by InTrieste
In an era where professional achievements and financial security are often the benchmarks of success, Chad and Kimberly Quesenberry took a different path. The couple left their corporate lives behind in pursuit of a more meaningful existence—one that revolves around travel, farming, and simplicity. For Chad and Kimberly, the decision to exchange their stable jobs for a life of adventure wasn’t an impulsive one, but a long-held dream that slowly materialized over more than a decade.
The Quesenberrys, who both worked in corporate IT, had always been avid travelers, but vacationing for a week or two at a time wasn’t enough to satisfy their yearning for deeper connections with new places and cultures. “We loved travel and yearned for more than just a vacation,” Kimberly recalls. “You can’t get a feel for a culture or a place in just a couple of weeks. We wanted to stay long enough to know what it would be like to live there.”
With that goal in mind, the Quesenberrys focused on saving as much as possible, living frugally despite their successful careers. They eventually made the bold decision to leave behind their traditional lifestyle, opting instead to immerse themselves in the cultures of the world while also pursuing a quieter, simpler existence on a farm.
Building a New Life from Scratch
Leaving behind the corporate grind, Chad and Kimberly settled in Virginia, where they embarked on the daunting task of building their new life—literally from the ground up. They constructed a timber frame home and established a profitable farm, all while living in a barn for a year as they worked on the house.
“We had to build rainwater-catching systems, figure out solar power for basic electricity, and carry drinking water from a nearby spring,” Chad says. “It wasn’t glamorous, but we loved it because we knew life would be better soon.”
Their off-grid lifestyle came with its challenges, especially given that neither Chad nor Kimberly was in their twenties anymore. They slept on an air mattress inside a tent in the barn and endured extreme temperatures, from freezing cold to sweltering heat. “The hardest part was dealing with the aches and pains of not being young anymore,” Chad admits. But even with frozen toilets and limited electricity, the Quesenberrys found joy in the freedom they had gained. “Not needing to report to work each morning changes your entire focus and life view,” Kimberly adds.
Embracing Local Cultures Around the World
Their story didn’t end on the Virginia farm. After six months of building their home and establishing the farm, Chad and Kimberly felt the familiar pull of adventure and decided to sell everything again—this time to pursue full-time travel. The Quesenberrys don’t consider themselves tourists but instead aim to live like locals wherever they go. “We don’t see ourselves as vacationers,” Kimberly says. “We try to integrate into the communities we visit and learn how the locals live.”
They use social media platforms like Facebook to connect with people in new places and often rely on local guides to steer them toward authentic experiences. “We want to bring something to the community we join, so we try to learn their needs in advance,” Chad explains. “Our goal is always to contribute, not just take.”
One of the couple’s biggest realizations came from spending extended periods in less affluent regions, where they witnessed firsthand the happiness of people who lived with much less. “We learned to be happy with much less than we could actually afford,” Kimberly says. “The wealthiest places aren’t always the happiest.”
Changing Perspectives on Life, Success, and Happiness
As they continue their travels, Chad and Kimberly’s outlook on life has evolved dramatically. “We used to live for the weekends,” Chad says. “Now, we’re living for something far more profound—connection, understanding, and freedom.”
Their journey has stripped away the layers of their former corporate lives, leaving them with a new sense of what matters most. Traveling with only two small carry-on bags and two backpacks, the Quesenberrys have found that they need very little to feel fulfilled.
Through their travels, the Quesenberrys have encountered people from all walks of life, learning that most people, regardless of background, share a common desire for happiness and peace. “It’s been eye-opening to see how different perspectives can coexist,” Chad reflects. “People who we thought might not like us based on where we’re from often say, ‘No, we love your people—our governments just don’t like each other.’”
This understanding has changed the couple’s view on everything from politics to materialism, shaping them into more empathetic, open-minded individuals.
A Journey Without End
Today, Chad and Kimberly continue their global exploration, seeking to divide their time between three perfect places where they can live for about four months each year. Since selling their Virginia farm, they’ve lived in countries like Guatemala, Thailand, Malaysia, Turkey, Bosnia, Slovenia, and Croatia, eventually settling, for now, in Trieste, Italy.
Their story is a reminder that life doesn’t have to follow a traditional trajectory, and that the pursuit of happiness can lead down unexpected—and rewarding—paths. Chad and Kimberly’s advice to others who are considering a similar shift is simple: “You don’t need as much as you think you do. Once you let go of the idea that you have to achieve a certain level of wealth before pursuing your dreams, you’ll find that the world opens up in ways you never imagined.”
