Between Two Worlds
On freedom, stability – and the desire not to have to choose.
This article was originally written in German and translated into English with the help of AI.
Our life right now feels like it exists in some kind of in-between.
One world
…is the world of “traveling families,” unschoolers, homeschoolers & worldschoolers. Here in the Traveling Village, we’re surrounded by families who are (mostly) outside the “system,” who (partly) educate their kids themselves, and who either don’t really have a home base—or leave it behind for most of the year.
These are people who are hungry for change and new experiences, but at the same time looking for connection and community. Parents who can afford to travel because they work remotely, are self-employed, or have taken a longer “break.” Most of them come from countries where it’s relatively easy (at least temporarily) not to send your kids to school.
So there are also many kids here who have never seen the inside of a kindergarten or a school. Whether the parents’ lifestyle choices or the children’s needs play the bigger role—I honestly can’t fully judge. And I also can’t really say whether these kids are missing something long term, or if they actually thrive because of the freedom.
What I can say: these are people who think deeply about their lives and actively shape them. And that’s not always easy. Every few weeks or months, new decisions have to be made—where to go, where to stay, which community to be part of. It also means very intense family time, because external childcare is often hard to organize.
Because community in this world is intentional, it also feels much more alive. Friends and community are basically always available—partly because there’s no place where adults or kids have to show up every single day. You’re closer to each other, sometimes even dependent on each other. That creates friction. But at the same time, things are less binding, because most families will probably never see each other again after the trip. That brings a certain easiness.
We know this “nomadic” world pretty well by now. We lived like this for four years as a couple. And over the past two years, we’ve dived deep into it again—with our daughter.
The other world
…is the world inside the (German) “system.” Many of our friends and neighbors in Germany live like this. At least one parent—and often both—have jobs that require physical presence, at least sometimes. Very few kids don’t go to kindergarten. And basically all kids go to school.
They don’t really have a choice—Germany’s compulsory schooling laws are not easy to get around.
Daily life has rhythm and structure. Weekends are for friends and family. Travel happens during school holidays—at the same time as everyone else. What these families might lack in freedom, they gain in stability. You stay in one place, build long-term friendships, and pursue hobbies. You know your neighbors, your baker, your local greengrocer. People are part of their local community.
Many stay in the same neighborhood for years. But that doesn’t automatically mean deeper connections. Because of busy schedules, fragmented time, a lot of indoor living, and often quite spacious homes, it’s not always easy to build close relationships with the people around you. “Playdates” need to be planned well in advance. Spontaneous meetups on weekends? Almost impossible—because everyone’s booked.
Michaela and I grew up in this world. In families of teachers. 13 years of school. And all our friends back home send their kids to school.
A change is coming
Our daughter turns seven this year. Which means compulsory schooling begins.
Luckily, we got a spot at our preferred school. So starting this summer, we’ll step into that world.
Honestly? If there were no compulsory schooling, we probably would have postponed this step for another one or two years. But in this case, we had to decide.
And we do see the upsides: more structure. And hopefully more time and energy again for our own projects and interests.
I want to live in both worlds.
I believe both worlds have their advantages. And we can find our place in both.
But I also notice something: I want it all. I always have. And Michaela is pretty similar.
The adventure. The flexibility. The community. The reliability. The exciting projects. Childcare. Free play for our daughter. Formal education. Sleeping in. Deep friendships. Endless summer. The seasons. A home. Constant movement. Time for self-realization.
Right now, we’re living in the first world. And we’re taking it all in. It’s an incredibly intense time.
From summer on, we’ll step into the second world. And I want to fully immerse myself there as well—and actively shape it in a way that works for us as a family.
Curious what life in the Traveling Village actually looks like? Take a look here.