<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Five years ago, as the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/covid-19" rel="" target="_blank" title="COVID-19 pandemic raged on"><span>COVID-19 pandemic raged on</span></a><span>, Allan Mercer and Jess Smith reached a fork in the road.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The South Australian couple realised they had two options: pursue the white picket fence dream and buy a house, or leave it all behind to live permanently on the road.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Naturally, the pair of "not-so-grey" nomads chose the latter.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mercer, 41, and Smith, 32, sold almost everything they owned, gave up their three-bedroom rental and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-victorias-grey-nomads-reveal-what-its-like-living-through-two-lockdowns-in-a-van/8027e9db-c4ff-4e68-9072-f2c5f242c73b" rel="" target="_blank" title="decked out a campervan"><span>decked out a campervan</span></a><span> to permanently explore Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dezi-freeman-porepunkah-search-day-two-hunt-for-accused-police-killer/cfed16c8-9280-4b71-91f8-9683cb5a0d68" target="_blank"><strong><span>Seven-figure reward remains open as hundreds scour bush for Dezi Freeman</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Around 116,000 kilometres later, they have no plans to ever return to their old lives.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We were both working normal jobs," Mercer told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/not-so-grey-nomads-south-australian-couple-allan-mercer-jess-smith-ditched-mortgage-and-rentals-for-life-on-the-road/c46712f9-d91b-4600-80ae-621757bfed51" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Jess is a physiotherapist by trade, and at the time, I was running my own personal training business, which was doing well."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple often worked six-day weeks and grew weary of the rat race.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And while plenty of their friends and family members back home knuckled down to buy a house, Mercer and Smith wanted something more.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They didn't want to wait until retirement to see their own backyard.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We hardly ever got to go away. We never really had weekends," Mercer added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We kind of got sick of paying somebody else's mortgage for their house.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"While we were sort of saving money, it wasn't enough to be able to get out of the rent cycle."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/elon-musk-starlink-space-junk-spotted-in-victorian-sky/0b4a17c0-3ff5-435b-9dbb-835bfab6a478" rel="" target="" title="Bright light seen across Victorian skies believed to be from Elon Musk's satellite"><strong><span>Bright light seen across Victorian skies believed to be from Elon Musk's satellite</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mercer said he "pestered" his now-fiancee to take the leap.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"One particular day, Jess actually just turned around and said, 'Yep, let's do it'," he recalled.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After ending their lease and holding a garage sale, the couple set off for an indefinite trip alongside Mercer's parents, who also live on the road full-time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Smith said her own parents were a little "shocked" by their decision.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They [asked me], but you've got a partner, why don't you buy a house?" she laughed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Aged in their 20s and 30s when they embarked on their adventure, Mercer and Smith are among tens of thousands of younger Australians who are eschewing mortgages for life on the road.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An Australian Facebook group known as "</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/637556563102391/" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><span>Not Grey Nomads</span></a><span>" has over 300,000 members and counting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Half a decade and a trove of priceless experiences later, Mercer and Smith have no regrets about buying a van instead of a property.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They have travelled to almost every state and territory in Australia except the ACT.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Their dream life has taken them to WA's Pilbara, Fortescue Bay in Tasmania, the Nullabor Plain, SA's Flinders Ranges, Rottnest Island, Bundaberg and Uluru.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We've definitely done the coin toss before to decide which way to go," Mercer said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I like being spontaneous now, I can deal with not having an exact plan for where we are going," Smith added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Right now, they are slowly making their way through Victoria's High Country.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When it gets colder, the couple will migrate north to "follow the sun".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/brain-tumour-vaccine-trial-for-children-in-australia/0c929d47-a04b-476a-8da2-e0615483b0fd" target="_blank" title="Aussie vaccine trial offers 'glimmer of hope' for kids with brain tumours"><strong><span>Aussie vaccine trial offers 'glimmer of hope' for kids with brain tumours</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Finances can be the most difficult part of full-time travel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Smith still keeps her registration as a physio by taking on casual appointments wherever they travel, and they both pick up odd jobs at pubs, caravan parks or bottle shops in small towns to earn cash.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The most it's ever taken us to find work over five years is two days," Mercer said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They also run a popular YouTube channel and Instagram page called </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Explore_oz/videos" rel="" target="_blank" title="ExploreOz"><span>ExploreOz</span></a><span>, which they hope can earn them full-time income.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It can cost between $500 to $1000 per week to live on the road.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That includes petrol, van maintenance, internet bills, flat tyres, food and campsite fees.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Diesel petrol for their 2023 Isuzu D-Max is the biggest expense that eats into their budget.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're spending a lot less money per week now compared to what we would be spending on a mortgage," Mercer added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mercer and Smith have no intention of ending their travels and say it's possible to live on the road "forever".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We still get a lot of, 'How's your trip going? How's your holiday?" Mercer said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But this is our life now. This is what we do."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank" title=""><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>