A couple are child-free so they can prioritise experiences over everything – and say they don’t want to "miss out" on adventures by having kids. <br /><br />Helene Sula, 36, and her husband, Michael, 36, are intentionally child-free and consider themselves as DINKS - which stands for 'dual income no kids'.<br /><br />The couple grew up Catholic in Dallas, Texas, US, and after getting married had considered children as the next step.<br /><br />But they realised they didn’t want to "miss out" on experiences after going to Tomorrowland festival.<br /><br />Helene and Michael, who run a travel blog together, didn’t have a "calling" for children and said it didn’t feel "right" to have them for the sake of it.<br /><br />Instead their child-free lifestyle has enabled them to live in Germany, the US, and the UK and visit 56 countries and counting.<br /><br />Helene, a travel blogger, currently living in Oxford, said: “We're in an incredible time where we can do what we want in life.<br /><br />“We’re living the dream.<br /><br />"We prioritise experiences over everything else."<br /><br />Helene and Michael met in high school and got married aged 24 in 2011 and had always thought having kids would be the next step.<br /><br />But after going to Tomorrowland festival in July 2012, they realised they didn’t necessarily see children in their future.<br /><br />Helene said: “We thought ‘there is so much more that we’re missing out on'.”<br /><br />Helene started a travel blog and grew it after a climbing injury stopped her from working her job in marketing and PR.<br /><br />The couple decided to move to Germany in 2016 – and travelled around Europe.<br /><br />Helene said: “We were missing out on kids but there is so much to explore.<br /><br />“There is no wrong or right way.<br /><br />“I had thought I wanted to have kids at a younger age but reset my framework and realised that’s not for me.”<br /><br />The couple love the “spontaneity” they have to go on dates nights or go away last minute.<br /><br />Michael said: “We met up with our friends in Croatia with a four-month-old and they hadn’t been on a date night in a year.<br /><br />“I feel raising children is one of the most important things you can do in life.<br /><br />“It’s such a selfless thing to do.<br /><br />“You have to be certain you want one.<br /><br />“I never felt strongly that way.<br /><br />“I don’t feel a calling to be a parent and it didn’t feel right to do it as it’s the ‘done thing’.”<br /><br />Helena and Michael moved back to Dallas, Texas, in 2019 and travelled around the US but moved to Oxford, in the UK, in October 2023.<br /><br />They are able to work online while they travel and have visited 56 countries including Iceland, Croatia and Morocco.<br /><br />Helene said: “I want to experience as many places as I can.<br /><br />“It’s never ending.”<br /><br />Helene's favourite places to visit have been New England, and the Christmas markets in Germany and France.<br /><br />The couple said their family have been supportive but strangers are constantly asking when they are having kids.<br /><br />For now it is something Helene and Michael don't see in their future but they haven't completely ruled it out.<br /><br />Michael said: “Some people say not having kids is selfish.<br /><br />“We’re more comfortable with the idea of not having children than we have been.<br /><br />“The life we're living for me is so much more rewarding.”
