How the ‘Wingin’ It Family’ fell in love with Iloilo

Family sells everything they own to travel the world

Roy Meyer and his family have sold everything except what fits inside five suitcases so they can freely travel the world.

ROY MEYER and his family have sold everything except what fits inside five suitcases.

In November last year – with his wife Carrie and children 12-year-old Cody and 9-year-old Samantha – Roy  and his family uprooted themselves from their happy life in California, taking a leap of faith and grabbing the chance to travel the world untethered to earthly possessions.

“I’ve always thought to myself: What if we were freed of everything we had so we could just go wherever we want, whenever we want,” Roy shared to Panay News during an interview at the Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo.

“We chose our family travel name, ‘The Wingin’ It Family,’ from a conversation my wife and I had many years ago well before we ever considered traveling the world full time. We were in Semiahmoo, Washington at a restaurant on the Puget Sound overlooking Canada, when a family of geese flew by effortlessly flapping their wings as they passed.

“Carrie wondered and asked dreamily. ‘Where do you think they’re going?’ As I thought for a moment, with a bit of jealousy in mind thinking of the freedom they enjoyed and the journey in front of them I replied, ‘I think they’re just Wingin’ It.’”

“All these years later, we remembered that conversation and the name just fit,” recounts Roy.

“We don’t have any attachments to material things. It frees us to go out and travel on a whim. It frees us financially. But I really want to make it clear that this is not a vacation, it’s a lifestyle,” explained Carrie.

“Basically, we’re trading material belongings for worldly experiences,” adds Roy.

Traveling with two kids in tow may seem daunting to some, but Roy and Carrie share that both Cody and Samantha are as game as them to explore the world.

“When Carrie and I sat down at the dinner table to tell our kids about our plans of long-term family travel, I wasn’t sure how they’d react. I hoped that Cody and Samantha would be on board when we told them that the four of us would be selling all our stuff, leaving home, and traveling the world together for the next several years,” said Roy.

“What I didn’t expect, though, is the way their faces lit up when they first heard the words. You would’ve thought we had just told them we were moving into the castle at Disneyland. I couldn’t believe how excited and open-minded they were about this journey.”

Carrie bons with some children at the Lanit Relocation Center.

Cody and Samantha are still homeschooled with Carrie guiding them to ensure a holistic learning experience for them – even outside of the classroom.

Since starting their “Wingin’ It,” Roy, Carrie, Cody, and Samantha have backpacked around India and the Maldives, but there’s just something about the Philippines – particularly Iloilo – that makes them never want to leave.

“We started in India for about a month, then the Maldives for a month. We planned to go the Philippines next for maybe two months. Two months passed, four months passed and we’re still here,” shared Carrie.

Roy reveals that even before his family decided to sell everything they had to venture the world, he had been visiting Iloilo for five years already – invited by one of the members of his digital team who is an Ilonggo.

“People keep asking me ‘Why do you love Iloilo so much?’” relates Roy. “We love the people, we love the culture, we love the food, we love getting involved with the communities.”

Roy shares that while they’re here in Iloilo they undertake frequent outreach activities at the Lanit Relocation – a community that houses Ilonggo families who used to be informal settlers around the city.

Samantha plays with her newfound friends at a school in Himamaylan, Negros Occidental.

“Our family is incredibly excited to start living and working around the globe, but it’s not just because we’re pumped to hang out on some of the most beautiful and exotic beaches on the planet – though we’re pretty dang excited about that too,” explained Roy. “Tropical views are great and all, but what matters most to me is doing right by our family and by the people we’ll be sharing these beautiful destinations with. Outreach is very important to us, and we’re eager to help others on our travels however we can.”

“Why do we give? What’s so good about giving, especially when we expect nothing in return? We’re often told it’s better to give than to receive. Giving is an act of altruism that gives us a sense of joy and purpose by becoming a channel of God’s love and blessings,” he added.

Roy also adds that he’s been happy and fascinated witnessing firsthand the growth development of Iloilo City after all these years.

The Wingin It Family conducts frequent outreach activities at the Lanit Relocation Center.

“It’s hard to leave, we’re having such a great time and we’re making such great connections,” shares Roy as they mark a nearly 5-month stay in Iloilo now.

“Any regrets?” Roy asks his children who were sitting beside them during the interview.

“Of course not!” resounded Samantha and Cody, who has even started to learn Hiligaynon.

“The Wingin’ It Family” is currently staying at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Iloilo as the first long-stay family of the prestigious international brand here in the region.

To find out more about Roy and his family you may check out their website at www.thewinginitfamily.com/PN

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