I planned to move into a van and travel during retirement. At 45, I decided to stop waiting.

Growing up, I always wanted to move into a van and travel the world.

Cara Schrock I dreamed of traveling the US by van , but I planned to wait until I retired in my 60s.

After losing my mom to early-onset Alzheimer's, I bought my first van at 45.

Four years later, I'm still traveling by van, and so glad I didn't wait.

My 16-year-old self had it all figured out: I wanted to live in a van and travel the US.

Time did what time does, though, and practical lessons from older relatives slowly pushed those dreams to the back of my mind.

Instead of saving for a Volkswagen bus, I saved for my first home , because that was considered a smart investment.

Then I saved for my second house, because bigger is better.

After all, that's what my parents did, and it's what they taught their kids to do, too.

I was never one to blindly follow the crowd.

My favorite compliment I ever received from my mom was that I "walked to the beat of my own drum," but when it came to my life's trajectory, I stayed right in line with the rest of the band.

My plans changed after losing my mom After losing my mom, I decided I didn't want to wait to follow my dreams.

Cara Schrock Before my mom even reached retirement age, she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's and forced into early retirement .

My dad continued to work until 65, but during the retirement they had spent their adult lives planning for, my mom needed too much care to travel, and my dad became her full-time caregiver .