Couple Quits Jobs And Sells Everything To Travel The World With Their Cat
This couple took the plunge, sold all of their belongings, bought a boat, and have been living the dream since August 12, 2011. Matt and Jessica Johnson, 32, left their respective jobs as an automobile sales manager and billing specialist for the high seas, living off about $1000 USD per month. The Johnsons have visited 16 countries so far, including the Bahamas, Jamaica, Cuba and Peru; their cat Georgie, who knows how to swim, has been travelling with them since 2012.
“Our lives were the typical American Dream. Go to school, get married, buy a house, start a career. So far we’ve also left out the part of having 2.5 kids,” the Grand Rapids, Michigan, couple told the Daily Mail. “For too long we had spent all of our weekends in front of the TV without ever doing anything productive or enjoyable. We realised this needed to change.”
More info: mjsailing.com | Facebook | (h/t: news.au.com)
“It started in late summer of 2007 while on the shores of Lake Michigan”
“Matt would look at the sailboats on the water and comment on how he’d like to try that someday”
“He asked, ‘We can either get a piece of property or spend the money to get a sailboat, which do you think would be best?'”
“Eventually we decided…that we would rather spend our summers on the water”
“We sold our house in June of 2011…when we realized we wanted to be gone for longer, possibly 4-5 years and go much further”
“In July we both quit our jobs, sold our cars, and were ready to start the cruising life”
The couple adopted their cat, Georgie, in 2012
Georgie “does very well with the sailing and is more steady on her feet than we are”
“I think that sailing the world has been great for our relationship”
“There’s no walking away from an argument when one person gets mad at the other, you have to keep working together until the job is done”
The cat “loves sitting on the deck and watching the fish over the side of the boat when we are at anchor”
“We’d also been hearing stories from so many others that had been putting their dream on hold until retirement and for one reason or another until their dreams were no longer attainable”
The couple “found out [Georgie] can swim when she jumped overboard in Grand Cayman”
“She swam around the back of the boat and climbed up the ladder”
“Our lives were the typical American Dream. Go to school, get married, buy a house, start a career”
“So far we’ve also left out the part of having 2.5 kids”
“For too long we had spent all of our weekends in front of the TV without ever doing anything productive or enjoyable”
“We never wanted that to be us”
458Kviews
Share on Facebook
Yeah, you can do this and whatever you want... provided that you have enough money.
I have no money, yet I am sitting in Mexico reading this and have lived in 4 countries in the last seven years. Try it!
Load More Replies...
I would love to do this...although I'm not sure all my animals would fit. Either way, it's an awesome idea! Kudos!!
My wife and I lived aboard and sailed the pacific for 25 years. We loved it and wish were still capable of living on a boat and sailing to places unknown. We cruised differently than most as we enjoy the places more than the mode of travel. We would stay in a harbor, start a small business, and work on the boat for six months at a time. Then sell the business. We gave a few businesses away. They were enjoyable to to us and provided a substantial enough income that we could give them away when they didn't sell quickly. So nothing held us to land but our own desires. Where do you get the income to do this? Start your own small business. Make things to sell, do work for others (painting, woodwork, etc) make canvas covers, dodgers and bridge enclosures for powerboats. We made $100,000 in tax free income one summer (six and a half months) making canvas covers. How do you buy the boat? Work at it, contact everyone. Ours cost us $15,000 for a 57 foot fiberglass ketch.
That's amazing. Kudos to you! My boyfriend got his 36 foot at US$10,000, and it seems we might be living this lifestyle very soon!
Load More Replies...
A wise man once said to me that a salary is more of addiction and can as much damage to your soul as any drug because it can trap you in an unhappy life. There are plenty of jobs in the world. I'm sure you will find one somewhere. Just got to be brave enough to go looking.
Load More Replies...
If I sold everything I own, I might be able to afford a rubber dinghy... don't think the 4 cats and the dog would be real thrilled about that
Yeah I think I want this I wonder how much one of those boats cost. It's really not hard to travel and enjoy life, I'm getting ready to head to Mexico next weekend then Japan a few weeks later. It's totally attainable, finding a life partner willing to share in the adventure now that can be a challenge.
