Reflecting on his journey, Adeney notes that the core motivation drawing him to early retirement back in 2005 was freedom—a principle that remains his guiding compass. When he initially left his demanding career in tech, his primary goal was to devote his best hours to raising his son. Eighteen years later, as his son finishes high school, Adeney views early retirement as an ongoing, worthwhile adventure. With the primary child-raising phase nearing completion, he is choosing to trade a portion of his routine for a winter trial in an innovative urban environment.
On the first of December, Adeney plans to pack essential tools, gadgets, and clothing, loading his mountain bike onto his Tesla Model Y for a road trip across the mountains just as winter sets into Colorado. His son will join him for the journey, after which the teenager will split his time between Arizona and Colorado to maintain a balanced schedule with both parents. Meanwhile, Adeney has booked a spacious two-bedroom apartment in Culdesac Tempe for a four-month stay.
The move is designed to challenge Adeney to reinvent his daily routine away from the comfortable surroundings and ongoing construction projects that have defined his life in Colorado. By stepping outside his familiar environment, he aims to embrace the friction and growth that come with genuine change.
Embracing Strategic Hardship and New Experiments
Beyond personal renewal, Adeney’s move serves a broader purpose: demonstrating the value of deliberate life experiments and supporting innovative urban planning. As an outspoken proponent of sustainable city design, he hopes his temporary relocation will draw positive attention to Culdesac Tempe, encouraging other developers across the United States to build similar car-free neighborhoods that prioritize pedestrians, cyclists, and community connection over endless parking lots.
Adeney connects this lifestyle experiment to broader psychological insights regarding human comfort and motivation. Citing concepts discussed by psychiatrist Dr. Anna Lembke in the book Dopamine Nation, he points out that the human brain establishes a baseline for happiness based on the most challenging activities a person undertakes. When individuals eliminate all hardship, modern conveniences such as constant entertainment and comfort foods can lead to complacency and a lack of motivation. By intentionally introducing challenges—whether through physical exertion, environmental changes, or shifting living arrangements—individuals can maintain a healthier, more engaged outlook on life.
Reflecting on his own history, Adeney recalls moving to the United States alone at age 24—a bold and daunting leap that fundamentally shaped his future. While acknowledging that he has grown more comfortable and cautious over the decades, he continues to advocate for the courage to pursue purposeful changes, regardless of age.
Logistics of the Move: Cars, Housing, and Beyond
Addressing the practical details of his relocation, Adeney explains that his electric vehicle will serve strictly as a moving truck for the long-distance trip. Once he arrives in Tempe, the car will be parked offsite, allowing him to live a fully car-free lifestyle supported by the community’s light rail access, bike lanes, scooter sharing, and nearby amenities.
As for his home base in Colorado, the property features a main-floor living space alongside a separate lower-level apartment typically used to host visiting friends. For the duration of the winter, Adeney plans to rent out one of these spaces to a trusted acquaintance while keeping the remaining section available for occasional trips back north. This arrangement aligns with his longstanding philosophy of generating income while traveling or taking vacations.
Looking past the end of March, Adeney has no rigid plans fixed in stone. He intends to return to his Colorado home base while continuing to explore new phases of life, including ongoing involvement in mountain property developments. For those interested in tracking his transition, Adeney has established a dedicated update page on his website as he prepares for his upcoming winter in Arizona.
