Pack in the job, rent out the house, get in the camper van, fuck off

I'd wait until next week when it will warm up a bit😉

I think early 50s are still early. Maybe you could try a month of break if you can and see how you find it.

@BMW6 I think it'd be madness to sell up. Much less risky to rent it out, have the mortgage covered and then some and know you've got that safety net waiting when you get back. Selling up loses your place on the property ladder then you're eating away at the capital by living off it. Not every landlord faces endless, horrific stress. Good to go into it with their eyes open of course, and have management in place but they could likely rent it out for a year and be fine.

Could you both ask your jobs for a leave of absence so you could return to them afterwards? That would give you more financial security.

I think it's a great idea. Carpe diem!

Sell up don't rent it out. Not worth the risk and resulting endless and horrific stress if it goes wrong.

YANBU as it's what you want to do and you've figured out a way to do it. I'd be bored by driving round with no purpose except fulfilling basic daily needs and sightseeing, but then I like my work and being part of something, and don't like tourism or camping. If it's what floats your boat as a couple and you don't mind doing whatever job you can get when you're back then go for it and have fun. Maybe wait till Spring though, unless you're driving somewhere much warmer.

A friend did this. Travel. They rented out their house in DC and bought a van and travelled through South America. They took the kids out of middle school and home schooled. Never looked back. Her name is Rebecca eichler.

If you had a camper van, where would you go?
And how long for?

Camper vans seem very cosy. How long could you live in one for?

(I totally get this by the way. My 20s was an interesting time for me with travelling).

One of my colleagues is just about to do this. I think it's a great idea. She is doing it before kids.

Enjoy planning your adventure- seeing the world like this must be very freeing

DH could take a career break for a year or so much more easily than I could.

Could you get your old jobs back? Or would you both need to get jobs when you got back? In your 50s? I'd look very closely at that.

How are you placed with regard to pensions?

Also, what about the expenses of being a landlord - specialist insurance, maintenance, replacement of broken items, letting agent fees? Will you need to rent storage for your personal goods? Will the rent cover all that as well as your day-to-day expenditure, or will you need to use savings?

If you can afford it and are confident that you won't face problems after your adventure is over, go for it.

Well, death is always a risk I suppose, I mean a very heightened chance of death haha.

Yes do it! Life is for living ❤️ Ask at your job to see if a career break is possible.

I would do it but look into holiday rental instead the same money but less risk. Research this first.

Start a YouTube change too.

I think the adventure sounds amazing. But if you are going to downsize anyway I thoroughly endorse the idea of selling first. The costs of being a landlord will really eat into your savings and its hassle that could spoil your trip.

Why not? You only get one life and you're not going to be on your deathbed thinking, oh yes,im glad we stayed in our unfulfilling jobs for the financial security rather than going on an adventure.

Even if it all goes terribly wrong, how wrong can it really go? Unless death is a risk then I'd say it was worth doing.

I did 3 months and it would have been very easy to never go back to “real” life, albeit I did it in spring/summer so only a few very cold nights.
Would it be worth asking for a sabbatical from work? Worst they can do is say no then you carry on anyway. Do think about how winter proof your van is, I stayed in mine in late November for a few nights when it was down to about 0/1 degree and it was bloody freezing and I had to have the heating on overnight- I was plugged in so ok but will eat gas if you rely on that.

Also think about where you would park up, campsites can get do £30 a night, is that ok budget wise, and it’s getting increasingly difficult to “wild camp” in vans , lots of car parks don’t allow them nowadays.

Iti is wonderful though, I had such an amazing time and gave me so much room for reflection and stopped me burning out completely.

I’m now late fifties and feel a huge difference energy wise from 5 years ago. Also elderly parents needs have increased as you predict. If you can, I would go now

Do it !!! I think about this daily but I have young children

I'd definitely go for it. Could one or both of you get a small part time remote job to supplement your travel costs?

Please please do it. It was our plan all along until cancer struck aged 42. It'll never be possible now - PLEASE DO IT

Why would you not do it ?

enjoy

They'll be earning money from renting the house out