Yeah, "just" sell your house and car, like of that is something easy anyone can do... I'm over 30, have two master's degrees, working full time for years, yet not able to buy a car or a house. Because I love travelling, I have spent some of my money travelling and I even managed to live abroad a few times. I have never been afraid to leave everything behind and go for it. And believe me, If I had a house, a car and some savings, I would 100% do the same ! But the truth is, we live in a world where this "typical life" as they say is a real luxury ! And what they do is not courageous, they are just taking an opportunity because they are lucky enough to be able to do so !
I just don't see this as "average couple". Designer clothes, VERY nice boat, and I don't see them living off $1000/month unless they skirt around docking fees, each country's port fees, ect. Nice story, but this reeks of trust fund baby to me. port fees even for a small boat are NOT cheap in most places, and most smaller boats don't have a laundry for those nice clothes. Then you have to worry about food, water, cat food, litter, medical necessities, vets....just not possible for $1000/mo.
This is what a life truly lived is all about. In the words of Shia: "JUST DO IT!!"
This is what a true life lived is really about. In the words of Shia: "JUST DO IT!!"
Each of us has our dream. I don't like sailing over a long period. . I just retired last year. and have enjoyed travelling with my new wife and just staying home and keeping busy on 5 acres. We have done some traveling but we also like to stay home and do our own things here. We always find something interesting to do.I think that this couple for now have chosen the right thing to do. They will have many memories.
I would love to do that but if only it was that simple, no job means no source of income and no medical coverage, and don't tell me your dream does not require money.
Pure vanity. There is no better life, just life, and it's everywhere, anytime.
Absolutely love this story! And the swimming cat. I also live my life for now, the majority of people won't make it to their retirement, and by then they could be too sick or too old to travel and enjoy the things they have always wanted to do. Dream it, live it, love it! Www.anitaozo.com
Don't wait until some day if you don't absolutely have to (i.e. kids). All I've wanted to do is retire, buy an RV and hit the road. I don't know if that is going to happen as my health ain't great. I wish I'd done it earlier.
That boat costs $100,000+ ... They want to live off $1000/month for 5 years. That's $60,000. So that means, they had to sell everything for at least $160,000, during the great recession. I don't know, this smells like trust fund babies...
not to mention docking fees, port of entry fees for each country, food, water, cat food, cat litter, vet fees, medical visits when needed and those designer clothes....
Load More Replies...
Awesome!! Wish I could do that and travel the world!! but my cat hates water and I don't think I could train him to swim!! So glad they are making their dreams come true and traveling the world!! good for them and safe travels!! glad their cat can swim also!! she is pretty!!
awesome!! Wish I could do that but my cat hates water and I don't think I could train him to swim!! so glad for them they are making their dreams come true!! love this story!!
My husband and I did this for eight years in the 70s and 80s. We raised two kids and when they were gone we bought a boat and sailed off. It is a high point in our lives but it's not for everyone Many aspire to it but few actually leave. Of those who do leave many don't last six months. For the rest it's the adventure of a lifetime.
Just a few serious questions about this. They have no long term permanent income just the $ from selling everything which at age 32 could not have been so much? Or had they hit the 'start-up' lottery? So what do they do when they run out of money, go back to real life? Then it’s too late to build for retirement. What do they doing about Medical Care? Unless their planning to inherent (which is a very poor retirement plan) I’d love to hear the end of this Fairy Tale when they are 65 yrs old and then 80 yrs old. Please update.
I want to do this.....if only i wasn't scared of being lost in a storm....
I completly love this story, only thing tought is... well not everyone can afford a boat or, have a car and home to sell. Or have enought money to travel for 4-5 years.
so what they do when there's a storm ? , or how they pass the borders?
The thing that I love most about this is that it doesn't say "Look at me! I'm so beautiful, and so is my partner and we're living our wonderful dreams!". This post tells a story that is more relatable, more realistic and with a cat to boot. If you make traveling a priority, and curb spending your money on unnecessary things, you realise how much that adds up and makes that dream actually doable.
Wow, good for you!! I love you both for sharing your beautiful adventure with us. We should all be so lucky!
I have been watching many of the videos about doing this. I quit sailing many years ago and am starting to get the itch to get back into it again. I would love to sail down to the Bahamas sometime.
BRAVE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!! SMART PEOPLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May their journey lasts all their life and may the rest of us will do something similar,even if it is a baby step,any step away from modern slavery.
Great, but from where does their $1000 per month income derive? How did they make this possible? Now, that would be interesting!
There's all sorts of ways to make money online. Look it up. It's very possible.
Load More Replies...
