The Freedom Bus

The Freedom Bus is driven by us, Ian & Kate.

We are a married couple who began our downshift from corporate culture in 2001. The journey has been fantastic.

Before that we were reasonably successful in a very conventional way; earning good money but with huge mortgage debts, his ‘n’ hers company BMWs, expense accounts and a track record of adding value to our bosses stock options but with little time left for each other.

In 2000 we “settled down” and got married. Surely for a newly married, (fairly) bright, youngish couple there was more to life than “9 to 5 ’til we’re 65″!?

It was time for a change of plan.

We saved up a small “safety fund”. And initially Kate left her stressful British job to freelance her training and coaching skills plus learn to be a reflexologist.  In no time she had a few training clients and a thriving reflexology practice in the now-converted dining room.

When Kate was settled, Ian left his Big Business job too.  The first year of freelance fun was financially less lucrative than our corporate salaries – but we expected it and it’s surprising how little you actually need.

Ian focused on finding business clients for the training business and Kate worked on developing her coaching business.  Kate also continued seeing reflexology patients on Mondays and Fridays.

We also made time for each other, our friends and for fun!  We felt loads better. We felt in control of our destiny. We felt freer.

These early years focused our minds on our whole lives – not just our worklife.  We wanted more sunshine and adventure. It was apparent that our large English “executive home” which had seemed appropriate to our needs was no longer right for us.

In 2004 we moved to beautiful sunny South West France.  Our new home, a former stone water-mill had 3 bedrooms, smaller than our English house, but more charming and was every bit as lovely. It was also much cheaper.

Our French move meant waiving goodbye to mortgage repayments.

We were now living comfortably within our means – we wanted less stuff because our whole life was rewarding: There was now no need to “self-medicate” on the latest gadgets, expensive clothes, cars or luxury holidays.

We were also by now, earning as much as we used to earn in Big Business – but working only half as hard! Sure we could have earned twice as much … but why bother when the sun is shining?

We studied together to work out the best ways to invest our surplus money. We got quite good at it. We certainly feel we are better at it than some faceless pension fund corporation in London.

Today things have moved on for us and continue to get better.  We have more time to relax, play and have fun than ever before and we now base ourselves between the UK and France.  Our training business keeps us in touch with many people still living and working in “the rat race”. Very few of them seem truly happy. Many seem trapped, believing that they have no choices.  These are good people – people like we were. Sometimes we like to help them to find their own bit of Freedom.

If you want a more fulfilling existence than the daily grind we have started this blog for you.  The planned scope is wide, from politics, economics, ecology and philosophy to downshifting, self-employment, debt, health and fun.

We invite you to climb aboard the Freedom Bus – we hope you enjoy your ride.

Our love, Ian & Kate

One of the ways we help others to start living the life they truly want is through our Midlife Retreat in SW France.  Click on the link to read more and see if it’s for you.