Living abroad with your family might sound like a wild dream, but many families are doing it – each in their own way.

In this guide, we follow three real Boundless Life families to show that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to a “Boundless” life. Whether you’re thinking of becoming full-time nomads, planning an immersive summer getaway, or blending part-time travel with traditional or homeschooling, these stories will inspire you and give you practical steps to make it happen.

Each family shares in their own words how they approached the adventure, prepared for the journey, and what they learned. By the end, you’ll see that this lifestyle is not only possible, but that Boundless Life can support multiple paths to a fulfilling family adventure.

Let’s meet the families…

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Full-Time Travelers – The Mahon Family

“We’re the Mahon family – a big, lively crew which consists of me, my husband, and our four younger kids – we travel with Boundless full time! We also have my eldest daughter, who holds down the fort back home!”

The Approach - All-In on Adventure

The Mahon family sold their house, packed their lives into suitcases, and hit the road indefinitely. They now spend three months in each Boundless Life location, moving from one cohort to the next.

For them, Boundless Life provides a stable educational foundation and community as they explore the world without a fixed home base. “Boundless Life gives us the best of both worlds – the consistency of education and social connections for the kids, while still allowing us to embrace the travel opportunities we never wanted to compromise on as parents,” the Mahons explain.

This full-time travel lifestyle didn’t happen overnight – it required bold decisions and careful preparation.

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How They Made It Happen – The Key Steps

🐸 Taking the Leap & Simplifying Life

The first step for the Mahons was “making the decision to take the leap of faith” and mentally preparing their children for a big change.

They involved the kids in decluttering their rooms, deciding what to keep or donate, which helped the children feel “part of the adventure” and eased the transition.

At the same time, Mom and Dad did their own massive clear-out. “We sold as many belongings as we could – including our cars and even our holiday home – to make life feel lighter,” says Mrs. Mahon.

They combed through finances, canceling “random direct debits” and little subscriptions they didn’t even realize they had. This simplifying and letting go created the freedom – physically and financially – to say yes to a nomadic lifestyle.

🎒 Advance Planning & Packing Light

The Mahons booked their Boundless Life journey about a year in advance. Putting down a deposit and booking flights made it feel real and shifted their mindset to “this is really happening”.

Serious preparations kicked in about four months before departure: they sold off remaining belongings, streamlined finances further, and figured out how to pack their entire life into just a few suitcases.

It was “such a liberating and freeing process”, Mrs. Mahon recalls. By departure day, they had only the essentials in tow and a plan for everything left behind.

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💪 Work and Income on the Move

For the Mahons, the solution to earning a living while traveling was built-in. “We’re lucky enough to be our own boss and already work remotely, so there wasn’t much negotiating needed,” they say.

Being able to work from anywhere “as long as there’s Wi-Fi – and more importantly coffee” (they joke) was “one of the big reasons we felt able to take the leap”.

💰Financial Preparation & Budgeting

They streamlined outgoing expenses by cutting anything no longer needed – cars (and their insurance and fuel costs), utility bills, streaming services like Netflix, and all those little subscriptions that quietly add up. “Simplifying our expenses made it so much easier to budget for this lifestyle,” they note.

Once on the road, they actually found they spend less in many Boundless Life destinations: “There’s no more excessive spending on things like endless Amazon orders, and when it comes to food… in many European countries, we’ve found our money stretches further than it does at home,” Mrs. Mahon says.

By researching each location’s cost of living ahead of time – for example, typical grocery prices or the cost of eating out – they get a realistic idea of day-to-day expenses and can choose locations that fit their budget. “One of my top tips… is to do your research on each of the locations,” she advises, so there are no big financial surprises.

⚖️ Balancing Work and Play

An unexpected challenge for this full-time travel family was finding a work/life balance amid all the excitement. “We’re total ‘yes’ people – we want to say yes to every adventure, every social event, and every opportunity, and we get serious FOMO if we don’t,” Mrs. Mahon admits. But they still needed to get work done to sustain the lifestyle.

Their practical solution was to schedule dedicated work time each week and treat it as non-negotiable. They plan work hours around weekly Boundless activities and block it on the calendar, which helps them stick to it. This way, they can fully enjoy the fun and community events without dropping the ball on work commitments.

💭 Tips & Insights from the Mahons

“Make the most of the Boundless team based at each location – their local knowledge is invaluable,” the Mahon family recommends. Boundless Life staff helped them settle in faster, discover hidden gems, and navigate daily life with ease in each new country.

Their philosophy is to embrace every opportunity. “Say yes… this is where the magic really happens, when you lean in and fully embrace this wonderful life,” the Mahons advise other full-time traveling families.

