From Corporate Life to World Traveler: Ashley Kaye's Bold Leap
At 27, Ashley Kaye found herself stuck in a grueling corporate healthcare job, logging up to 100 hours a week from the quiet confines of her Wisconsin home. But after her father's death in 2015, she began reassessing her life’s direction and ultimately made a daring decision to leave it all behind.
During a scuba diving trip in Honduras, a chance conversation with a fellow traveler inspired Kaye to reconsider the way she lived. "He told me it’s easier and more affordable than most people think," Kaye recalls. That encounter became the catalyst for her to quit her demanding job the very next year and pursue full-time travel.
The Birth of Life on the Road: Selling the Childhood Home and Choosing Overlanding
After years traveling across more than 20 countries, including South Africa and various parts of Central and South America, Kaye returned home to care for her ailing aunt. During this time, she prepared her childhood home for sale, solidifying her commitment to a nomadic lifestyle.
With travel plans evolving, Kaye explored practical ways to bring her dog along, ruling out air travel as uncomfortable and impractical. An Instagram message from a couple sharing their own overlanding adventures planted the seed for Kaye to consider traveling in a vehicle equipped for remote exploration.
Investing in Freedom: Customizing a Toyota Tacoma for Full-Time Adventure
Diving into research, Kaye purchased a Toyota Tacoma for $42,934, setting herself up for a life on the road. She invested over $50,000 on camper upgrades, including solar panels, an upgraded suspension, new tires, a custom bumper, and an electric cooler, transforming the truck into a comfortable, self-sufficient home.
Adapting and Exploring: Life on the Pan-American Highway
With her customized truck ready, Kaye embarked on her next chapter by driving to Baja California, Mexico, to plan and complete renovations. The spontaneity of her journey reflects her laid-back philosophy: "The plan is there is no plan."
She then began traveling the famed Pan-American Highway, which stretches from Alaska to Argentina. This route offers unparalleled freedom to set one’s own pace and linger in breathtaking locations, whether it be a volcano, jungle, or beach.
While travel brings challenges like border logistics and occasional solitude, Kaye embraces the adventure wholeheartedly. “It’s one of the coolest adventures of my lifetime,” she reflects.
Key Takeaway: Embrace Life Fully and Without Regrets
Today, after years on the road, Kaye remains deeply grateful for her choice to trade a static lifestyle for one filled with exploration and flexibility. She prefers to avoid clichés, recognizing the hard work involved, but celebrates the unique privilege to wake up daily with limitless options on where to go next.
Her biggest lesson is clear: life is too short. Inspired by her late father’s words, she encourages everyone to pursue their dreams now, instead of waiting. His passing at 57, before retirement, was a poignant reminder to live fully in the present.
In Kaye’s own words: "You don’t have to quit everything to travel, but you should start moving toward your goals today. Life’s too precious to hold back."
