I think the limit is mostly set by having kids, and not necessarily age. My wife and I travel frequently (if you consider this exploration time, but I might hav

I think the limit is mostly set by having kids, and not necessarily age. My wife and I travel frequently (if you consider this exploration time, but I might have misunderstood). And in addition she is now going back to university for a third master after having worked for some time. We're about the age you describe, late-20s, early-30s. But our friends of around the same age with kids seem to have a lot less of this 'freedom'. Responsibilities take over. Not saying you can't do those things with kids - but it does seem harder.