Boundless Life has been a “gateway to deeper experiences, meaningful friendships, and a lifestyle that brings joy and growth for the whole family” – a strong endorsement from a family living the Boundless dream.

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Summer Getaway – The Hoffman Family

“Hi! We are the Hoffman Family. I’m Laura, my husband is Adam, and we have three kiddos... We signed up for Boundless Life after meeting friends... they said – You must do this! ... And we signed up immediately! We got an email shortly after saying we could get into the Syros program… It was one of the most impactful trips of our lives, for all of us.”

The Approach – One Month to Remember

The Hoffmans used Boundless Life as a summer abroad adventure – essentially a one-month “trial” of living overseas with their children.

Travel lovers, Laura and Adam, had always taken their kids on vacations, but this was different. “Boundless Life offered a real immersion in a location and a culture… To really land and settle, was a whole different experience,” Laura explains.

They spent four weeks on the Greek island of Syros as part of a Boundless summer cohort, with their kids attending the Boundless Education Center during the weekdays. Even in that short span, the impact was enormous. “Each child had their own memories – walking to the Education Center, the food, the cats, the educators and people,”

The Hoffmans loved that their kids could learn and play with other children, while they as parents had some breathing room – something traditional travel didn’t offer.

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How They Made It Happen – The Key Steps

✅ Saying “Yes” on a Whim

The Hoffman’s journey began almost spontaneously. Inspired by friends-of-friends who raved about Boundless Life, they jumped at an available spot in the Syros, Greece location with little lead time.

Because of this, extended advance planning wasn’t really in the cards. “I wouldn’t say we planned in advance,” Laura admits – instead they dove straight in with an open mind.

📚 Getting the Kids On Board

To prepare their three kids (ages 5, 8, and 10) for a new country, the Hoffmans focused on making it fun and educational. “Our main focus was introducing the kids to the location as best we could,” says Laura.

They bought a few books on Greek mythology and culture and read them together. This way, by the time they arrived in Greece, the kids had context and enthusiasm for what they were about to experience.

🎒 Packing Smart – or Overpacking!

Like many parents heading to an unfamiliar place, Laura admits “I think I overpacked and worried a bit too much about what to pack” since they didn’t know what would be available in Syros. In hindsight, “truly it had everything we could possibly need,” she says.

The lesson? You don’t need to bring the kitchen sink – most destinations (especially Boundless locations) have plenty of amenities for families. In fact, other Boundless families and staff can often help you figure out what is or isn’t necessary to bring.

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🧭 Navigating Work and Schedules

Because this was a short-term break, the Hoffmans took a different approach to work. Laura, an acupuncturist, simply arranged time off from her practice, treating the Boundless month like an extended family holiday.

Adam’s job did not offer remote work – instead, he flew out to join two weeks in. This meant Laura traveled solo with three kids at first, which was a new challenge. “I had never traveled solo with the three kids like this. I was so nervous!” she recalls. But the experience proved empowering: “It switched fairly quickly from nerves to being pretty darn proud of both the kids and myself!”.

The supportive environment in Syros helped; “Syros could not have been more friendly and kind to kids. People were always asking if they could help” with little things like getting on and off the ferry. A Boundless community and a family-friendly destination can make it not only manageable but deeply rewarding.

🐢 Immersing in the Community

Despite being in Syros for only four weeks, the Hoffman family made the most of living like locals. Boundless Life provided a built-in community of other traveling families – “being in a place that was so safe with a set-up community of other families, that was everything!” Laura says.

By week three, they had their “sea legs” – “my kids waved good morning to the same people who were on their balconies doing laundry every morning. I really got to meet and get to know some local people. We all got to feel the pace of life on Syros,” Laura shares, contrasting it with the rushed feeling of typical sightseeing.

Staying in one spot for a month taught them that slower travel can be more fulfilling: “It was the difference between vacationing or sightseeing and really traveling,” she says.

💰 Budgeting a Month Abroad

The Hoffmans approached the Boundless month as they would any annual family trip, setting aside savings to cover it.

They were pleased to find everyday costs in Syros quite reasonable: “The restaurants were all wonderful and affordable, and the taxis were easy and affordable as well,” notes Laura.

To manage expenses, they struck a balance between eating out and cooking in: “The markets were wonderful for buying snacks and meals. Everything was so delicious – it was a win-win in either scenario!” In other words, part of the fun was grocery shopping locally and having family dinners at their apartment, which saved money and gave them a taste of real life in Greece.

💭 Tips & Insights from the Hoffmans

Laura’s top practical tip for a Boundless getaway is to choose your accommodation location wisely. “Open up a map and try to really see what’s around you when choosing an apartment,”she advises.

