Welcome to the Over 50 & Thriving Series for 2019!
At the end of 2018, I compiled a list of the 47 Women who had taken part in the Series and their contributions. If you missed it you can read it HERE and I’m sure, like me you will enjoy re-reading their wise words.
I am delighted to be continuing the series this year and my first contributor for 2019 is someone that I literally only met before Christmas. We found each other through a Facebook group and I was keen to have her as one of my guests, especially as Ros and husband , Alan are also ‘Aussies’ like me.
Ros Cuthbertson and her husband Alan, have a lifestyle which many of us only dream about. However, as Ros shares with us, life doesn’t always go to plan and sometimes we need to stop and pursue what is important to us in life.
Their website Frequent Traveller, not only provides stories of their travels but also is a wonderful resource for planning your next adventure. I would encourage you to connect with Ros and Alan through the links at the end of this article.
What Over 50 and Thriving Means to Me
It’s funny how you can be living your life, going about your daily routine week in and week out without thinking of time passing. It’s not until life throws you a curveball that it makes you re-evaluate everything you believe in.
My reality check came when my Dad got sick with cancer. A rollercoaster ride, where each twist and turn gave a ray of hope that left me feeling like I was holding my breath and staring down into deep abyss, trying not to fall.
Ultimately the time came when I had to exhale and steel myself for my worst nightmare as I watched my beloved father’s life fade into history.
Suddenly, I began to question my life.
Why was I living my life at such a hectic pace, did I really need such a large house now that my children had left home?
Time became very precious to me, I realised that we aren’t on this planet long and I didn’t want to waste another minute.
Changing Our Life
We had always loved travel and the idea of retiring in Thailand really appealed to us, so at the ages of 54 and 56, my husband Alan and I, took a chance and quit out full time jobs, rented out our house in Australia and headed to Thailand.
We fell in love with the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, it has a beautiful culture, is a cheap and fun place to live and we made lots of friends.
After spending four months in the city, the excitement of living in a foreign land gave us itchy feet and the heady the siren call of travel lured us to the United Kingdom and Europe where we discovered house sitting.
House sitting is a wonderful concept, you get to stay rent free in exchange for looking after the home owners’ pets and house while they go away on holiday. House Sitting gave us the freedom to explore the world.
This year we visited Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, The United Arab Emirates, The Czech Republic, Finland, France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and are now back in Chiang Mai Thailand.
Along the way we have discovered a lot about ourselves, we cope well out of our comfort zone, we don’t need a lot of “stuff” to be happy, that travel keeps you young at heart and that the world really is a fascinating place.
Last year I turned 60, I really like the sound of that number, I know that I am getting older, but I don’t care, I have a wonderful life and I plan to enjoy every second of it.

Meet Ros
Australian Ros Cuthbertson and her husband Alan. Both in their 50s quit the conventional 9 to 5 workstyle in 2014 to travel the world full time. For part of the year they are based in the vibrant city of Chiang Mai Thailand.
It is from here that they regularly travel to nearby Asian countries sourcing content for their travel Blog Frequent Traveller. When not exploring Asia, they travel further afield and have over the course of the last few years travelled to many European destinations, as well as North and South America.
Connect with Ros
Website URL: https://www.frequenttraveller.com.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreqTraveller
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fretraveller
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frequenttravellers/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/frequenttrav
If you are Over 50 and would like to contribute to the Over 50 & Thriving Series, I would love to hear from you. Send me an email at sue@womenlivingwellafter50.com.au and I can provide more details. Click here to catch up on my previous guests in Over 50 & Thriving Series Or you can subscribe here so you never miss a post and receive a FREE Copy of my latest e-book ’10 ways to start Thriving today’! Don’t forget to post your Instagram photos using the hashtag #over50andthriving.
31 Comments
It’s amazing how those big life events make us evaluate the way we are living. But so many times, it stops there! Ros, I love how you and your husband took stock and actually made a plan to live the life you want! Good for you.
Hi Cathy, you are right that many of us have no problem evaluating what we need to do it is the execution that is the problem. Have a great week. xx
Hi Cathy,
Thank you for your kind words Cathy. 🙂 Taking the first step wasn’t easy but it was the best thing we ever did, if you have dreams follow them. 🙂
Ros
Fantastic! What an inspirational couple and proof that material things shouldn’t come first in people’s lives. Living your life, whether that’s downsizing, travelling or stepping outside that box is so much more important. It was a pleasure to read this and a pleasure to ‘virtually’ meet you both, Ros & Alan. We did something similar a year ago when we sold up and moved onto a boat. The best thing we’ve done in a long time 🙂
Hi Sam! Yes it is fantastic and I admire Ros and you for both following your hearts rather than following what society or family/friends tell you is right. You are both proof that if you take the leap, life can be wonderful. Have a fabulous 2019 and looking forward to more of your adventures. xx
Hi Samantha
A pleasure to ‘virtually’ meet you too Samantha! 🙂 Thank you for your kind words, we chose a life that made ‘us’ happy, it’s not everyone’s choice but the main thing is to find what makes you happy and follow that path. Don’t we deserve the best at this age? 🙂
Ros
HI, Ros – It’s wonderful to meet you here. I like your attitude and your risk taking. I look forward to reading more about your adventures!
