'Bucket List Family' embraces service, kindness as they travel the world

'Bucket List Family' embraces service, kindness as they travel the world

(Bucket List Family/Instagram)


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PROVO — If you had the chance to trade a house, car and established lifestyle for a once-in-a-lifetime journey around the world, would you take it?

A former BYU student did just that, and along with his wife, two young children and thousands of followers on social media, he's checking items off his "bucket list" in a way that most could only ever dream of — all while prioritizing service throughout their adventure.

The last few years have been "crazy busy" for 26-year-old Garrett Gee. While a student at BYU, Gee designed an enormously successful app, formed a company and sold that company to Snapchat for a whopping $54 million.

It was around that time that Gee finished up his final season on the BYU soccer team and decided to drop out of school.

"It was definitely a pivotal time for my family and I," said Gee. "We were in a blessed situation where we had the financial means to buy a house, a new car and settle down, but that felt too much like growing up and we weren't ready for that. … So we began brainstorming what other options we had."

That's when Gee and his wife, Jessica, came up with the idea to sell their possessions and use their profits to travel the world.

"We started planning things just for fun, as if it would never actually happen," he said. "But the more we planned, the more real everything became."

The couple hosted an online "yard sale" where they listed everything from cars to clothing to electronics. They used the money they raised to start booking flights around the world.

The Gees settled on a 6-month itinerary that included stops in New Zealand, Australia, Tahiti, Thailand, Vietnam and Tonga — to name a few. The family has seen, experienced and tasted countless things thus far, and is documenting their adventures on their blog, Instagram and YouTube accounts.

"My favorite highlight of the trip so far was the moment I first jumped into the ocean with a pod of humpback whales," he said. "It was life-changing incredible."

While the Bucket List Family has done some incredible things, it's the simple joys that the couple cherishes most.

"Watching my son learn to swim in Thailand or watching my daughter attend her first days of school in Bali," Gee recalled. "These are all special moments no matter where they take place, but I'm grateful we're creating these lasting memories all around the world together."

Living a nomadic lifestyle with kids — daughter Dorothy is 3 and son Manilla is 1 — can be tricky, Gee admits. But it's always worth it.

"Travel is always full of life lessons, big and small," Gee said. "For me, every destination has been a consistent reminder that everyone in this world is different and everyone in this world is equal. … Everyone is unique but there are key attributes that connect us together, like kindness, empathy and charity."

Charity is a big part of the Gees' way of life. Throughout their travels, the couple has actively sought out opportunities to quietly help other people — donating LASIK surgery, volunteering at orphanages and giving anonymously where they see a need.

Last year, the couple had a chance to send a family in need on an all-expenses paid trip to Disneyland. The Gees wanted to make sure they remained anonymous, but the grandfather of the family recognized Garrett from his appearance on the TV show, "Shark Tank."

"The family came to visit us in person and we were able to see the way it affected their lives," he said. "Their gratitude was so pure. As soon as they left, my wife and I looked at each other and agreed: This is what we're meant to do. Service is addicting and also infectious."

The Gees decided to return home to the states for the holidays, but they're not ready to settle down just yet. They're already working on a 2016 travel itinerary and making preparations to hit the road once again.

"At the top of my wish list is scuba diving the Continental Divide in Iceland, treasure hunting in the Caribbean, and living in a lighthouse in Croatia," Gee said. "A great source of plans and inspiration for us has been people commenting on our Instagram and YouTube. People all over the world have shared secrets of their homelands with us, and we love it."

The Gees have been inspired by the online community they've built through their travel documentation, and plan to continue that project with the hopes to spread the message they've chosen to live by.

"So much of what you find online today is negative and poor. It's unfortunate," Gee said. "We try and combat the negative stuff with our simple message of family and travel. We don't have a massive following or anything, but it's always rewarding when we receive feedback from individuals about how they've been inspired to try something new, go somewhere far, or simply spend more time with their family."

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