Think you cannot live without cell phones, social media, Netflix, large screen TV\u2019s, Costco, cars?<\/h4>\n
Think again!\u00a0<\/p>\n
These things are not necessities when you travel<\/a>. They are a burden, which belongs in suburbia<\/strong>. Actually, most do not belong anywhere, we make them fit.\u00a0<\/p>\n While we sailed<\/a> and traveled the world, our carefully accumulated suburbia treasures had to go. Rip-the-Band-Aid-off style!<\/p>\n Here is what you do not need to travel, and what to do instead.<\/p>\n\n None of the links to products are affiliate links. I canceled my affiliate accounts and I do not earn any commission. I only recommend what we like and use.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n All of our posts on: Boat Life @ No Texting & Tacking<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n As you prepare to travel and leave life as you know it, focus on the reasons that brought you here in the first place<\/strong> \u2013 desire to be with your family, leave the rat race, or try something new.\u00a0<\/p>\n Do you see the \u201cSuggested to Watch Next for You\u201d in your dreams and goals?<\/p>\n Didn\u2019t think so.<\/p>\n What is it that will make you smile when you open your eyes in the morning?\u00a0<\/p>\n We are neither the first, nor the only family traveling full time<\/a>, on a moderate-low budget<\/a>. <\/p>\n Our choices have been made by others, before us, and will be made in the future, because they make sense<\/a> and make traveling full-time possible!<\/p>\n Everyone\u2019s life is cluttered with things. Yours might be slightly different from ours. Since I always write about what we have done, I am offering our experience<\/a>.<\/p>\n I have a feeling you will relate. <\/p>\n All of our posts on: Boat Life @ No Texting & Tacking<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n You must have some sort of health insurance while living in the US. Some prefer not to, and while I understand their reasoning, I disagree.\u00a0<\/p>\n Traveling to other countries can save you thousands <\/strong>on health insurance costs. Because other countries offer great health care, which is affordable.<\/p>\n Sure, we have been in some sketchy places, and have done some risky activities. I try to limit reckless fun, but I must also learn to let go.<\/em><\/p>\n It will cover you in any international destination. Safety Wing is a good option, check out their rates. They are very popular with digital nomads<\/strong>.<\/p>\n We carried travel insurance, while backpacking through Asia. South Korea and Japan are expensive destinations.\u00a0<\/p>\n It is a good option while still in the US. The premiums are much smaller. And the self-pay rates are usually lower. It is what we currently have.\u00a0<\/p>\n It is a popular choice, while traveling to cheap destinations. We did that as we sailed<\/a>. The cost of healthcare in the Dominican Republic<\/a> is a fraction compared to the US.\u00a0<\/p>\n We still do all of our dental work in Bulgaria, for excellent care at a fraction of the cost. My tooth implant with all surrounding surgery and check-ups, was a total of less than $2000.\u00a0<\/p>\n All of our posts on: Boat Life @ No Texting & Tacking<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n When the car is gone<\/a>, so is the need for car repairs, gas, car insurance, new tires and long commute! <\/p>\n We sold one car to a friend for $1. We sold our other car on Facebook. Joe\u2019s business car disappeared along with his job.<\/p>\n While the US is designed for life on wheels, many other countries have a well-developed public transit system. <\/p>\n In fact, all the countries we have visited so far, including some remote island towns, have had a grocery shop within walking distance.<\/p>\n If traveling in the US, do what a couple of our friends did \u2013 buy a used car on Facebook and then sell it at the end of your stay<\/strong>. One of our friends actually made money on the sale.<\/p>\n Use public transit<\/strong> \u2013 having a car in Bulgaria is a burden. When we lived there, we found it much easier to use trains and buses.<\/p>\n Walk<\/strong> \u2013 as we sailed to various islands, we picked anchorages close to grocery stores, when in need of provisioning. Every country has them. Including the US.\u00a0<\/p>\n Grab a comfortable bag to carry everything: 19 Best Boating Bags. Tips How to Use Them.