Pickleball Slomads: How This Couple Turned the World Into Their Court
How Amy and Rommel Ventura traded their belongings for a life of travel, adventure, and pickleball.
“It was kinda liberating to know that the notion of home was something I can choose.”
While some people dream about packing up, hitting the road, and seeing the world...Amy and Rommel Ventura actually did it.
After years of moving around during their careers, the idea of staying put in one place never really felt right. So when retirement rolled around, they made a bold decision: sell almost everything, keep only what fit in two suitcases, and embrace a life of slow travel. No permanent address, no storage unit full of “just in case” stuff—just them and a world of new experiences waiting.
And through it all, one thing has been a constant: pickleball.
Now, as self-proclaimed "slomads" (slow nomads), Amy and Rommel have mastered the art of long-term travel without ever feeling like tourists. They don’t just pass through places—they live in them, soaking up the culture, making connections, and, of course, playing lots of pickleball.
Buckle up and read on to discover how they made it happen, the lessons they’ve learned, and why they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Building a Life Without Borders
How It All Began
It was 1990, and Amy was an Air Force Captain stationed at Clark Air Base, working as a neonatal ICU nurse. Rommel was helping run his family’s propane and commercial printing business in his hometown of Angeles City when he ran into a friend—who happened to be dating Amy’s boss.
As it turned out, Amy had been tagging along on their dates, unintentionally becoming the “third wheel.” Looking for a solution to the “third wheel”, his friend asked Rommel if he wanted to meet someone who played tennis.
“I was just starting to play, so I thought it was a good idea to meet this gal,” Rommel recalls. “She clobbered me in all our games! Maybe it’s just me, but I found it impressive that she could school me in a sport like that.” Amy was also the faster swimmer, could outrun him distance-wise, and even tried to teach him golf.
Rommel thought to himself, “This gal’s really something,” and said, “There’s just something attractive about a strong and independent woman.”
From makeshift courts to a global pickleball adventure
Amy and Rommel were introduced to pickleball in 2016 during a Thanksgiving vacation in Costa Rica. Amy’s sister and brother-in-law brought paddles and taught them the basics, and while they had fun taping off a makeshift court on a tennis court, they didn’t fully dive into the sport at first.
It wasn’t until Amy’s sister visited California in 2019 that things changed. With Rommel away for work and Amy newly retired, they decided to find a local place to play. They played with wooden paddles provided by the Parks and Rec in Livermore, CA. Amy said “I was hooked and started to play nearly every day.”
Rommel started playing pickleball during COVID as a way to stay in shape while waiting for basketball to return (he played every day at work during lunch breaks). He thought they’d be back in the office in a few months, but since COVID lasted over a year, he had retired by then.
And as they transitioned into their nomadic lifestyle, pickleball was something they could play together.
LIFE ON THE MOVE: THE NOMADIC PATH
After decades of moving every few years in the Air Force, the idea of selling everything and traveling full-time felt like a natural next step.
“We had the opportunity to live in Greece, Japan, Okinawa, Turkey, Portugal, Alaska, and all over the U.S. We loved the challenge of learning a new culture, meeting new friends, and experiencing new places,” Amy says.
By the time Rommel retired in 2021, they were ready. They downsized from a five-bedroom home, selling nearly everything they owned, and committed to traveling light—with only two suitcases each.
Was it scary?
“I truly didn’t fear this change. It was freeing and exciting,” Amy says.
For Rommel, the transition felt like a continuation of their Air Force life, except now they choose where to go. He said, “our ideal plan is to be in a place long enough to really know the place. Nomads call it slomad, short for slow nomad.”
And with their two suitcases each, packed into their Toyota 4-Runner, they were off.
PB + Travel: the perfect combo
Pickleball has influenced nearly every aspect of Amy and Rommel’s travels. Before picking a destination, they research walkability, climate, and—most importantly—whether there’s pickleball.
While traveling through New Zealand, they planned their stays around cities with courts, reaching out to local clubs in advance. Along the Oregon coast, they hopped from small town to small town, meeting players eager to share their best local spots.
Pickleball has also given them a unique way to experience different cultures.
“In places like Canada and New Zealand, people were playing purely for fun—no instructors, no pros, just people getting out to move and enjoy,” Amy says.
SLOMAD CHALLENGES AND Sharing the Aloha in the philippines
Slomad Challenges
One of the biggest challenges of not having a permanent home is the lack of a built-in support system, requiring flexibility and resourcefulness.
“You most likely won’t have the support that you might have back home, so you have to learn when to ask for help or be calm and level-headed when issues arise,” Rommel explains.
