Escaping the 9-to-5 Grind: A Family’s Social Experiment in Freedom
We’re a family of 4 who has traded the traditional corporate grind for a life filled with family, adventure, and financial freedom. But how did we get here? This is our story—and it’s one we hope inspires you to start your own journey toward escaping the norm.
Our Turning Point: Discovering Financial Independence
Back in 2016, we were building our careers, going through unexplained infertility, and realizing the life we were building wasn’t the one we truly wanted. Enter the FIRE movement—Financial Independence, Retire Early. Resources like Mr. Money Mustache, Choose FI, and JL Collins’ The Simple Path to Wealth opened our eyes to a different way of thinking about money and time.
Instead of waiting until retirement to live fully, we made a shift: saving more, spending less, and investing in our future so we could create the flexibility to focus on what matters most.
What is Coast FI?
By adopting FIRE principles, we reached a stage called Coast FI. This means we’ve saved enough that our investments will grow in the background to fully fund our retirement, allowing us to work less and live more in the present.
Coast FI enabled us to downsize our house, reduce our work hours, and prioritize time with our kids. It’s a lifestyle that aligns with our values: flexibility, family, and experiences over things.
RV Life: Our Part-Time Adventure
For the past two years, we’ve embraced a part-time RV lifestyle. Here’s what that looks like:
Traveling 3–4 months on, 3–4 months off: We spend time on the road exploring and come back to our home base to recharge.
Exploring 21 states and 18 National Parks: From Acadia to Big Bend, we’ve shown our boys the beauty of the world around them.
Balancing work and childcare: Yes, we’re still working part-time jobs and raising two young kids—while managing RV life.
It’s not always easy, but it’s worth every moment of adventure and learning.
Our Social Experiment: Escaping the Norm
This journey is more than just travel—it’s a social experiment. What happens when you prioritize time and experiences over the traditional grind?
We don’t have all the answers. But we do know this: traveling with kids, embracing financial independence, and choosing flexibility has transformed our lives.
Why Follow Us?
We’re here to share what we’ve learned:
Financial independence tips: Practical steps to build a life of freedom.
Travel hacking strategies: Save thousands on flights, hotels, and more.
RVing with kids: Tips, tricks, and stories from the road.
World travel planning: Our next big adventure might be worldschooling—stay tuned!
Join the Herd!
Our mission is simple: Escape the Norm. We’d love for you to join us as we navigate this social experiment in freedom, family, and adventure.
🐄 Subscribe to our YouTube channel @TheWanderingHerd for weekly videos about travel, family life, and financial independence.
📸 Follow us on Instagram @TheWanderingHerd for real-time updates.
Let’s escape the norm—together!