<\/a><\/p>\n Find the local guy to rent a car.<\/strong> We rented a margarita in Luperon, Dominican Republic, to do some more laborious tasks<\/a>. And we rented a car in Puerto Rico, just for a couple of days, to tour a jungle and buy groceries.\u00a0<\/p>\n All of our posts on: Boat Life @ No Texting & Tacking<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n We have made a few questionable parental decisions<\/a> along the way. Giving in to a shiny promotion for 5 lines and smart phones during the Christmas of 2019, was a mistake!<\/p>\n If you are wondering what suburbia stuff to start with \u2013 remove the smart phones first!\u00a0<\/strong>We did. And gave our kids the chance to catch dinner and spot sharks<\/a> instead. <\/p>\n During our full-time traveling lifestyle, limited finances<\/a> were a true blessing \u2013 no money for cell phones.\u00a0<\/p>\n We all had one cell phone with Google-fi<\/strong>. And we called it the family phone. Everyone had access to it.\u00a0 Want to chat with a friend? No problem.<\/p>\n The phone app on the phone, anyone?<\/strong><\/p>\n During a recent visit to Bulgaria, while touring a small town, Sophie was a bit late to our meeting spot, after going off on her own. Once she came back, she shared that she had lost her way.<\/p>\n How did she find us? She asked someone on the street! Not being able to Googlemap yourself out of a wrong turn<\/strong>, forces you to be aware of your surroundings.<\/p>\n But don\u2019t the kids need social interactions?<\/strong> No, not via social media!<\/p>\n Check out our post: How we Socialize the Kids on the Water<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n All of our posts on: Boat Life @ No Texting & Tacking<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Once we removed the phones, certain social media accounts followed along. <\/p>\n No normal human brain is capable of sustaining the torture of counting likes and hearts 24\/7<\/strong>. Even if you love math.\u00a0<\/p>\n Don\u2019t think about it, just get rid of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meet people where you are.<\/strong> You do not need to live parallel lives. <\/p>\n Make new friends, embrace the traveling<\/a> community around you. Get together with live people. Allow your teen to gossip behind your back with real kids.\u00a0<\/p>\n Our kids used Discord<\/strong>, while we had access<\/a> to free internet. It helped them connect with friends around the world, who also live on sailboats<\/a> and travel full time.<\/p>\n We had one family FB account,<\/strong> because it helped us find other boats<\/a> with families, as well as traveling Worldschoolers. <\/p>\n Everyone in the family had access to our Facebook account and was welcome to contribute.<\/p>\n All of our posts on: Boat Life @ No Texting & Tacking<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n We did not have the internet to support Netflix, while we sailed. On land, we watch some shows through relatives\u2019 accounts.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here are subscriptions you should consider, if living on a sailboat: 11 Valuable Boating Subscriptions and Courses.<\/a><\/p>\n But watching movies and shows is fun, you do not want to give that up. Neither did we. \u00a0<\/p>\n One great benefit of not watching \u201cRecommended for You\u201d, is that we discovered some amazing old movies to see<\/strong>. The kids liked them too. With no special effects, good acting shines.\u00a0<\/p>\n We swapped moves with other boaters<\/strong> as we sailed. Just like we swapped books<\/a>, music<\/a> and groceries.\u00a0<\/p>\n All of our posts on: Boat Life @ No Texting & Tacking<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Honestly, I do like them. We saw lots of films, and family movie nights happened almost nightly aboard.\u00a0<\/p>\n We briefly entertained the idea of fitting a large screen on the boat, but every time we measured it, it became an eye sore just imagining the space it would take<\/a>.<\/p>\n Watch on a laptop. Or buy a small projector<\/a>, and organize movie nights at various anchorages and marinas.