I think this couple is the bravest. They actually did what probably all of us at one time or another have only dreamed of. Congrats to them and Georgie.
If you really want to do it, there is always a way. They are living on $1000 a month. That is less than the average Social Security retirement check. If you want to do it when younger then sell that oversize house you are struggling to pay for and your cars and just do it.
What an amazing story! I wish I had the courage do something like this. Thanks for the inspiration.
If you have enough money for doing all of these things, you should. Sounds good but what about the standarts, routines... Even so this is perfect!
Sounds wonderful...ENJOY...you are blessed with courage and contentment!
I LOVE this post for the vicarious thrill it provides, but as I'm a homebody, I prefer to just sit on my butt and wait for the perfect photos to come to me... :D
I think this is a great way of living! But I also think that the American dream is not about going to school, buying a house and getting a good job......I thought the American is one about enterpreneurship and being very succesful with it.
how do they come up with $1000 a month if there at see? are they simply using their savings up till its all gone?
I am praying that I will meet my Soul mate like you did... I dream of travelling the world as well...
I want to find someone with the same dream to join me on a tour around the world hehehe...
Only one thing I would argue. They didn't give up the American dream... they began to live it. hah I started this article with a very judgmental mindset... but the awesome pictures and story and few life lessons won me over. Best wishes to these people... and good luck with retirement and future resumes, when those hurdles arrive!
FANTASTIC!! I am not in the position to do this for many reasons. But I can enjoy it seeing these pictures. Well done!! Great to see people doing what they want and love to do instead of what they "must" do in live. Big hugs to you! make s me emotional this in a very good way!
I wish I had something big to sell to let myself to do something that they do.
Thank you for sharing your travels with sweet foofer, Georgie gurl. She has a great sense of ha ha, smart companion .
If i would sell everything, I could go maybe to the neares bank and start working to pay rest os the credit:D
I make money from the internet. I am a Tarot reader. If you can find a way to make your money online you can have a job anywhere. You can also teach English in many countries. And I see people doing it with families all the time. I don't have children, but I have my doggie to take care of.
Load More Replies...
It'd be awesome if they started a blog with the specifics of how they were able to make this happen money wise. Like how did they calculate how much they needed to live and travel? What boat would they recommend? How do they manage their itinerary and safety on the boat. What should someone in a normal desk job life do to get started?
Tranforma timpul tau liber in bani ! Daca vrei sa castigi bani in timpul tau liber , ai un calculator cu conexiune la internet, atunci acest anunt este pentru tine. Cautam colaboratori in mediul online part-time sau full-time la alegere,cu posibilitati de castig intre 100-285 Euro lunar. . Activitatea este foarte usoara. Cerem si oferim seriozitate maxima! Pentru mai multe informatii, solicitati acum detalii unuia dintre membrii echipei noastre, la una dintre adresele noastre de email: marketimpact2015@gmail.com
Couple of idiots imo. Very irriposible. We'll talk about it when the money runs out or when have no money saved and ready to retire but they cant and we'll read about them reading "52 ways to prepare alpo and love it"
Running out money? I don't think so.. if they're good with photography they could sell some of their works. Or run a blog, a travel journal, and make money out of it... or even better write a book.. or work part time or whatever the hell it is. There's always a way to live if you aren't afraid of doing and try on new things. Kudos to the couple.
Load More Replies...
Yeah, you can do this and whatever you want... provided that you have enough money.
I have no money, yet I am sitting in Mexico reading this and have lived in 4 countries in the last seven years. Try it!
Load More Replies... I would love to do this...although I'm not sure all my animals would fit. Either way, it's an awesome idea! Kudos!!
My wife and I lived aboard and sailed the pacific for 25 years. We loved it and wish were still capable of living on a boat and sailing to places unknown. We cruised differently than most as we enjoy the places more than the mode of travel. We would stay in a harbor, start a small business, and work on the boat for six months at a time. Then sell the business. We gave a few businesses away. They were enjoyable to to us and provided a substantial enough income that we could give them away when they didn't sell quickly. So nothing held us to land but our own desires. Where do you get the income to do this? Start your own small business. Make things to sell, do work for others (painting, woodwork, etc) make canvas covers, dodgers and bridge enclosures for powerboats. We made $100,000 in tax free income one summer (six and a half months) making canvas covers. How do you buy the boat? Work at it, contact everyone. Ours cost us $15,000 for a 57 foot fiberglass ketch.
