Do you have any equity in the house? If yes, then sell it, buy a 2-bedroom condo (flat) with cash or a large down payment to keep your monthly costs to a minimum. You’re talking $20/mo insurance, $250/mo common charges, $250/mo taxes, and you have a place that you can easily sublet for 3x those costs when you travel.
If you have anything left over, pick up a rental property. Drive a used car, no payments. Etc. Live below your means, use the money saved on travel.
Also: can you take a few weeks unpaid time off?
Lastly, you’re a software engineer. It’s not difficult to incorporate an LLC in California (much easier than starting a firm in most Eurozone countries) and sell your services on the open market. Plenty of small to midsize firms need custom software, web back ends, and mobile apps developed. Also things like digital control systems if you know anything about them. Buyer’s market for good freelancers out there.
I’m honestly as uncomfortable with the typical American lifestyle as you are.
