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My parents, like many of their peers, bought a caravan shortly after retiring. Each winter they escape a cold Melbourne, and head north, to explore the vastness of our nation and enjoy the agreeable climate on offer.

They're onto their second caravan now, and whilst their preference has evolved to staying in the one spot for an extended period rather than travel around, the winter escape remains a permanent fixture in their yearly calendar.

This type of retirement, frequently referred to as the Grey Nomad lifestyle, is something of the default for Australians. Our superannuation and age pension system point us towards an income producing life that ends around 65 years of age, give or take a few years, followed by hopefully 20+ years of leisure.

And whilst this model brings happiness to many people, here at Financial Autonomy, our mission is to share with you potential alternatives. Surely there's a way to live a full and interesting life now, not put things like travel and exploration off until our best years are behind us.

I can't think of a single component of our complex lives where there is but one path. Certainly there might be one path that is the most popular, the most trodden. And it will be well lit to make those approaching it feel like they'd be crazy to do anything else. But there are always alternatives.

Always.