In the Community: Troy and Dorene – Selling it all for Travel Life & Experiences

This month in our series In the Community, we meet Troy and Dorene from Travel Life Experiences and Toronto Travel Massive. The couple are selling their home and all their possessions for a new experience around the world. They took some time out to tell us about their inspiring new journey.

1. You’ve been a part of Toronto Travel Massive now for about a year. What makes you keep coming back to the meet-ups?

We have learned a lot about the travel industry, new travel companies and of course new countries when tourism boards sponsor the meet ups. It’s the open and passionate people who have a genuine love for travel and their personal brands that we also enjoy. Most of all, we’ve met great supporters who will never say you are crazy for having a dream of more travel and who inspire you to do it.

“Travel Massive meet ups fuel us to keep on going and make our dream happen”

2. You have a very big journey planned in 2015. Tell us about it?

Yes! We are doing what we are calling Life Re-design!  We have left our careers, sold our home and everything we own to travel long-term. This is a dream we have had for 10 years and we are finally making it happen. We want to reset our lives on our own terms.

3. How are you doing it?

We plan to stay in places for longer periods of time to immerse ourselves in the culture and nature and get outside our comfort zone. Taking on things like learning the language, and working through the efforts and challenges that come our way.

Lots of people ask us if we are retiring, no we are not! We certainly aren’t independently wealthy, between our savings, investments and sale of our goods, we are comfortable for a period of time. We have both spent 20 years each marketing brands for others, now we are marketing ourselves!

4. What finally made you decide to take the leap?

A number of things led to this decision, from seeing friends and family get sick and unable to live their dreams, to re-evaluating what is really important beyond a high paying and challenging career.  Finding great people who share your views for change have absolutely fuelled and convinced us we can do this!

5. Why travel?

Every time we come back from our trips we truly feel we have changed – our view of the world and ourselves personally. We come back aware, grounded and inspired to transform to our best-selves.

6. Did you ever have any doubts?

None at all, we think we have found our calling and we’re totally committed to our cause!

7. What has been your biggest challenge?

Keeping ourselves on task and not getting overwhelmed with our very comprehensive list of so many things to do to prepare.  Even when we are exhausted, talking to people like those at our Travel Massive meet ups fuel us to keep on going and make our dream happen!

8. What had been the easiest challenge?

Surprisingly minimizing our lives and selling everything has been much easier than we anticipated. It’s taken a lot of time, but it’s very liberating selling this “stuff” even our house! We feel very free from the distractions of unnecessary possessions.

9. What advice do you have for anyone who wants to take the leap and travel long-term?

Cast your fears and concerns aside and then do the right planning.

Troy and Dorene are selling everything for a life of travel on their own terms starting January 2015. You can follow their journey on Twitter, Facebook and on their blog at Travel Life Experiences.

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In the Community is a monthly series that features inspiring community members from Travel Massive meet-ups around the world.