GirlGI | Girl Gone International Issue 9 | Page 93

Mary

American
of Bohemian Travelers has
been traveling with her husband and three boys
for over 8 years.
What inspired you to make this move to a more long
term-travel lifestyle?
We wanted adventure, an escape from the rat race of the typical
‘American dream’ lifestyle and we also wanted our children to see
the difference between what we need and what we want in life.

Does long-term travel with children present any
obstacles?
I honestly do not think of it as hard at all. I find it really enhances
our travel as adults to enjoy these new and interesting experiences through both our eyes and that of our children. My only tip
in regards to traveling with kids is to try and be present as much
as possible. Any difficulty you go through will soon pass and will
seem small in hindsight. Keep that in mind and you can weather
any storm.

What are some of the ways you’ve seen this lifestyle
influence your children?
I think the things that stand out most is their increased ability to
work through any problem, show empathy towards everyone, a
willingness to try new things, increased patience and adaptability,
as well as language attainment and a knowledge of geography
and history.

What should people should take into account when
considering a nomadic lifestyle for their family?
How you will fund that lifestyle is extremely important as well as
being honest about what way they want to travel. We started out
thinking we’d live in hostels and barely spend any money on
accommodation but quickly realized that was just not for us, we
needed a little more for comfort and were happy to spend $20 a
night to have it. Be flexible and you will find your way.