\u00a0<\/p>\n We did that, while living at a boat yard, in St. Augustine, fixing our catamaran<\/a>. So much fun. I don\u2019t think the kids even cared that much about the movie. <\/p>\n It was just an amazing night under the stars<\/a>, in a boat yard. <\/p>\n All of our posts on: Boat Life @ No Texting & Tacking<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Let\u2019s get something straight here \u2013 walk-in closets are just as useless in suburbia as they are anywhere else!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Wondering which outfit to pick takes up time and time is a far more precious resource<\/a> than clothes!<\/p>\n I sense many might disagree with this point, but letting go of a full wardrobe is a must, if you wish to travel full time.\u00a0<\/p>\n On the boat, Joey and I shared a closet, with room to spare! The five hangers to the right are my outfits. I only wear two of them.<\/p>\n It is much better to buy just a few high-quality items<\/a> and go from there! The so-called Capsule Wardrobes<\/strong> are a fun family project.<\/p>\n What if you need something for a particular place, or climate? Buy it from a thrift shop <\/strong>and afterwards resell or donate it.<\/p>\n We always travel carry-on<\/a> only<\/strong>. Sophie has a bit of a hard time with her piles of yarn, but we manage.\u00a0 <\/p>\n All of our posts on: Boat Life @ No Texting & Tacking<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Oh, my! How many times have you really used that crystal vase, or the huge picture frame, which does not go with anything else in your home?<\/p>\n Isn\u2019t it worse to keep someone\u2019s gift in a corner<\/strong>, collecting dust, rather than donate\/sell it to someone else who will use it and love it?\u00a0<\/p>\n No need to tell Aunt Adriana. She probably does not even remember what she gave you.<\/p>\n Just start!\u00a0<\/p>\n Pick one thing you will give away today, just one! It is always a step in the right direction. Don\u2019t sleep on it, and do not look back.<\/p>\n Cherish the memories you have with your loved ones, not the things.<\/p>\n All of our posts on: Boat Life @ No Texting & Tacking<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\nHow not to miss the shiny objects?<\/h2>\n
![\"post](\"https:\/\/www.notextingandtacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Home-Page-Post-Card-1024x726.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nFocus on the end-goal.\u00a0<\/h3>\n
You are not alone<\/h3>\n
8 Suburbia Must-have\u2019s to Leave Behind<\/h2>\n
1. High Health Insurance Premiums<\/h2>\n
![\"Bobby](\"https:\/\/www.notextingandtacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/img_9804.jpg\")
![\"Joey's](\"https:\/\/www.notextingandtacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/img_5415.jpg\")
What to do instead<\/h3>\n
Get travel insurance<\/h4>\n
Switch to a health-share program<\/h4>\n
Drop insurance altogether<\/h4>\n
2. Cars<\/h2>\n
![\"using](\"https:\/\/www.notextingandtacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/img_8717-scaled.jpg\")
![\"Enjoying](\"https:\/\/www.notextingandtacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/img_9793-scaled.jpg\")
What to do instead<\/h3>\n
3. Smart phones.<\/h2>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.notextingandtacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/img_1325.jpg\")
What to do instead<\/h3>\n
4. Social Media<\/h2>\n
What to do instead.\u00a0<\/h3>\n
![\"Georgetown,](\"https:\/\/www.notextingandtacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/img_6804.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n5. Netflix<\/h2>\n
![\"Watching](\"https:\/\/www.notextingandtacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/img_8680-768x1024.jpg\")
What to do Instead<\/h3>\n
6. Large-screen TV<\/h2>\n
![\"children](\"https:\/\/www.notextingandtacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/img_5483.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nWhat to do instead<\/h3>\n
7. Walk-in closets<\/h2>\n
![\"our](\"https:\/\/www.notextingandtacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/img_9805-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWhat to do instead<\/h3>\n
8. Wedding gifts<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.notextingandtacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cropped-img_1959.jpg\")
![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.notextingandtacking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/img_2691-scaled.jpg\")
What to do instead<\/h3>\n