This lifestyle allows you to limit expenses related to real estate, such as taxes, maintenance, and energy bills. However, it also entails other costs, including fuel, insurance, and vehicle maintenance.<\/p>\n
Retirees who choose mobility<\/h2>\n
Several examples illustrate this trend. Some couples explain that they sold their homes to travel full-time, prioritizing experiences over the accumulation of material possessions. Other retirees choose to design a custom-built campervan to travel their country or the world. Ray and Nancy<\/a> , an American retired couple, for example, invested in a campervan conversion to travel between different states and enjoy an active retirement.<\/p>\n The phenomenon is not limited to the United States. Accounts published in the press show that some homeowners are deciding to sell their houses to adopt a nomadic lifestyle, sometimes after deciding that their homes had become too large or too expensive to maintain.<\/p>\n Other profiles explain that they want to simplify their daily lives or get closer to nature. A British retiree<\/a> , for example, sold his home to live in a van equipped with solar panels, stating that he appreciates the freedom and reduced expenses associated with this lifestyle.<\/p>\n While van life may seem like an ideal wayto travel<\/a> , it also presents real challenges. Access to medical care, managing administrative mail, and organizing parking are just some of the practical issues that retirees must address.<\/p>\n According to an analysis of retirement living in a motorhome, some expenses can remain high, particularly due to the purchase price of the vehicle and maintenance costs. Logistical aspects, such as internet access and mail delivery, also require specific planning. The nomadic lifestyle also demands a significant capacity for adaptation. Limited space, dependence on weather conditions, and the need to plan trips can represent a considerable change after decades spent in a fixed residence.<\/p>\n Selling one's house to live in a van remains a lifestyle choice that doesn't suit all retirees. However, available accounts show that it's an option considered by a growing number of seniors wishing to redefine their daily lives after their careers and be closer to nature.<\/p>\n Between the search for freedom, logistical constraints, and the desire for simplicity, van life illustrates the diversification of retirement paths. For some, it represents a way to travel longer, reduce certain expenses, or live a different experience after several decades of work.<\/p>\n Although this trend remains a minority, it reflects an evolution in aspirations related to retirement, now seen as a period of exploration and personal transformation rather than a simple transition to immobility.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Selling one's home upon retirement to adopt a nomadic lifestyle: this choice, still marginal a few years ago,...","protected":false},"author":8391,"featured_media":439434,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[96338],"tags":[97759],"class_list":["post-439433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-voyage","tag-news"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/retraite-van-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/retraite-van-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/retraite-van.jpg","author":{"name":"Jade Leclerc","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/delagejade-96x96.png"},"categories":[{"term_id":96338,"name":"Travel","slug":"voyage","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":96510,"taxonomy":"category","description":" The Travel section of The Body Optimist shares destination ideas<\/strong> and practical advice for planning your trips, close to home or abroad: preparation, budget, packing, transportation, solo or family travel. We also cover what guidebooks often leave out, like traveling with peace of mind in a fat body, on a plane or at the beach, so everyone can get away and truly relax.<\/p>\n A comfortable flight starts when you book. Check seat width and legroom on the airline\u2019s website or on a seat map, and if possible reserve an aisle seat or a row with extra legroom. Read the airline\u2019s policy for passengers who need more space, sometimes called a \u201ccustomer of size\u201d policy: some airlines let you buy a second seat, occasionally refundable, while others don\u2019t. On board, you can discreetly ask a flight attendant for a seatbelt extender. Wear soft, stretchy clothes without a tight waistband, and get up regularly to stretch your legs. Our tips on choosing the best seat on a long-haul flight<\/a> round out this advice.<\/p>\n We talk about travel without clich\u00e9s: no \u201cbeach body\u201d to earn before you go, no destination reserved for one body type or budget. We focus on practical advice, accessible ideas and real-life experiences, and we also tackle the thornier topics, like overtourism and the environmental impact of travel. Our goal: helping you travel the way you want, solo, as a couple, with friends or with family.<\/p>\n For a first solo trip, choose a destination known to be safe, well served by public transportation and where you can easily make yourself understood. A large, walkable city, a region of your own country you\u2019ve never explored, or a stay at a guesthouse or hostel lets you find your footing gently.