By Whitney
Becoming parents is part of a normal progression of life that the majority of people follow. Some become parents by surprise, some try and try and spend tons of money on fertility treatments or adoption. Others have it easy and children fall right into their plans exactly when they’re ready.
Having children, especially for women, is what is expected of us. Not having children is going against the grain. Growing up I always thought I would have kids eventually, because…. well, doesn’t everyone? I just figured that would happen far off in the future when I was with a partner and ready to “settle down.”
I found Paddy and we set off on our life adventure together. We both share a passion for travel and learning, spending time with our friends and family, and we enjoy our freedom. Once age caught up to us and my child-bearing years began the countdown, we realized we had to make a decision. We looked at our life and decided that we love it the way it is. Having kids would mean no time or money for everything that we love: travel, art, music, craft projects, throwing theme parties, etc. That and I kept waiting for the desire to become a mother to happen, and it still hasn’t. We love being Auntie and Uncle, and spending time with our friends’ kids. Kids can be very entertaining. But I think that’s about as close as we’re going to get.
This blog is for anyone who enjoys travel and adventure, learning and creativity. It is also for those who have also decided to go through life childfree and want to relate to another couple who has made the same choice. Because it’s okay to not have kids. Considering the overpopulation problem on this planet, the environment should thank you.
This blog is also for parents who have the ability to leave the kids with Grandma and Grandpa for the weekend and get away, parents who can pawn the teenagers who think their parents are so uncool off at a friends’ house so they can take a trip alone, or are ready to retire and see the world together. There are tons of blogs out there for traveling with kids that I’m sure have invaluable advice for family vacations. This isn’t one of them.
Whitney, I’m a friend of your parents, and have met you briefly (I think), as I have done work on their (your) house on SJI. Your mother told me about your blog and I’m now enjoying it.
I’m 62 and have remained childfree, enjoying the benefits of that freedom by traveling all my life. And not done yet. I have zero regrets, and a million great memories. I’m telling you, you won’t regret being childfree
Looks like you guys are on your way to trying to outdo my travel experiences…. I wish you luck! Meanwhile I’m still racking them up. Perhaps perusing your website will motivate me to get my own site back on track.
I look forward to reading of your adventures, and will certainly leave feedback.
-Joel
Thanks Joel! So glad you enjoy our blog. Thank you also for the perspective, it’s refreshing to hear.
It’s always inspirational to find other Childfree couples in the world. My husband and I are 50+ and we love our CF life! Thanks for sharing your adventures and ENJOY!!!!
Just found your blog and also appreciate your perspective. My husband and I married at 42 and 37 respectively, and while I know he’d love children and make a wonderful father, we know it’s not in the plan for our life together due to age and physical issues. He has mentioned adoption a number times as well but I don’t believe that will ever come to pass. We enjoy traveling, spending time with friends, hobbies, working on our home/yard, and doting on our pets. One of our favorite destinations to visit is Disneyland. We’ve both been with and without family, and, yes, it’s still fantastic fun without children! Happy Travels to you and thanks for sharing your adventures!
Thanks for checking out the blog Tina!
Hi Whitney, I just found your blog today and all I can say is Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! I couldn’t contain the excitement so I sent my wife your post links! Definitely quelled all my questions about destinations I would like to go but never had a chance to until now. I wanted to surprise my wife for our 10 anniversary and was contemplating Tahiti/Bora Bora or Maldives. It looks like it will be the former, thanks to you. Jokingly my wife and I talked about visiting Iceland this winter. You made it look really intriguingly fun! Guess who is going this winter? BTW we are parents and you are right…having kids means virtually no time or money for everything that we love. But most importantly making that time between us makes life so much more memorable. Thanks and safe travels on your next trip!!
Hi William! So glad we could help you with your travel plans! Just because you’re a parent doesn’t mean you don’t need a little time with just you and your wife! Good for you for making time for each other once in awhile and going on an adventure. Thank you for reading and best of luck on your travels. If you have any questions about our trips feel free to contact us and we’ll try to provide some insight.
Wow…I’m so glad I came across your site. I’m moving to Seattle next year, and I stumbled upon your page when I was looking for something else online. I’m going to Cannon Beach this year and have a lot of the other things you have written about on my list of places to visit once I’m moved out west. This will be a great resource for me to reference, and I’m bookmarking it. (Thanks.)
Kudos on your child-free life and traveling the world. I’m 42 and single…and I don’t want kids. I’d love to find a travel companion/partner in life, but in the meantime I’m conquering the world on my own (and I have to say life is pretty grand when you have the freedom to do things on your own terms).
Happy and safe travels. Enjoy New Orleans in October. What a blast (and crazy fest, no doubt) that will be!!!
Thanks for visiting our blog! We live in Seattle, feel free to contact us for tips on what to do and see (and where to eat) in the city. We love living in the Northwest–there is so much to do and see just a few hours outside of Seattle. And good for you for living your life on your own terms. Stay independent and do what you love, I’m sure someone will come along who will want to partner up with you on your adventures.
Let me tell you that I met your Blog one day I was looking for places in Vegas, and from that moment I marveled at all your experiences and everything you’ve lived and known, I have not really traveled as much as you, but with your photos so Wonderful and the experiences that you count in your blog I hope to know every place of this world.
Thank you for sharing all your experiences and an immense greeting from Colombia, I hope someday you can visit and you can make a review in your blog
Hi Paola! Thanks for visiting! We are actually going to Vegas again in a week, and should have a post up about it by early March. This trip we are going to focus on local Vegas and downtown instead of the strip. We are looking forward to it. We also really want to go to Colombia–I have a friend in Bogota who I really want to visit. Hopefully in the next few years.
I love adventure and travel.
All of these experiences can be done with children.
You do not have to be “child free” to lead a life of exploration and adventure.
Hi Libby,
You can absolutely travel with children! We totally respect others’ choices to have children and travel with children. We like children. We don’t want to be parents, and most of our friends with children aren’t able to travel very much due to cost and time restraints. It’s a personal choice, and we aren’t advocating that anyone be childfree. That said, this blog is for travelers without kids, and parents who want to have a travel adventure without their kids. If you are looking for a blog about traveling with kids, you can absolutely find some online, there are a lot of great blogs by parents out there.