Doug traded his Florida life for a sailboat on the beautiful French Riviera.
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Doug has been seamlessly working from his sailboat across Europe for three years.
The couple chose to relocate to Europe for more affordable travel experiences.
They aim to retire by 2026 while continuing their adventures around the French Riviera.
At 68, Doug has dedicated four decades to consulting in technology but has spent the last three years navigating and working from his sailboat throughout Europe.
Over his career, Doug lived in various states such as California, Texas, Indiana, and Massachusetts. As retirement approached and living costs rose in the U.S., he and his wife opted for a change—seeking affordability alongside their passion for travel. After purchasing a sailboat, they embraced life on the water in Europe where they could explore diverse locales without hefty expenses.
Currently docked along the picturesque French Riviera, Doug claims that this lifestyle is financially easier than residing in America. Although both still engage professionally, they anticipate retiring within two years. For privacy reasons concerning their employer’s knowledge of this transition, Doug chose to use only his first name.
"Our lives are rich with extraordinary sights and places; it’s much simpler than making trips all the way from America,” Doug shared with BI. “There are castles everywhere! Charming villages dotting Provence alongside Italy’s rolling hills offer experiences that we treasure—and don’t forget Michelin-star dining options found throughout.”
Cultivating New Horizons Abroad
A Boston native by upbringing who began as a professional photographer, Doug initially relocated to California intending to build on that career path before shifting towards more stable work options. A classified advertisement caught his attention—a nine-month course covering three programming languages was exactly what he needed at that crossroads.
The following forty years were marked by extensive work as a software engineer and consultant with numerous companies across states like Texas to Maine before returning home—New England—to further develop professionally despite achieving greater income along this journey. This success came amid personal upheavals including divorce which propelled him toward new adventures post-9/11 aboard his newfound sailboat headed towards Fort Lauderdale catering Fortune 500 clients thereafter.
Eighteen years ago saw another chapter unfold through marriage with another engineer leading them both firmly into Florida; yet they found routine creeping over exciting opportunities waiting just beyond American shores.
"We wanted exposure: experiencing uncharted sights—the promise of living fully rather than anchoring ourselves down somewhere ordinary like an average suburban ranch home,” he remarked candidly about their collective mindset at departure time. “We couldn’t settle upon that idea.”
Pondering retirement plans primarily located within Caribbean realms soon waned once it became apparent none excited them adequately during several visits made over time periods given market fluctuations—a robust stock portfolio balanced assurance providing comfort levels monitoring finances instilled confidence enabling decisions directed solely toward extra-territorial alternatives embracing European expanses instead!
