Getting to Know the Road Hackers: About Us!
At Hacking the Road, we are dedicated to finding ways to help people live a Better Life ... on the Road! We are full-time travelers and experience seekers, and we want to share our journey with you. We believe that travel opens hearts and minds, and makes the world a better place. Join us as we explore each new destination.
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Rainman & Tricia living the sweet life every day!
The Road Hacker Advantage!
So Happy You Joined Us!
Greetings from the Road!
Welcome to our wonderful adventure around the world. We are Rainman and Tricia ... and we are the Road Hackers!
Like most fellow travelers, our lives have been filled with rich experiences. We've succeeded and we've failed, but through it all, we've learned so many valuable lessons--lessons we'd like to share with you as we test them against the realities of the Road.
We are a husband-and-wife travel team committed to exploring the globe in search of a Better Life on the Road.
People often say to us ... How lucky you are to travel full-time ... I wish we could do that ... Our response always challenges those notions.
Most people can travel full-time with some planning and a solid strategy. That's what we did ... and we can show you how!
Our goal is to inspire you to live a life of discovery, to show you the strategies to make it happen, and to get you on the Road to a Better Life!
Our Hacking the Road site is dedicated to removing the key obstacles holding you back from enjoying a life of long-term travel.
What's stopping YOU? Let's fix that!
The Most Common Obstacle:
The most common obstacle for most people is FINANCES!
"We don't earn enough ... We don't have enough saved ... We have too much debt ... We have a huge mortgage ... How can we afford health insurance?"
Everyone has those concerns, including us. So what did we do ... we strategized and planned our way out of that mindset.
We will share those Strategies ... and remove this obstacle!
The Most Uncommon Solution:
Pop culture demands instant solutions today. If the problem can't be solved immediately, we either ignore it or think it's an impossible assignment. It is more UNCOMMON, these days, to strategize and plan for a solution.
A middle class lifestyle on the road will cost most couples approximately $48,000 (US) per year.
Our detailed plans will show you how to earn up to half this target amount working remotely.
Following our Budget 101 Hacks will also help to reduce your day-to-day living expenses.
Our plans will also teach you how to save for the initial upfront lump sum needed to get on the road.
This is all very doable ... Are you getting excited?!?
Let's Get to Know the Road Hackers
Hacking the Road has followers all over the world on Pinterest, YouTube, and WhatsApp. Many have asked us to share a little more about ourselves.
The following Q & A format will provide insights into our backgrounds, favorite adventures, our bucket lists, best destinations, top foods, and a few other interesting nuggets.
QUESTION 1:
Tell us something interesting about your backgrounds
RAINMAN: I was born in London, grew up near Cape Town, South Africa, and lived in California, New Hampshire, and Arizona in the United States. I have been fortunate to visit more than 35 countries around the world. Most of my career has been in Higher Education in the area of strategic initiatives, setting up & implementing programs in the U.S., Austria, Cuba, Greece, and Ukraine. I also have a strong investing background and love ultra marathon running.
TRICIA: I'm an American girl, born and raised in small town New Hampshire. I later lived in Arizona for about ten years. 'Talk about opposite climates! My professional background is in graphic design and project management. Notable stints include flipping two houses, and my role as co-coordinator (with Rainman!) setting up and running a Renaissance Faire. I have a passion for gardening, decorating, all things nature, and of course, travel. Now I live all over the world!
Question 2:
Why create Hacking the Road?
Rainman: We have spent the last seven years researching and planning for our Better Life on the Road. We've learned so much every step. of the way. Hacking the Road pulls all of this research together in one place and shares the detailed strategies and plans we've developed through our experiences. So far, our plans are holding up very well as they are tested on the road.
Tricia: My own interest in creating Hacking the Road lies with the logistical aspects of our travel planning. Packing, storage, food preparation, and health management need to be thought through in detail. There's always a better way to do things. I hope our strategies will allow more people to travel full-time. Our world is better off with travel!
Question 3:
What are your top 3 most memorable travel experiences?
Rainman: I would have to say backpacking through Europe in the early 1980s is my most cherished experience. My budget was $4.65 per day, with a Eurail Pass! There are so many other experiences, it's hard to choose the next two. I was most fortunate to be allowed to take a group of university students to Cuba in 2015. That was a bucket list item, for sure! I also had the privilege of setting up an MBA Program in Ukraine.
