I’m writing this from 35,000 feet, somewhere northeast of Canada, south of Greenland. Poppy is sleeping snug between Avilene and me on Delta. We have about 5 and a half hours to go.

And if you asked me right now how I feel?

I honestly don’t know.

I’m not nervous. I’m not scared. I’m not giddy or over the top excited. I am at peace. Completely and quietly at peace.

I asked the kids in the car how they were feeling before we left. They just said “good.” Adam said he was excited.

We have no debt. We have little to no expenses. We have everything we need with us and I mean everything. It’s sitting in the overhead bin, under the plane and sleeping next to me right now.

Our monthly bills will be cell phones, diesel, Airbnb, food, and outings plus health insurance, life insurance, and car insurance. That is it. That is it. And when I lay it out like that it doesn’t feel scary. It feels doable. It feels like freedom.

I don’t want to go off in ten different directions in one post. There’s a lot to say and I’ll say it. But for right now, from 35,000 feet over the North Atlantic, I just wanted to write this down so I remember it.

This is what it feels like when you choose a different kind of life.

(5.5 hours to go. I’ll be back.)

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How do you afford to move your whole family abroad indefinitely? It’s less about income and more about stripping expenses down to what actually matters. Our monthly bills are cell phones, diesel, Airbnb, food, outings, and insurance. That is it. When you cut the mortgage, the extra car payments, the subscriptions, the stuff, what’s left is very manageable. It’s not magic. It’s a choice about what you spend on.

How are your kids handling the move emotionally? I asked them in the car on the way to the airport. They said “good.” That’s it. Just good. Kids are so much more resilient than we give them credit for. They’re not agonizing over what they left behind. They’re just ready for what’s next.

How do you travel internationally with a dog? Poppy is our Cavapoo and she is fully part of this family which means she came with us. She is currently asleep between Avilene and me on the plane. There is a process for getting a pet passport and making sure your dog is cleared for international travel and I will be doing a full post on exactly what that looked like for us. It was more paperwork than panic.

What does your phone plan look like when you live abroad? We are using Visible ($25/line) as our U.S. number, forwarded to Google Voice, which then forwards to our Norwegian TalkMore SIM ($20/line). That way we keep our American numbers and still get calls and texts abroad without paying international rates. It took some setup but it works seamlessly.

Can you help me plan a trip or a bigger move like this for my family? Yes and this is exactly what I do. Whether you want to take your family on one incredible international trip or you are dreaming about something bigger, I plan it all. Reach out at nicole@fgluxurytravel.com or visit adventuresweseek.com and let’s start the conversation.