The Hamori Family (from left to right): Alfonz, Angelina, Daniel & Eva.
Follow their adventures at “That’s Hamori!”. @ThatsHamori on Twitter.
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“I want the kids to learn to roll with the punches. Self driven interests and learning the things they encounter through experience. Life is beautiful but learning it from a book is boring! I want them to gain a love of travel, and experiencing the world we live in my immersing themselves into it. And language. They speak Hungarian and English and soon French. I hope the list goes on for all of us.”
In less than 3 weeks, you will be moving to France with your two school-aged children and your husband.
Can you tell me a bit about where you’ve been living and what you’ve been doing up to now?
Our family has been in a temporary townhouse, not 25 yards from the house we sold. Totally lucked out, and we are house sitting for friends of friends until we leave Aug 2nd. We have been preparing ourselves, selling off the last bit of things, and setting up our kids with homeschooling. Finishing up my work, 6 shifts to go, and loads of going away parties. Keeping it simple.
What made you decide to sell all your belongings and make this move?
Time Currency! We want to live our life as if it were our last years to live. We want to be together for the crucial years of the kids being small. This is the plan that made the most sense to us. Have a viable income that keeps us together.
What things made you choose France?
France has an amazing tourist drive. Number one visited place in the world, boosting 320 days of sun on the Med Sea each year.
We needed a place that has enough of a commercial drive to sustain a B&B and produce an income to support a family of 4.
Were you considering any other places in addition to France? If so, where and why?
We have a home in Budapest Hungary, when we are not there it is rented out. But mostly summer income with the occasional New Years and Christmas visitors. Not enough to sustain a family of four. I love Budapest, my family is amazing, and our social life there is rich with culture. They have 4 distinct seasons, beautiful seasons however not tourist rich all year round.
I would have considered anywhere. I’ve never been to France but Alfonz sure has. And it he says this is the place, I believe it.
What do your friends and family think about the move?
Most of the people that love us support us. Some close friends say we are crazy.
We did give up a great life for the pre retirement plan of living now and not waiting until retirement, time currency, spending as much time together as possible while the kids are young, and lastly hanging out with my best friend, Alfonz, while we are healthy enough to play with the kids and each other on some well deserved adventures.
I will miss my circle of friends but the world is getting smaller, and options are readily available for travel and staying in touch. It’s not as scary as when our parents came here. We are not escaping danger we are going on an adventure.
Are your children excited to move?
Daniel is more aware of what it means to leave. He has friends from kindergarten that he is very blessed with, and saying goodbye might be hard.
But with the internet and Skype he can stay connected and we will come back to visit. Angelina adapts far easier. But both are bright and adventurous and once we are having fun and exploring Europe I believe they will get more value out of it than they will appreciate until they are older.
What did they say when you told them?
Daniel negotiated a place he wants to go. Africa! So our family has to pay the debt. Darn eh? Poor us have to go to Africa to make things ok with my boy!
Where does your love of travel come from? Have either you or your husband traveled much before?
Alfonz and I have travelled each and every year since we were born. Our families are Hungarian, and with all the countries so close together, it was never a question.
Alfonz travelled Europe with his family even in the communism era. They would have been huge adventurers if not for the restrictions back then.
Myself growing up in BC Canada, we would take camping trips all over BC, Alberta, down into the States along the coast all the way to Mexico. And each year we went back to visit Hungary. Once I grew up my first paycheque went to my first vacation to Europe, then Mexico, Hawaii, Cuba, each year a different destination.
Since married we go away each year somewhere. And to Hungary via Germany as often as finances allow and try to hit a different country each time.
By making this move, what kind of experiences and memories do you hope to gain for yourself and your family?
I want the kids to learn to roll with the punches. Self driven interests and learning the things they encounter through experience. Life is beautiful but learning it from a book is boring! I want them to gain a love of travel, and experiencing the world we live in my immersing themselves into it. And language. They speak Hungarian and English and soon French. I hope the list goes on for all of us.
You’ve downsized all your belongings to just a few suitcases each.
What are some belongings that have been rather hard for you and your family to give up?
Nothing surprisingly. I have learned over the last few months that things are only things. Even the dishes and knives, paintings that I thought would be hard, all have nothing really to do with us so much as the value we put on them.
My computer has our photos, the kids are at an age where most of their interests are DSI computer related and quickly out grown. A few items they cannot part with are sleepy bear, and kitty stuffy. Not bad for a life time.
Part of your children’s home school curriculum includes blogging their travels. Do they understand what blogging is? What is their definition of blogging?
They see mommy blogging. I explained it to them as a way to talk with their friends online. Budapest is our first stop towards France, and their first entry with be then. Wish them luck! They are way ahead of their ages, and completely technology savvy. They’ll have some fun with it.
What would you say to someone who’s reading this right now, someone who has school-aged children, maybe has a mortgage or a long-term rental and wants to travel and see the world with their family?
You have to live your life. Some people’s goal is to own a home, someone else’s might be to travel around for a year. I’ve met people who travel around each year all year for 10 years. We are all so different. But if you can take the time out, and travel with the kids even for a weekend, or a week, or a month, or a year. Do it! They will never forget it. And neither will you.
Start living your life today and everything else falls into place. I believe this.
Alfonz & Eva Hamori.
