked back, I am still travelling and moving, I just happened to find a husband and have 2 children along the way! I turned 30 in May. Being a virtual assistant is a great way to fund this kind of lifestyle, and the sky’s the limit in terms of income depending on how you structure your business – it’s perfect.

Regarding your question about keeping online, technology is so far advanced now that you rarely have to worry, there are wi-fi spots nearly everywhere, plus you have the option to use things like 3G and satellite internet if you want to go down that road, it won’t be an issue, unless you are planning on spending weeks in the middle of the jungle
Generally I am more concerned about keeping the batteries on everything charged while in transit than finding an internet connection. Another thing I would invest in is hiring a VA during times you are travelling once your business gets busy to just keep on top of things and keep clients in the loop if you are on the move, and explain to them that you’ll respond asap.

Good luck in everything you do John, if you need any support along the way, don’t hesitate to ask.
http://virtualassistant-live.com/ Michelle, Virtual Miss Friday

Hi Sarah, thanks so much for your comment, and what a lovely way to describe my posts, “gentle pushes”, that’s really made my day

If you go for it and start your own online business, I bet you’ll never look back.
Kifayatu

Hi Michelle, do you think having a VA biz is still viable in the UK – London to be specific? Thanks.

http://virtualassistant-live.com/ Michelle, Virtual Miss Friday

Hi Kifayatu, yes for sure, having a virtual assistant business is borderless, you can start up from anywhere and run it from anywhere. You also don’t have to stay confined to servicing clients in the country or city where you live, you can go further afield and get plenty of work.

In 2012 companies in the UK will be responsible for paying pension contributions to employees, virtual assistants are already becoming much more popular in the UK and I think when next year comes around, it will be even more so.

I hope this helps, and thanks so much for the comment!

http://virtualassistant-live.com/ Michelle, Virtual Miss Friday

Ahh I know the feeling of wanting to break away, and where better to do it than the Caribbean! That is my kind of place Maybe consider creating an online service provider business Anthony, ( http://www.thevaapprentice.com ) it’s the perfect opportunity for long term stability and has many options and avenues to choose from. Whatever your calling is, I wish you lot’s of luck. Thanks so much for the comment!
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