Hi Donna, I was so impressed with Ros and her husband. Their attitude to life is certainly worth following and I’m looking forward to getting to know them more in 2019. xx
Hi Donna
Lovely to meet you too Donna! 🙂 I still have to pinch myself that we took that step, it was a risk and a lot of people thought we were crazy, I’m so glad we didn’t listen to them. 🙂
Ros
I love your series Sue and I’m so glad it’s continuing for 2019. I’m so pleased to have been one of your guests during 2018! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ros’s story. How brave she and her husband are! They’re so inspirational and so right. Experiences, connections and relationships are far more important than things and possessions. Ros refers to the life altering experience of losing her father. I can say that since losing my Dad just over 12 months ago, my outlook on life and what is important has also changed. I look forward to all the wonderful people you will introduce us to in this series during 2019 Sue. Meanwhile, look forward to seeing you again on the 6th!! xo #TeamLovinLife
Hi Min,
I’m sorry to hear about your Dad, it’s a shock especially when you are a bit of a Daddy’s girl. 🙂 Thank you for your kind words and yes I’m looking forward to more stories too. 🙂
Ros
Hi Min, I’m happy to continue for as long as there are women to share their thoughts and stories. I have had a great response to the series and I also enjoy learning from other wise women. The 6th will be here before we know it and I can’t wait. xx
What an inspiring story. Thanks, Sue, for introducing us. I’m so glad you’re continuing to bring us this series in 2019.
Thanks Jo, there are so many wonderful women Over 50 out there to meet. I’m happy to be continuing for as long as I can. x
Ros, what an inspiring decision and new life that resulted from it.
Sue, thank you for bringing us this positive series.
SSG xxx
Hi Sydney Shop Girl,
Thank you for your kind words, I’m glad you enjoyed the story. 🙂
Ros
Hi SSG, I really love this series and enjoy meeting such wonderful with women with great stories to share. x
I love this story, I’m not that brave and I feel the need for a home base, I think we both do, but there is so much allure in the thought of travelling full time. Pinning this to my travel board.
Hi Jan
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed the story. 🙂 You don’t have to be brave, just do what makes “you” happy. 🙂
Ros
I’m like you Jan, I would love to but it just doesn’t fit with our lifestyle. Thanks for pinning and stopping by to comment. x
I’ve pondered the idea of house-sitting but not sure if it’s for me! The idea of retiring overseas is a bit tempting though – especially if it was somewhere more affordable.
It occurs to me I’ll have little to hold me to life in Australia after my mum passes away. I have my friends but they all have their own partners and kids and stuff, so….
My husband and I have dreamed of retiring to Italy or Spain. He was born in Italy but has lived most of his life in Australia. However, it is just a dream because our lifestyle and priorities are here in Australia. We will continue to enjoy our travels and then come home to enjoy our family and friends here. I think house-sitting is a great way to travel and see other places. Looking forward to seeing you on the 6th. x
Hi Deborah,
We know so many people who are living the expat lifestyle, not only in Thailand but Vietnam and Cambodia, none have any regrets and they are living an enriched life full of wonder. 🙂 I know many people who visit for part of the year, that’s a great way to test the waters Deborah. 🙂
Ros
It sounds like your lifestyle absolutely fits you! So wonderful that you can travel together.
Hi Janet,
Lovely to hear from you! Yes it is wonderful that we can take this journey together, we have both grown in so many ways. 🙂
Right now I feel like packing my bags and disappearing to somewhere that has a nice beach and a swim up bar!
Okay I’m with you, Nikki! Happy New Year and thanks for stopping by. I’ll just go and pack my bags now. x
I really enjoyed meeting Ros through your blog Sue, what a fabulous story!
I’m looking forward to getting to know her more in 2019, Deb. x
So inspiring!! As I get ready to turn 50 this year, I’m looking forward to the possibilities. I do love a nice ROUND number. 50 sounds like so much fun. xoxo
Ros has a great story to share, doesn’t she Leanne! I looked forward to turning 50 and it really was the beginning of a new me. I started running, I grew in confidence and we started travelling more. The best is certainly yet to come! Hope you have a wonderful celebration planned, you deserve it. xx