Another hurdle is managing financial matters and important documents, as many institutions don’t accept a P.O. Box or a nomadic lifestyle as a valid address. To work around this, they rely on trusted family or close friends who allow them to use their address when needed.
Growing the Game in the Philippines
During a visit home to the Philippines, Rommel introduced pickleball to his family. What started as a fun activity for his siblings quickly turned into something bigger.
“Before we knew it, my brothers had started a pickleball club, and now Angeles City has two pickleball facilities and a club with over 100 members,” he says.
The impact has been incredible—bringing families together, creating new opportunities, and even inspiring community outreach programs in orphanages.
“It’s amazing that a sport can bring several generations together and create lasting memories,” Rommel says.
Do you ever miss having a home base?
Amy: Honestly, I don’t feel like there’s anything to miss. Where we are feels like home because we’re together. Our friends and family know we may or may not have a home base but many of these friends and family have come for extended visits to Oahu. We feel very fortunate to be able to host so many visitors.
Rommel: I came to question the concept of home back in 2011 when we were driving from California to Alaska for Amy’s military assignment. I was stopped for speeding in Canada. Our car had a California plate but I had a Colorado driver’s license. The car registration only had Amy’s name with a military waiver showing her as a resident of New Mexico. The police officer kept asking me, ‘where is home or where do you live?’
I had to explain that we didn’t have a permanent address as we were in between military moves. Finally, the officer let me off with a warning because as she said, ‘I don’t know where to mail the ticket.’
It made me think that if home were a place then I was homeless.
At that point, home was the adventure of driving the 3000 plus miles to Anchorage with Amy.
I thought it was kinda liberating to know that the notion of home was something I can choose. For me, it’s more about creating a ‘sense of home,’ if that makes sense.
Amy and Rommel with Amy’s sister, Kim, and her husband
What do you love about pickleball?
Amy: My reply to this question has changed so much since moving to Oahu. In California I played primarily for the exercise and to try to become a better player. I showed up, played as many games as I could, and got out of there.
In Hawaii, I play for completely different reasons. We have met absolutely wonderful people through pickleball. I would call these people lifelong friends. We now reciprocate rides to the airport, meet up for activities outside of pickleball and simply have become part of each others’ lives. We found our dentist, chiropractor, mechanic, hairdresser, barber and of course the best restaurants through our pickleball friends.
We were very fortunate to have had the opportunity to take classes at Palama Settlement and now this year at Kalakaua Community Center. We try to “give back” as well by serving as “helpers” for both programs and by participating in a drilling group at Mother Waldron.
Rommel: I love the community spirit it fosters. It’s the only sport that I can think of where you can show up to an open play court by yourself and start playing with strangers. Hopefully, we keep this spirit alive as the sport grows. In the end, it’s people that make up the community. Amy and I tell ourselves that we’re ‘double blessed’ because we have become good friends with our pickleball group, and we have good friends that play pickleball.
You both were nominated to be “Pickleballers in the 808” for exemplifying aloha at the courts. What does this mean to you?
Amy: Aloha at the courts to me means to welcome everyone. Mother Waldron court is known for this. There, no one is turned away. Beginners are welcomed and encouraged. Additionally, aloha is about respect for everyone, fostering a sense of belonging, unconditional inclusion and equality, and working together in building a stronger community.
Rommel: Mahalo Bruce and Sandy for the nomination. You know, I was a bit surprised by it because I feel like I don’t really do anything different from what others at the courts we play at do. I am honored by it and I think of it more as a recognition of the ‘Pay-It-Forward’ (PIF) mentality that we learned from Palama Settlement Pickleball. Margie (Katras), Lori (Fujikawa), and Kea (Gillis) heavily stressed the concept to the students. I feel it’s unique to the pickleball community and I hope it continues to spread and grow.
Wisdom from a world of travel
Living without a permanent home has taught Amy and Rommel invaluable lessons.
For Amy, it’s about embracing experiences over possessions. “Things are just things—you actually don’t need most of them. It’s the people you meet and the experiences you share that truly matter.”
Rommel agrees. “Collect memories, not things. You’ll be surprised by how little you actually need.”
Despite the freedom of their lifestyle, they also recognize that one day, they may settle down. But for now, they’re embracing the journey—one pickleball game at a time.
And as for what’s next, Spain is high on their list, as is their role in growing pickleball. They’d love to give back by introducing the sport in new countries.
Rommel says “if the GI Bill overseas doesn’t work out, I’d love to find a country where pickleball is just starting and help grow the game. And, of course, I’d have to find a place fun enough to convince our pickleball ohana to come visit.”
Wherever they go next, one thing is certain: in their two suitcases, there’ll always be room for their paddles.
Above, at Nugget Point, NZ and R) at Devils Tower National Monument, WY