That's amazing. Kudos to you! My boyfriend got his 36 foot at US$10,000, and it seems we might be living this lifestyle very soon!
Load More Replies... A wise man once said to me that a salary is more of addiction and can as much damage to your soul as any drug because it can trap you in an unhappy life. There are plenty of jobs in the world. I'm sure you will find one somewhere. Just got to be brave enough to go looking.
Load More Replies... If I sold everything I own, I might be able to afford a rubber dinghy... don't think the 4 cats and the dog would be real thrilled about that
Yeah I think I want this I wonder how much one of those boats cost. It's really not hard to travel and enjoy life, I'm getting ready to head to Mexico next weekend then Japan a few weeks later. It's totally attainable, finding a life partner willing to share in the adventure now that can be a challenge.
Yeah, "just" sell your house and car, like of that is something easy anyone can do... I'm over 30, have two master's degrees, working full time for years, yet not able to buy a car or a house. Because I love travelling, I have spent some of my money travelling and I even managed to live abroad a few times. I have never been afraid to leave everything behind and go for it. And believe me, If I had a house, a car and some savings, I would 100% do the same ! But the truth is, we live in a world where this "typical life" as they say is a real luxury ! And what they do is not courageous, they are just taking an opportunity because they are lucky enough to be able to do so !
I just don't see this as "average couple". Designer clothes, VERY nice boat, and I don't see them living off $1000/month unless they skirt around docking fees, each country's port fees, ect. Nice story, but this reeks of trust fund baby to me. port fees even for a small boat are NOT cheap in most places, and most smaller boats don't have a laundry for those nice clothes. Then you have to worry about food, water, cat food, litter, medical necessities, vets....just not possible for $1000/mo.
This is what a life truly lived is all about. In the words of Shia: "JUST DO IT!!"
This is what a true life lived is really about. In the words of Shia: "JUST DO IT!!"
Each of us has our dream. I don't like sailing over a long period. . I just retired last year. and have enjoyed travelling with my new wife and just staying home and keeping busy on 5 acres. We have done some traveling but we also like to stay home and do our own things here. We always find something interesting to do.I think that this couple for now have chosen the right thing to do. They will have many memories.
I would love to do that but if only it was that simple, no job means no source of income and no medical coverage, and don't tell me your dream does not require money.
Pure vanity. There is no better life, just life, and it's everywhere, anytime.
Absolutely love this story! And the swimming cat. I also live my life for now, the majority of people won't make it to their retirement, and by then they could be too sick or too old to travel and enjoy the things they have always wanted to do. Dream it, live it, love it! Www.anitaozo.com
Don't wait until some day if you don't absolutely have to (i.e. kids). All I've wanted to do is retire, buy an RV and hit the road. I don't know if that is going to happen as my health ain't great. I wish I'd done it earlier.
That boat costs $100,000+ ... They want to live off $1000/month for 5 years. That's $60,000. So that means, they had to sell everything for at least $160,000, during the great recession. I don't know, this smells like trust fund babies...
not to mention docking fees, port of entry fees for each country, food, water, cat food, cat litter, vet fees, medical visits when needed and those designer clothes....
Load More Replies... Awesome!! Wish I could do that and travel the world!! but my cat hates water and I don't think I could train him to swim!! So glad they are making their dreams come true and traveling the world!! good for them and safe travels!! glad their cat can swim also!! she is pretty!!
awesome!! Wish I could do that but my cat hates water and I don't think I could train him to swim!! so glad for them they are making their dreams come true!! love this story!!
My husband and I did this for eight years in the 70s and 80s. We raised two kids and when they were gone we bought a boat and sailed off. It is a high point in our lives but it's not for everyone Many aspire to it but few actually leave. Of those who do leave many don't last six months. For the rest it's the adventure of a lifetime.
Just a few serious questions about this. They have no long term permanent income just the $ from selling everything which at age 32 could not have been so much? Or had they hit the 'start-up' lottery? So what do they do when they run out of money, go back to real life? Then it’s too late to build for retirement. What do they doing about Medical Care? Unless their planning to inherent (which is a very poor retirement plan) I’d love to hear the end of this Fairy Tale when they are 65 yrs old and then 80 yrs old. Please update.
I want to do this.....if only i wasn't scared of being lost in a storm....
