Freedom to Travel! A Shift to Freedom through Minimalism

Meet Christy Morrell-Stinson, a business and legacy advisor for over 25 years. Christy works alongside creative entrepreneurs who are the face of their practice. These founders are driven by purpose, often unaware how to leverage their most powerful asset: their authentic personal brand and the passionate message it carries.

Christy says, “My work is deeply rewarding — and fully remote. As long as I have electricity and internet, I can connect with clients by video or audio from almost anywhere in the world. Location independence matters to me, and I’m grateful every day that I made the leap into full time travel.”

1. Context and Catalyst

What was your life like before the shift to full-time travel?

Before leaving the U.S., I was living a fast-paced, high-stress, high-reward life on Florida’s southwest coast. It felt like I had built my decades-long dream: a private office in a hip coworking space in downtown Sarasota, walking distance from restaurants and boutique shops, and ten minutes from tropical white sand beaches. My husband found us a beautiful condo in a quiet, lush community — it felt like paradise. We had finally moved out of Minnesota, after raising six children together, to choose our Florida dream life.

I was growing a multi-disciplined M&A team, putting together multimillion-dollar deals, leading a regional women’s conference, and running meaningful initiatives. My calendar was full. But deep down, I knew something was off, I just didn’t know how to fix it.

What pushed you to make the leap?

I was burning out. Despite loving my work with founders and investors, deals were falling apart just before fruition, and I was losing money. My health was declining, my stress was spiking, and I could not seem to reverse the spiral that was repelling my success.

In 2024, I began the year with a choice to surrender to my destiny. I felt so disconnected from the future I dreamed of. I made the choice to let go of my SUV— a white RAV4 I loved. I’d literally been driving since I was 10, so giving it up felt radical. But it also felt freeing. I walked more, I took public transportation, and the occasional taxi.

A few months later, just before we were set to renew our condo lease, our 20-year-old son told us he wanted to move back to Minnesota. That single moment shifted everything. Our lifestyle was built around providing a home for our kids. When that fell away, so did my barriers to travel full time.

Suddenly, a mobile, adventurous life was no longer a some-day fantasy — it was possible now. My husband felt the same way. We knew: it was time to jump.

2. Letting Go

What did you give up to make this lifestyle possible?

We packed only the essentials and got rid of everything else. We scaled down to a couple of suitcases and overnight bags. Across the previous five years, we’d already downsized from a five-bedroom home in Minnesota to a one-bedroom furnished apartment in Florida. When our youngest son joined us, we upgraded to a two-bedroom, but kept things minimal. We already believed in the value of a simple life and had grown to despise clutter.

When we committed to a mobile lifestyle, we gave away our outdoor gear, exercise equipment, kitchen tools, dishes, spices — all the extras. Experience had already shown us that renting fully furnished homes gave us more freedom and ease. We didn’t need stuff; we needed flexibility.

How did minimalism shape your transition?

For us, minimalism was more practical than philosophical. We wanted to travel light and stay nimble — to move anytime, anywhere, without stress.

We value experiences over things. Having lost so much (including precious heirlooms) to thieves several times in my life, I already knew I didn’t need fancy jewelry or closets full of clothes. I’d rather spend my time outdoors, living simply, and staying connected to who and what I love.

3. What’s Next?

Is this a forever lifestyle, or do you see it evolving?

Since June 2024, I’ve traveled through seven different locations, spending 4–6 weeks in each. My husband and I started with six weeks on a private client retreat. After that was completed, I was invited to Peru by another client. I stayed with her in the Sacred Valley and explored Pisac and Cusco together. I wandered the northern coast of South America on my own for months, and then returned to the Andes to live at the base of Machu Picchu for a month.

I’m currently in Arequipa. It’s my favorite city in South America, so far. My husband will join me soon, and then we’ll head south toward Patagonia.

We know we want to keep this mobile rhythm. Ideally, we’ll get a pair of camper vans and motorbikes, but traveling by bus for now is just fine.

Soon, we’d like to buy land near Patagonia and build a small hobby-farm-style hostel and artist retreat. The goal is to set up a few around the world — and rotate between them.

Final Thoughts

Letting go wasn’t easy at first, but it created space for something far better. Not just freedom of movement, but freedom of being. This lifestyle didn’t start as a grand plan. It started with one simple question: What if we don’t sign that lease?

About Christy

Christy works with creative entrepreneurs to help them lead with clarity, purpose, and authenticity. Through The Founder’s Value Code and her transformative space, The Founder’s Atelier, she guides her clients to align their brands and business models with their deepest values—creating impactful, sustainable legacies rooted in their true voice and highest potential.