One of the reasons we have embraced this lifestyle is because we wanted to have an adventure – as a family. However, not all of the adventure is strictly play.

I get to provide income for the family, Sammy teaches the kids, and the little ones have to go to school. As such, we have to balance out when we work and when we play.

This takes discipline… not an easy task.

When you set your own schedules, it can become easy to get distracted. These freedoms require an element of self-restraint.

Adding beaches, beautiful weather, and tourist attractions only serve to make these challenges that more enticing.

Sunday night, Sammy’s assembles home school curriculum. Every weekday morning, I’m up around 6:30am and beginning work. The kids do their schooling, nap, and run errands with mommy. We still have laundry, grocery shopping, and all of the regular daily routines to follow.

Around 5pm, the family re-converges for dinner and play.

If not careful, the Aruban distractions can easily get very expensive – food budgets alone are at least three times what we’re used to… again, discipline.

We prepare leftovers for dinner on the beach – cold spaghetti, sandwiches, or tuna salad on crackers. If eating out, we share meals. For entertainment, there’s music, swimming, and snorkeling nearly everywhere – all for free. Finding a cocktail once in awhile when it’s half-price, we share that too.

Whether it’s time, money, or attention, it all takes great self-control – something that doesn’t come easy to our family.

This opportunity for travel and adventure is an amazing experience; it’s truly an awesome blessing. Yet, it’s also teaching us much about responsibility.

“If you want something you’ve never had,
you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.”
~ Unknown

With this awesome opportunity comes definitive responsibility.

All good things require intention.

What areas of your life require discipline in order to live your dreams?

If You Like Pina Coladas, Cold Spaghetti on the Beach