If you have young kids, you might prefer being a short walk from the Boundless school and other families; others might prioritize proximity to town or beaches. “Sort out if you’d rather be a shorter walk to the Education Center, or a shorter walk to going out and about in town,” Laura says – you can’t have everything, so decide what will matter most for your family’s comfort.

And for families considering Boundless Life as a summer escape, the Hoffmans’ advice is simple. “Do it! We’ve been counting down the days during the year until we get to go this summer!” Laura exclaims, noting that one month flew by too fast.

After experiencing how enriching a four-week stay can be, she wishes “we could do the longer cohort” next time. That says it all – even a short Boundless adventure can leave you craving more.

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One-Cohort-Per-Year – The DiMattia Family

“Hi! We are the DiMattias! Mom Michele travels with Owen (13) and Quinn (10) while Dad RJ stays home and visits when he can. We have done three Boundless Life cohorts every spring – Italy, Greece, and Spain.”

The Approach - Boundless + Homeschool Blend

The DiMattia family takes a hybrid approach to the Boundless life. Michele and her two sons join one Boundless Life cohort each year, and then return home to the U.S. where they continue homeschooling for the rest of the year.

This way, the kids get a dose of international schooling and cultural immersion annually, without the family becoming full-time nomads. It’s a “one foot in, one foot out” strategy: they maintain their home base (and Dad’s job) in the States, while worldschooling for a few months at a time.

“We do one Boundless cohort a year (hoping to do two soon...) and when we return to the States, we submit the documentation from the Boundless Education Center to our Superintendent as our required education plan,” Michele explains of their routine.

In other words, the Boundless Life curriculum and reports become part of her children’s official learning record, making the transition back to homeschool seamless. This approach has allowed the DiMattias to enrich their homeschool program with global experiences, keeping one parent’s career and home obligations stable.

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How They Made It Happen – The Key Steps

🦉 Partnering with Boundless for Education

With a background in homeschooling, Michele treats Boundless Life as an educational ally rather than a break from school.

She knew that each of her children learns differently, so finding an education program that could “be a partner in education with us, more like a teammate than an authoritarian,” was crucial.

Early on, she opened thorough communication with the Boundless education staff. “A first step… included informing the Boundless staff in everything we knew about both of the kids’ learning styles and personalities,” Michele says. This preparation paid off in a smoother experience for her sons in the new learning environment.

The takeaway: if your child has specific learning needs or styles, partner with the Boundless educators early – they’ll work with you to support your child’s learning on the road.

🗣️ Coordinating Home Life & Finances

Because only Michele and the kids travel with Boundless Life, careful family planning and communication is essential.

“Another critical first step was making a detailed plan with my husband on the financial side of things,” says Michele. They sat down at the kitchen table well in advance to budget and figure out how to manage bills and expenses at home during their absence.

Michele half-jokes that marriages “do not statistically survive without quality communication,” so open dialogue was key! They even made arrangements for their family dog – coordinating pet care between RJ and Grandma while Michele and the kids were abroad.

Tip: If you’re planning to be away for an extended period, list out all the home front responsibilities (finances, pets, property, etc.) and decide how to handle each. Having a supportive partner or family network back home can make a huge difference.

📆 Planning Timeline & Prep

The DiMattias don’t plan a year in advance; they start preparations about two months before each Boundless Life cohort. Once they decide to join a cohort, the budget and logistics planning starts.

One unique challenge is Michele’s job. As a nurse, she can’t work remotely for three months, so she makes a bold sacrifice. “I inform my job that I will be leaving for three months and write my resignation letter – I am required to quit since I leave for so long,” she explains. Quitting a job each year to travel might sound extreme, but for Michele it has become part of the routine.

With work notified, she turns to practical packing and planning: going through the kids’ clothes for what fits and what weather gear is needed, checking rain gear and shoes, and testing all tech equipment, to be sure they have what they need.

She even gathers favorite kitchen supplies to bring along – “I’m the one that packs a kitchen multi-use tool, a garlic press and a doughnut hole pan,” Michele admits. Those little touches of home make cooking abroad easier.

The lesson here is that preparation doesn’t have to take forever if you’re organized – but you do need a thorough checklist for an extended trip – from schooling paperwork to garlic press!

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🍃 Career Changes to Enable the Lifestyle

Michele’s dedication to giving her children a global education prompted a major career pivot. “I realized after my first Boundless Life cohort that this worldschooling life was best for our family,” she says.

Traditional nursing required her physical presence, which was incompatible with leaving every year. “I realized quickly that if I could not find the dream job then I was going to have to make the dream job,” Michele explains. Incredibly, she went back to school for a master’s degree while working full-time, part-time, and per-diem jobs and homeschooling her kids. She then started her own company.

