At 75, she lives out of a backpack and travels the world

Christine Casady retired at 70, sold her Dallas condo, and packed her life into a 27-pound backpack. That was nearly six years ago. Since then, she and her husband, Rick, have traveled full-time, spending months in places from Rome and Sicily to India, Turkey, Egypt, and Argentina. Southeast Asia remains a favorite. They return to the US once or twice a year to see their son and handle logistics.

Casady worked in leadership development, teaching workshops on business writing. She took contract roles that let her travel during slower periods. Rick runs his own company and can work from anywhere. By 2021, their son had moved to New York, and their Dallas building was being redeveloped. "Everything seemed to be pointing us toward a fresh start," Casady said.

They got one-year visas to Thailand and stayed nine months. When the condo sold, they moved everything into storage and set off. Budget is relaxed: under $5,000 a month. They have no mortgage or car payment, and draw from retirement income, Social Security, and savings when they splurge–like an $8,700 safari in Africa or a $7,200 liveaboard snorkeling trip in Indonesia.