I completly love this story, only thing tought is... well not everyone can afford a boat or, have a car and home to sell. Or have enought money to travel for 4-5 years.
so what they do when there's a storm ? , or how they pass the borders?
The thing that I love most about this is that it doesn't say "Look at me! I'm so beautiful, and so is my partner and we're living our wonderful dreams!". This post tells a story that is more relatable, more realistic and with a cat to boot. If you make traveling a priority, and curb spending your money on unnecessary things, you realise how much that adds up and makes that dream actually doable.
Wow, good for you!! I love you both for sharing your beautiful adventure with us. We should all be so lucky!
I have been watching many of the videos about doing this. I quit sailing many years ago and am starting to get the itch to get back into it again. I would love to sail down to the Bahamas sometime.
BRAVE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!! SMART PEOPLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May their journey lasts all their life and may the rest of us will do something similar,even if it is a baby step,any step away from modern slavery.
Great, but from where does their $1000 per month income derive? How did they make this possible? Now, that would be interesting!
There's all sorts of ways to make money online. Look it up. It's very possible.
Load More Replies... I think this couple is the bravest. They actually did what probably all of us at one time or another have only dreamed of. Congrats to them and Georgie.
If you really want to do it, there is always a way. They are living on $1000 a month. That is less than the average Social Security retirement check. If you want to do it when younger then sell that oversize house you are struggling to pay for and your cars and just do it.
What an amazing story! I wish I had the courage do something like this. Thanks for the inspiration.
If you have enough money for doing all of these things, you should. Sounds good but what about the standarts, routines... Even so this is perfect!
Sounds wonderful...ENJOY...you are blessed with courage and contentment!
I LOVE this post for the vicarious thrill it provides, but as I'm a homebody, I prefer to just sit on my butt and wait for the perfect photos to come to me... :D
I think this is a great way of living! But I also think that the American dream is not about going to school, buying a house and getting a good job......I thought the American is one about enterpreneurship and being very succesful with it.
how do they come up with $1000 a month if there at see? are they simply using their savings up till its all gone?
I am praying that I will meet my Soul mate like you did... I dream of travelling the world as well...
I want to find someone with the same dream to join me on a tour around the world hehehe...
Only one thing I would argue. They didn't give up the American dream... they began to live it. hah I started this article with a very judgmental mindset... but the awesome pictures and story and few life lessons won me over. Best wishes to these people... and good luck with retirement and future resumes, when those hurdles arrive!
FANTASTIC!! I am not in the position to do this for many reasons. But I can enjoy it seeing these pictures. Well done!! Great to see people doing what they want and love to do instead of what they "must" do in live. Big hugs to you! make s me emotional this in a very good way!
I wish I had something big to sell to let myself to do something that they do.
Thank you for sharing your travels with sweet foofer, Georgie gurl. She has a great sense of ha ha, smart companion .
If i would sell everything, I could go maybe to the neares bank and start working to pay rest os the credit:D
I make money from the internet. I am a Tarot reader. If you can find a way to make your money online you can have a job anywhere. You can also teach English in many countries. And I see people doing it with families all the time. I don't have children, but I have my doggie to take care of.
Load More Replies... It'd be awesome if they started a blog with the specifics of how they were able to make this happen money wise. Like how did they calculate how much they needed to live and travel? What boat would they recommend? How do they manage their itinerary and safety on the boat. What should someone in a normal desk job life do to get started?
Tranforma timpul tau liber in bani ! Daca vrei sa castigi bani in timpul tau liber , ai un calculator cu conexiune la internet, atunci acest anunt este pentru tine. Cautam colaboratori in mediul online part-time sau full-time la alegere,cu posibilitati de castig intre 100-285 Euro lunar. . Activitatea este foarte usoara. Cerem si oferim seriozitate maxima! Pentru mai multe informatii, solicitati acum detalii unuia dintre membrii echipei noastre, la una dintre adresele noastre de email: marketimpact2015@gmail.com
Couple of idiots imo. Very irriposible. We'll talk about it when the money runs out or when have no money saved and ready to retire but they cant and we'll read about them reading "52 ways to prepare alpo and love it"
Running out money? I don't think so.. if they're good with photography they could sell some of their works. Or run a blog, a travel journal, and make money out of it... or even better write a book.. or work part time or whatever the hell it is. There's always a way to live if you aren't afraid of doing and try on new things. Kudos to the couple.
Load More Replies...
235
95