Three years ago, a retired couple from Florida embarked on an adventure to see the world after selling their house—and since then, they’ve visited 96 countries. Mr. Martin, originally from West Virginia and having worked in aluminum manufacturing and international relations management, and Mrs. Martin, a stay-at-home mom hailing from a small town in Arkansas, were inspired by their upbringings to travel the world.
Their desire to explore stemmed from growing up with foreign exchange students in Mr. Martin’s family, while Mrs. Martin was raised in a home filled with books that sparked her adventurous spirit. As they raised their five children, the Martins wished they had traveled more and aimed to provide those experiences for their kids.
In March 2020, when their plans to visit Milan were halted due to lockdowns, the couple decided to explore America’s national parks by purchasing an Airstream travel trailer—successfully completing their goal of visiting every state in the United States. They traveled over 40,000 miles across the country and experienced diverse landscapes such as mountains, prairie land, deserts, caves, seashores, rivers, and streams.
Before embarking on their world travels, they made necessary preparations. These included estate planning, downsizing, simplifying, digitizing their lives, and setting up online banking with a credit card that has no foreign transaction fees. They also learned how to use social media as a way to share their experiences with others.
As the couple continues to travel the globe, they have encountered diverse cultures and learned valuable lessons along the way. One of these lessons is that people are more connected across nations than they realize because everyone has families from somewhere else and loves their hometowns.
Another significant lesson they’ve learned is about the fight for freedom in various countries. Many locals share their struggles to make a better life for their families, often focusing on education and securing their future.
Despite visiting numerous countries, the Martins have not encountered any major challenges and are constantly amazed by how many English speakers they meet worldwide. They maintain regular contact with their family through technology like FaceTime, which has allowed them to visit their eight growing grandchildren twice a year while traveling.
While initially planning a 10-year goal for their world travels, the Martins have since abandoned any end date in sight as they continue to enjoy experiencing new cultures and challenging their minds with constant change. With over 100,000 subscribers following their journey on social media, the couple shares daily chronicles of their adventures around the globe.
