The move marks a significant lifestyle shift for the retired tech worker, who originally left his traditional career in 2005 to dedicate his best hours to fatherhood. Looking back over the past eighteen years, that calculated leap into early retirement has proven to be a deeply rewarding adventure. What began with dropping his son, affectionately known as Little MM, off at kindergarten has now evolved into the closing chapter of full-time child-raising. With that foundational phase drawing to a close, the veteran writer and DIY enthusiast is intentionally seeking out a fresh challenge to avoid the comfortable stagnation that often accompanies long-term financial security.
Starting on the first of December, Mr. Money Mustache plans to pack his essential tools, gadgets, and a prized mountain bike into his Tesla Model Y for an epic road trip across the mountain passes, beating the incoming Colorado winter to the sunny skies of the Southwest. His son will join him for the journey, kicking off an arrangement where the younger MM will alternate months between Arizona and Colorado to maintain time with both parents. Meanwhile, the financial blogger will settle into a spacious two-bedroom apartment within the walkable, bikeable community for the duration of the winter season.
The decision to relocate temporarily is driven by more than just a desire to escape the snow. It represents a deliberate exercise in reinventing daily life away from the familiar routines and ongoing construction projects that have defined his Colorado routine for years. By embedding himself in Culdesac Tempe—a neighborhood he has previously praised for its innovative urban planning—he hopes to experience firsthand whether North American cities can successfully pivot away from car-dependency.
The broader philosophy behind the move centers on the concept of strategic hardship and deliberate experimentation. Citing the work of psychiatrist Dr. Anna Lembke in her book Dopamine Nation, the blogger notes that human brains calibrate baseline happiness according to the most challenging activities we undertake. In a prosperous society, the natural tendency is to seek comfort, minimize exertion, and lean into luxury, conveniences, and entertainment. However, eliminating all friction from daily life can gradually dull the appreciation for everyday pleasures, leading to complacency and a lack of motivation.
By intentionally introducing a significant life change—such as relocating to a new environment, adopting a fully car-free lifestyle, and challenging the body with new physical routines—individuals can reset their baseline and inject fresh meaning and joy into their routines. This philosophy mirrors the boldest move of his own past: immigrating alone to the United States at the age of 24. Looking back decades later, he credits that past courage with shaping a vastly
improved present life, serving as proof that purposeful disruption yields long-term dividends.
Logistically, the transition involves a few temporary adjustments. The electric vehicle will serve strictly as a moving truck for the initial road trip, transporting four months of living supplies before being parked offsite for the winter. Once settled in Tempe, daily transportation will rely entirely on the community’s pedestrian infrastructure, light rail access, and shared bicycle and scooter networks.
Back in Colorado, his home base—a main-floor residence paired with a separate lower-level apartment typically reserved for visiting friends—will also see a temporary transformation. To practice the classic Mustachian principle of generating income while traveling, he hopes to rent out a portion of the property to a trusted acquaintance over the winter months while retaining access for occasional visits back north.
As for what lies beyond the four-month experiment, no definitive plans have been set. March will bring a return to his Colorado home base, but the experience is expected to serve as a stepping stone into a broader phase of life. Whether that leads to future seasonal migrations, further involvement in mountain properties, or the eventual establishment of an independent mountain retreat remains to be seen. In the meantime, the ongoing chronicle of the Culdesac experiment is being tracked on a dedicated page as the departure date rapidly approaches.
