Our Origin Story: How financial independence helped us escape the norm
Welcome to The Wandering Herd! We’re Heather and David—a Californian and a Scotsman who met outside a nightclub in Glasgow, Scotland, at 3 AM. For the past 2 years we’ve been traveling part time in our RV with our two energetic little boys! We prioritize experience over things but it wasn’t always this way. This is our origin story.
In 2013, we got married, moved to the United States, and started our careers. We began climbing the ladder, got a big house, and had a big garage full of stuff. Stuff that we spent nearly every weekend organizing and maintaining. Traveling has always been a passion for us. During our early years, we made the most of our 2-3 weeks of annual vacation, favoring road trips for their flexibility and the ability to bring along our sweet Ruby Cavalier, Manny. Fast forward to 2016: we were ready to start a family, and that’s when everything changed.
How infertility lead us to F.I.R.E.
After 2 years of trying to conceive without success, we embarked on an unexplained infertility journey. This challenging time led us to discover the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement. FIRE is a philosophy that prioritizes time and experiences over money. By investing in long-term growth, it allows people to focus on what truly matters instead of being trapped in the grind of paycheck-to-paycheck living. We were inspired by this approach, as we’d always dreamed of becoming as flexible as possible with our careers, aiming to work remotely and explore the world.
Our journey eventually took us to Prague, Czech Republic, for medical tourism. After extensive research, we decided on an infertility clinic there due to the significant cost difference compared to the U.S. While IVF in the States was quoted at $16K+ per round, Prague offered similar treatments for $6-8K. Even if the first attempt failed, we could afford two rounds abroad for less than one here.
The process was remarkably smooth. The clinic assigned us a dedicated coordinator who bridged communication with the doctors. We imported fertility medications at a fraction of U.S. prices and continued working with our U.S. infertility clinic for scans and blood tests, thanks to seamless collaboration between the two medical teams. With careful planning, we timed our two-week trip to Prague to include egg retrieval, fertilization, and a fresh embryo transfer. Travel hacking helped us book flights to Prague for an incredible deal.
Our efforts paid off, and we were thrilled to learn the embryo transfer was successful. Despite previous pregnancy losses, we welcomed our first son in December 2019. This milestone motivated us to double down on our savings and work toward achieving Coast FI. Along the way, we also welcomed another son in June 2021 - our hearts and hands now truly full!
What is Coast FI?
Coast FI means reaching a level of financial independence where you no longer need to aggressively save for retirement. Your existing investments are sufficient to grow over time, allowing you to focus on covering living expenses and enjoying the present. By 2022, we had downsized from a 2,800 sq. ft. home in Oklahoma to a 1,600 sq. ft. house in Missouri, freeing up funds to purchase a 42-ft fifth wheel (Jayco 377RLBH) and a Dodge Ram 3500 dually truck, with money left over to invest.
After seven years of disciplined saving and investing, we hit our Coast FI number and transitioned to part-time remote work. This change opened the door to a travel-heavy lifestyle. So for the past 2 years, we’ve explored some incredible destinations in our RV with our two boys, now 3.5 and 5 years old, and have seen everything from national parks to charming small towns and everything in between.
While we initially considered becoming full-time RV travelers, we quickly realized the value of maintaining a home base. RVing with young kids is rewarding but also a lot of work! Having a “sticks and bricks” home to return to provided the balance we needed. It allowed us to embrace slow travel, recharge, and enjoy the best of both worlds.
What to Expect from This Blog
Our goal is to document our adventures and share the lessons we’ve learned along the way. We believe in challenging the boundaries of a traditional lifestyle and stepping outside your comfort zone. Whether it’s achieving financial independence, traveling with young kids, or embracing a non-traditional way of life, we aim to inspire and educate.
This lifestyle isn’t for everyone, but if you’ve ever dreamed of escaping the norm, pursuing adventure, and living boldly, we think you’ll find value here. We’d love to build a community of like-minded individuals and families. Share your experiences or dreams of a travel-filled life in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you!
From our herd to yours, happy travels. See you down the road!