This was a long-term strategy, but it underscores an important point: if your current work situation isn’t compatible with your travel goals, consider investing in a change. Many Boundless parents become entrepreneurs, remote freelancers, or find flexible roles so that their work and family adventures can coexist.

And as Michele poignantly puts it, “I will never be lying on my deathbed thinking, ‘man, I wish I worked more overtime.’ I will, however, think, ‘man, I am so glad I gave my incredible children the world.’”.

🔵 Staying Inspired & Avoiding the “Post-Travel Blues”

One thing Michele didn’t anticipate was how hard it would be to come back home after an enriching Boundless experience. “Part of the difficulty returning to the ‘default’ life after Boundless is that you lose that inspiration – and you get sucked back into the hopeless treadmill of soul-crushing societal demands,” she shares candidly.

To combat this, the family treats their annual trip as a renewable spark. They know that each spring they’ll rejoin a “breathtakingly inspiring environment” of Boundless families that recharges them, and they carry that inspiration into their homeschool life the rest of the year.

Michele also cautions against immediately trying to fill the void by signing up for the next adventure without reflection. “The biggest challenge that I have experienced is the urgency to sign up for the next Boundless,” she says. The temptation is strong to keep the magic going, but Michele advises taking time to regroup as a family first. “Instead of getting caught up in keeping the magic going, it is important to turn inward… wait until you can discuss what’s best for all members of your family,” she suggests.

By pausing and planning intentionally, you’ll ensure each Boundless trip is truly beneficial and aligned with everyone’s needs and you’ll appreciate it even more.

💰 Money Matters & Smart Savings

Michele identifies three financial necessities for a successful experience. “A plan to pay Boundless and for travel to get there, a significant amount in the account to pay for expenses both at home and abroad while you are overseas, and an amazing partner that talks through the bumps with you.”

In practice, this meant budgeting not just for program fees and plane tickets, but also ensuring they could cover their mortgage and bills at home during those three months, plus having a cushion for travel emergencies.

One clever cost-saving insight from Michele is to know your family’s true needs and avoid overspending on things you won’t use. For example, she realized her boys would always end up sleeping in her room, so when choosing housing for Boundless, she booked a smaller one-bedroom apartment to save money.

When her husband RJ came to visit, the Boundless team simply helped by setting up a pull-out couch for the kids, and it worked perfectly. By not paying for unused extra space, they conserved funds for experiences that mattered more.

The takeaway: think about your family’s habits and prioritize what you really need, versus what might be “nice to have” – you can often trim costs without sacrificing comfort.

💭 Tips & Insights from the DiMattias

Michele’s family lives by the mantra “trust in the process” when it comes to world travel. “Choose an approach like a leaf on the burbling stream of life,” she poeticly suggests – in other words, be flexible and open to the journey’s flow. Not everything will be within your control, and that’s okay. “The world is magical. Choose your battles,” Michele advises.

For instance, “the size of the bedroom is not worth your time. Time watching your kids on the playground with new friends… definitely worth fighting for.” Focus on what really matters and let the small things go.

On a more practical note, her top tip is to hit the ground prepared. “Research transportation and resources first,” she says. As soon as you arrive somewhere, find out where the local farmers’ market, grocery store, and specialty food shops are – having fresh food and supplies will make you feel at home and save money.

The DiMattias cook most meals in their apartment and “enjoy living like a local.” Michele even brings along a measuring cup she’s familiar with so she can cook and bake without worrying about unit conversions in a foreign kitchen. Little strategies like that make a big difference in day-to-day comfort.

Finally, she emphasizes having some reliable local transport, or even befriend a taxi driver you trust for regular rides. In short, blend into local life quickly – it makes your few months abroad feel less like a trip and more like home.

Choosing Your Boundless Path

As these three families show, there is more than one way to live a Boundless life.

Perhaps your family sees yourselves in the all-in approach of the Mahons – selling the excess stuff, embracing a life of continuous travel.

Or maybe you like the Hoffmans’ idea of using a month-long Boundless program as an enriching summer getaway.

Or you might, like the DiMattias, blend periods of travel with periods of home life, effectively getting the best of both worlds.

No matter the approach, rest assured that thousands of families worldwide are successfully navigating education while traveling.

In the end, the “how-to” of living abroad with your family comes down to daring to imagine it, then taking practical steps like these families did: plan ahead, but be ready to leap when opportunity knocks, involve your children in the process, streamline your life at home, budget smartly, and make use of all the support available. Most importantly, keep an open heart and mind.

Happy travels – and welcome to the Boundless community! When you’re ready, you can begin planning your own family adventure abroad… the first step is just saying “yes” to the possibility. ✈️🌍

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