<\/p>\n Prices generally drop outside school vacations and holiday weekends. The shoulder seasons between peak and off-peak periods (late spring and early fall in the Northern Hemisphere) often strike a good balance between pleasant weather, lower prices and smaller crowds. Being flexible with your dates, comparing trains, buses and flights, and traveling with just a carry-on can also help you save.<\/p>\n Yes. Most airlines carry seatbelt extenders on board and lend them on request; you can discreetly ask a flight attendant as soon as you board. For safety reasons, airlines generally require you to use their own approved extender rather than a personal one.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Build a vacation wardrobe that feels like you with our Fashion<\/a> section, and travel more responsibly with our Green<\/a> section.<\/p>","parent":0,"count":288,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":96338,"category_count":288,"category_description":" The Travel section of The Body Optimist shares destination ideas<\/strong> and practical advice for planning your trips, close to home or abroad: preparation, budget, packing, transportation, solo or family travel. We also cover what guidebooks often leave out, like traveling with peace of mind in a fat body, on a plane or at the beach, so everyone can get away and truly relax.<\/p>\n A comfortable flight starts when you book. Check seat width and legroom on the airline\u2019s website or on a seat map, and if possible reserve an aisle seat or a row with extra legroom. Read the airline\u2019s policy for passengers who need more space, sometimes called a \u201ccustomer of size\u201d policy: some airlines let you buy a second seat, occasionally refundable, while others don\u2019t. On board, you can discreetly ask a flight attendant for a seatbelt extender. Wear soft, stretchy clothes without a tight waistband, and get up regularly to stretch your legs. Our tips on choosing the best seat on a long-haul flight<\/a> round out this advice.<\/p>\n We talk about travel without clich\u00e9s: no \u201cbeach body\u201d to earn before you go, no destination reserved for one body type or budget. We focus on practical advice, accessible ideas and real-life experiences, and we also tackle the thornier topics, like overtourism and the environmental impact of travel. Our goal: helping you travel the way you want, solo, as a couple, with friends or with family.<\/p>\n For a first solo trip, choose a destination known to be safe, well served by public transportation and where you can easily make yourself understood. A large, walkable city, a region of your own country you\u2019ve never explored, or a stay at a guesthouse or hostel lets you find your footing gently.<\/p>\n Prices generally drop outside school vacations and holiday weekends. The shoulder seasons between peak and off-peak periods (late spring and early fall in the Northern Hemisphere) often strike a good balance between pleasant weather, lower prices and smaller crowds. Being flexible with your dates, comparing trains, buses and flights, and traveling with just a carry-on can also help you save.<\/p>\n Yes. Most airlines carry seatbelt extenders on board and lend them on request; you can discreetly ask a flight attendant as soon as you board. For safety reasons, airlines generally require you to use their own approved extender rather than a personal one.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Build a vacation wardrobe that feels like you with our Fashion<\/a> section, and travel more responsibly with our Green<\/a> section.<\/p>","cat_name":"Travel","category_nicename":"voyage","category_parent":0}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/439433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8391"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=439433"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/439433\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":439436,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/439433\/revisions\/439436"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/439434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=439433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=439433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=439433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/van-life.jpg\")
<\/p>\n A search for freedom\u2026 but also for constraints<\/h2>\n
A trend driven by minimalism and the search for meaning<\/h2>\n
What you\u2019ll find in the Travel section<\/h2>\n
\n
How can you fly comfortably as a plus-size traveler?<\/h2>\n
Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to start with<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
Where should you go on your first solo trip?<\/h3>\n
When is the cheapest time to travel?<\/h3>\n
Can you ask for a seatbelt extender on a plane?<\/h3>\n
What you\u2019ll find in the Travel section<\/h2>\n
\n
How can you fly comfortably as a plus-size traveler?<\/h2>\n
Our approach<\/h2>\n
Articles to start with<\/h2>\n
\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
Where should you go on your first solo trip?<\/h3>\n
When is the cheapest time to travel?<\/h3>\n
Can you ask for a seatbelt extender on a plane?<\/h3>\n