Deciding to jump ship from Japan to shores of Busan early required some deliberation. One such bullet point was certainly which country would be a more responsible choice on our finances if we were to find ourselves in a 2 week holding period awaiting Nicole’s visa. Lodging for that time really came down to be the key ingredient which in the end was a fairly easy choice. While our 7 square foot Japanese bento box home was cozy….the view was stale and the thought of ingesting another 8 pounds of rice to conserve funds seemed less than a less than desirable future. On the flip side, we knew a love motel had our name on it somewhere in Busan and so we enlisted our good Korean friend Park to make a few calls and find us a good spot to crash for a week or so if necessary.
The love motel for those not familiar is a pretty simple concept. In Korea, the youngins tend to live at home until marriage which offers very limited privacy and so the love motel offers easy access to that luxury at a very affordable rate. I think it goes without saying that there are other recreational activities going on down each dimly lit hallway that are less admirable but hey…I’m not here to judge.
Our weapon of choice was the “Lexus Motel” which runs roughly 30 bones a night and is nicely equipped with A/C, a 52 inch flat screen, internet ready computer, king sized bed, sofa, water cooler, fridge, and a wetroom with a western toilet, tub and shower. Not a bad setup and more than enough for us. The front desk guy is very smiley and is limited to the phrase, “Hi” in English so while convos are usually quite short, he finds a way to make you feel welcome nonetheless.
Located in Bumnaegol (exit 8 on the subway) with close proximity to shops, eateries and a plethora of apartment options, its been a solid spot for us to get our bearings back on the ROK.
Love,
adam
How do you build a life around adventure and travel?Intentionally and incrementally. Most families who live this way did not leap from conventional to adventurous overnight. They built remote work capacity, paid down debt, tested longer trips, and had increasingly honest conversations about what they actually want from their lives. The leap feels bigger from outside than from inside.
What does an adventurous family lifestyle actually look like?Different for every family. For some it is long-term travel. For others it is weekend adventures close to home. What connects them is intentionality about how time is spent and a preference for experiences over accumulation. The version that fits your family is the right one.
How do you balance adventure with stability for kids?By finding stability within the adventure rather than treating them as opposites. Routines, rituals, and family rhythms travel with you. Familiar foods, bedtime routines, and predictable family dynamics provide stability even when the location changes. Kids need consistency in relationships more than consistency in geography.
What has travel taught your family?That people are fundamentally similar across cultures in what they want for their families. That comfort zone is a smaller circle than it feels from inside. That the things worth having in life require effort and discomfort to get. And that time together doing hard interesting things is the most reliable source of family closeness.
How do you handle the pressure to live conventionally when you have chosen differently?By getting clear on why you made the choices you made and returning to that clarity when the outside noise gets loud. Most families living unconventionally describe an initial period of explaining themselves that gradually gives way to just living the life. The explaining becomes less necessary as the results become visible.
Related
Discover more from Adventures We Seek
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
