I think I unintentionally set up my life to travel. Weird start, I know just give me a chance to explain. I first learned about credit cards, APY, variable rates, prepaid credit cards, and how to use money abroad in order to study abroad ( I had to for my degree). I had no credit when I started (think credit score in the low 500s) through no fault of my own. I had to get a prepaid credit card to start and build my credit history. By the time I left for Italy, I had managed to get approved for a credit limit on around $1000 on two credit cards. I used the hell out of them during my time abroad but it helped me so much.
I came back to the US and had to figure out how to use credit cards responsibly (spoiler, I didn’t). Because I had a great history of payments and use, my limit kept increasing without me requesting it. So I used that. I definitely overspent and had no idea how to use the rewards to my advantage, use the credit responsibly, or anything.
Then Covid hit and I lived off my credit cards. I was also supporting my partner at the time and trying to help my siblings where I could with small things (books, small things that let them know I was thinking about them, flights to visit when I could swing it on the cards). Usage and payments went through the roof, and the credit limit increases kept coming. Now, my credit history and usage are much smarter ( I only use what I can pay off every month, my history is stable, my payments are always on time). But I have never changed my cards, and the cards I chose over a decade ago were geared toward international use (again, totally unintentional because I had no idea what I was doing).
I am used to moving and living in a way that lets me move every 3-ish years. Outside of my childhood home, I haven’t stayed in the same place for longer than 5 years. So my possessions have been gone through and condensed quite a bit. I do have pets that can complicate things, but even those issues, I am prepared for. My dog can be boarded for short trips, and I know how to get an animal passport if I need to. My cat hates car rides, but I know what meds work for her and I have her backpack trained so I can bring her on a plane if I need to.
Weirdly enough, none of this was planned. I learned on the fly for the credit cards. I learned for a job about the animal passports. I like hiking with my dog and cat, so I trained them to be able to be in a backpack or be away from me if needed. Moving frequently was needed for school or because my job transferred me.
Now, I do pay attention to my ability to travel and explore. It has become a huge part of my life and what makes me happy. But the solid foundation was built without thought to how it would all work together in the end.