Sold it all for two suitcases: how this 65-year-old author lives on the road full-time

When author Mary-Lou Stephens and her husband Ken decided to sell almost everything they owned to travel the world, they traded a house full of possessions for two suitcases.

The 65-year-old now fills her days researching and writing her works of historical fiction while gazing out the window of their latest apartment.

"I spend my days with my imaginary friends, Ken goes out and makes real ones," Stephens told ACM.

Her days follow a reliable pattern: she wakes early for a leisurely walk around the city or town she's in before returning to her desk for a full day of writing.

While she is focused at her desk, Ken heads out into the streets to immerse himself in the local way of life.

As the author of The Last of the Apple Blossom (2021), The Chocolate Factory (2024), The Jam Maker (2025) and The Hobart Hotel (2026), Stephens writes about the history of her home state, Tasmania.

"I'm in Tasmania in my head and then I look out the window and the Canigou mountain range is just out my window," she said.

Over the past four years, the couple has lived in Ceret in France, Essaouira in Morocco, Kuching in Sarawak, Uruguay and the Isle of Man among other locations.

They're undertaking a marathon of slow travel, a style of tourism defined by longer stays and cultural immersion.

It's an increasingly popular trend in travel, as almost two in five older Australians say they have planned a trip around slow travel or the "joy of missing out", known as JOMO.

A further 24 per cent are interested in planning a trip like this, according to the Grey Gap Year Report 2025.

Beyond the enviable routine is a lifestyle that Stephens says is "not all a bed of roses".

Living full-time on the road as low-income earners relying on superannuation requires strict planning, particularly when navigating medical care.

Their international travel insurance caps coverage at one year, meaning the couple returns to Australia annually to renew.

For their day-to-day medical needs, such as minor procedures in Morocco or wound care in Asia, they maintain a dedicated health emergency fund to pay out of pocket.

Navigating medical care in foreign countries is one of the more overlooked hurdles for older travellers.

According to the Holafly Plans Healthcare Index of 2026, almost half of frequent long-stay travellers have delayed or avoided seeking necessary medical care overseas.

"Language barriers and administrative confusion often weigh heavier than cost or physical availability," Holafly chief operations officer Metin Kastro said.

"Long-stay travellers and remote workers frequently delay seeking medical attention simply because navigating a foreign system - from identifying a verified English-speaking clinic to understanding local payment protocols - feels overwhelming when they are already unwell."

In order to sustain their nomadic life, the couple tends to avoid large cities.

"They're too expensive [and] too big," she said.