When not-so-grey nomads Andrew and Alyssa Baker decided sell up and hit the open road full-time, they had some early doubts about whether they were doing the right thing … but that was an awfully long time ago.
The couple, still both in their 50s, are now totally in tune with the rhythm of their new life. “We didn’t have any expectations when we started out,” said Alyssa. “It certainly was strange to start with though, and we thought ‘what the heck are we doing’, but you soon settle into it … and we’re still going strong after nearly 10 years!”
The Bakers, who have two grown-up children, are not retired or self-funded but find they can live ‘a reasonably high life’ by working for six months and then having six months off.
Alyssa and Andrew have been on the road for 10 years, balancing work and travel.
“Andrew is a multi-skilled builder, so work is not hard to come by,” said Alyssa. “And while being parked up for work, we get to become locals and get to know the doctors, the butcher, and produce stores’ staff by their first names.”
When travelling, the pair balance out their accommodation costs by mixing nights in caravan parks with free or budget camps. They never touch their savings and have a working account that fluctuates.
The couple tow a 2016 semi off-road caravan with a Nissan Patrol
“When it comes to budgets, no work means no travel,” said Alyssa. “We’re not smokers or big drinkers, so that money goes to our travelling and we do eat well, and are happy to go out for dinner.”
The couple travel in their 6-cylinder Nissan Patrol, originally bought to take them across the Simpson Desert. They have just replaced their 10-year-old caravan after it was written off by hail damage and now tow a 2016 semi off-road van.
And it seems like their adventures might just be getting started.
“We love the freedom that the nomadic lifestyle brings because we meet so many different people and see so many places,” said Alyssa. “Our plans going forward are not to do laps, although we have done one, but to just enjoy our life on the road and seeing where it takes us.”
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