Tricia: First, traveling with my parents during their later years was very rewarding. We were fortunate to visit the Bahamas; Halifax, Canada; San Diego, California; and Sedona, Arizona. Second, my first trip to South Africa, when I met Rainman's family, was truly special. And third, our slow-travel across the U.S. during the heart of COVID 2020. We saw so many interesting places, despite the pandemic.
Question 4:
What are the top 3 destinations still on your travel bucket list?
Rainman: My top bucket list destination is definitely Antartica. Access to this remote environment is fairly expensive, but I hope to figure out a way to get there at some point. My number two choice would be to take a cruise to the Alaskan glaciers before they disappear. The Great Pyramid and the Sphinx in Egypt are right up there in third place. I really love their scale and the ancient civilizations they represent.
Tricia: Family on my mom's side emigrated from France to Quebec in Canada. I would love to retrace our original ancestry, and visit Paris. Anthropology was my major in undergrad, so seeing Machu Pichu in person is high on my list. The balloon festival in Albuquerque is one of the largest in the world. I've been fascinated by ballooning ever since I experienced a ride at my hometown's annual balloon rally. It was magical!
Question 5:
What are your top 3 favorite international cuisines?
Rainman: For me, cuisine is one the biggest factors when I reflect on my impressions of a destination. The flavors and the smells of the foods all linger in my mind as powerful reminders. It's hard to believe that I wasn't introduced to my top three cuisines until my early 20s. The cuisines of Mexico, Thailand, and Southern BBQ in the U.S. are at the top of my list!
Tricia: Food really is such an important factor in experiencing the culture and people of a place. It's difficult to rank cuisines, since they are all so different. I do love the lemon grass and ginger flavors in Thai cooking; the distinctive taste of cilantro, fresh salsa, and the cheeses in Mexican food; and the many yummy comfort foods on the Italian menu.
Question 6:
Which 3 destinations have you enjoyed the most so far?
Rainman: Havana, Cuba, rises to the top of the list for me. The music, the spirit of the people, and the absence of unbridled commercialism all blend to make this an easy choice. Ironically, Las Vegas, the antithesis of Havana, comes in at second place. There's just something about the indescribable over-the-top vibe of the shows and exhibits. Then there's Santa Fe, New Mexico! My first exposure to this special place came in the 1980s, before the big moneys arrived. The food, the adobe architecture, the art, and the laid-back culture all go into creating a unique scene.
Tricia: Sedona, Arizona is truly an enchanting place. There's a special feeling when you're surrounded by those towering red canyons. The beauty of the unique rock formations is powerful, and almost spiritual. Next, I will never forget my first visit to the Cape in South Africa. The beauty of the coastline meeting the rugged mountains create truly amazing views. Athens, Greece, is my third choice. Standing in the presence of the ruins and architecture of the Parthenon, I felt transported back in time. The vibe of modern Athens adds a rich layer to this memorable city.
Question 7:
What's your favorite travel hack?
Rainman: For the most savings, target your biggest overhead costs--the lodging category. If you own a home, it makes dollars and sense to downsize, reinvesting the equity from your larger home into a smaller condo in a destination resort community. Assuming no mortgage, a rental management company can easily earn enough short-term rental income to offset the HOA and all other condo expenses. You could be on the road for nine months out of the year, and even look at home swaps in other countries.
Tricia: The downsizing strategy has been successful for us. I'd add another lodging hack designed to extend your budget on the road. Slow travel is key to make this work. Airbnb and Vrbo offer discounts of 40-50% for bookings longer than 28 days. You can also ask the owner for a deeper discount if the price is just out of reach. We often see 1-bedroom condos close to the beach in the range of $900 - $1,100 per month (usually including utilities). Countries with favorable U.S. dollar exchange rates are especially attractive for long-term savings.
Question 8:
Now for a little fun! If you were an animal, what would you like to be ... and why?
Rainman: Great question! I would choose to be an elephant. I may not be the fastest, the smartest, or the most attractive human animal. But ... I am proudly slow and deliberate, steady, resilient, strong-willed, compassionate, and have a wonderful longterm memory, ... just like an elephant. If an elephant chose to be a human, I hope it would choose to be me! Mutual respect ...
Tricia: No hesitation here. I would choose to be a dolphin! I think of dolphins as being team-oriented, playful, inquisitive, compassionate, and almost human. Besides, as a Piscean, I love swimming, so I would fit right in! I love to be out in nature, exploring the authentic beauty that surrounds us each day. It is truly a gift that gives me peace, contentment, and genuine gratitude.
