Bear Spray and Bad Toes

About an hour and a half into my hike today my left toes started to hurt.

At first it was just a ping of pain, but before long I was limping badly and had to make the strategic decision to find my way down the mountain to the highway and try hobbling my way up the highway back to the trailhead where my car was parked several miles up the road. That way, if I got to the point where I could not walk at all, at least I could flag down a car and hitch a ride.

As I hobbled along the famous scenic byway (Hwy 101), looking like a vagabond, I took in the endless expanse of blue and white. The sun was shining so bright in the azure sky, and it felt so good on my face.

The roar of the waves beside me was almost deafening. I imagined I was Bill Bryson on the Appalachian Trail – or Reese Witherspoon in the movie Wild – walking alone from Mexico to Canada. I always find these sorts of stories inspiring, and I have often contemplated walking the Camino del Santiago.

But it is days like this that hold me back.

I worry I will get halfway between two villages in remote Portugal only to have my chronic tendonitis flare up and leave me stranded alone in the wilderness. But the truth is, the Camino is full of people just like me, and you are never alone.

It is kind of like my life: I am by myself most of the time, but not really alone. All around me are people, friends, customers, children, and even strangers. I am not lonely. Alone does not need to be a negative. Alone is not a disability. 

Alone is liberating. 

I am strong and smart and can figure out whatever it is I need to figure out. I may not always be able to run, but I can hobble.

I belong to a Facebook group called SOLO Women Travellers Over 50. There are over 12,000 members. Some are seasoned travellers like me, others are there just reading others’ stories, trying to get the courage to see the world on their own.

I wonder why so many women are afraid to travel alone? Men travel alone all the time. Why are women willing to believe that they are somehow less capable than men? Why do women relinquish their autonomy, deny their strength, and doubt their capacity? 

Who convinced them they couldn’t do it?

Oh yeah, I remember, society convinced them. Despite it being 2023, our society continues to treat women like they are less than men. In relationships it is a fact that women do most of the housework and most of the childcare, despite women working the same number of hours outside of the home as their husbands. And in the workplace, women are paid less than men for the same job. 

Frankly, it makes me sick. As Beale said in the iconic 1976 film, Network, "I am mad as hell, and I am not going to take this anymore!" 

If we women don't believe we are equal, how will we ever convince men we are equal (and yeah, yeah, I get that my upper body strength is less than a man's and I don't have a penis).

So, if you are afraid to travel alone – believe me when I say travelling alone is AMAZING!

When I travel alone, I can wake up when I want to, eat when I want to, and go where I want to. I stay somewhere as long as I want to, leave after 2 minutes if I want to, or never leave the hotel if I want to. I can go to bed at 6pm if I want to, wake up at 3 am if I want to, snore, bathe, and poop when I want to. I don’t have to wait for anyone, don’t have to share the bathroom, and don’t have to negotiate the day’s agenda. And best of all I don’t have to let other people’s fears limit what I do.

Someone recently asked me, aren’t you afraid to hike alone? And the answer is yes. I think about bears a lot. I carry a bear horn, and bear spray and I sing a lot on the trails. But I do not let my fear stop me – because the truth is, human-bear incidents are rare in Oregon. Black bear populations number between 25,000 to 30,000 statewide but there have only been five reported incidents in the state since 1988, none of them fatal, so, it is kind of dumb to worry about bears. I have a better chance of dying on the highway driving to the trailhead.

That’s the thing about fear: it is not always rational. And you can choose to let your irrational brain keep you from enjoying life to the fullest, or you can set aside your fear, and live!

That is not to say I am careless. I do research, I plan, and I am prepared. I always text someone back home where I am going each morning. I carry a pack with water and food in case I get lost. I take a photo of the trail map with me in case I lose internet service (which is all the time on the Oregon coast), and I know where the tsunami evacuation routes are. And when I am travelling alone, I do not go out at night. 

Lots of people do go out at night, and that is their choice of course, but I generally prefer to stay home, cook a nice meal, enjoy a glass of wine, and binge watch Grey’s Anatomy.

Yesterday I watched 10 episodes. Yup, ten! From 3 pm when I got home from hiking, until midnight… and that is something that would NEVER HAPPEN if I were not travelling alone!

Hmmm, it is possible my irrational brain was in control yesterday…

Going Down Under

 

Koalas here I come! 

When I started this blog in 2017 it was to chronicle how I could retire at 50 and travel the world, without having millions of dollars. I have written on many subjects and have told hundreds of travel tales. Readers have come around the world with me and have shared in my experiences - both good and bad.

When I share personal stories - I am writing for me. Writing is a form of therapy. But when I write about travel, and how I manage luxury travel for less (sounds like a brand), I am writing for you. I genuinly want people to be learn how to travel - even if they do not have a lot of money. It can be done - I am living proof.

For more than a decade I have been travelling the world - close to 50 countries now. I have learned about myself and my world, and have truly been transformed by my experiences. Seeing how most of the world lives is humbling.

Travel however, takes time to research, plan, and organize, and yes, it costs money, but over time I have learned better ways of travelling, and  for less money, and it is this learning that I like to share with others.

In the past, I have always flown in economy. Yuck. I had no choice. Spending thousands on tickets was just not an option I cared to take. Thanks to my brother, the Biz Class Bum, I am learning how to travel business class without paying business class prices. I mentioned this in my blog in January when I booked my ticket to Bali, but it is worth mentioning again as following the steps in my brothers blog has not only saved me thousands of dollars, but I am now, for the first time in my life, flying business class.

Although I have not yet gone to Bali, I just booked a ticket to Brisbaine, Australia for next November! I am excited to head down under for four months to hang out with koalas, kangaroos, and to do some snorkling at the great barrier reef. You should think abut joining me. Seriously. My total cost for the ticket there was just over a hundred bucks plus 100K Aeroplan points. (I have not yet booked my ticket home.) I will be flying on the new 787 Dreamliner - the most energy efficient aircraft in existance. Flying has a sizable carbon footprint (something that does not elude me and which I struggle with internally quite a bit), so being able to fly on the Boeing 787 helps eleviate my guilt.

Collecting travel points is a game you only win by getting certain sign-up bonuses available on particular cards, at particular times. It is NOT about spending a lot of money. I retired early and without a pension...so I don't have a lot of money. The 3 biz class tickets I have bought since starting this game less than a year ago, cost a total of about $300 and 260K aeropplan points - and I certainly did not spend $260K dollars to get those points. Not even close. 

 If you want to learn how to do the points thing, just check out my brother's blog and if you have any questions, I will be happy to help you. I have two friends who I have helped so far, and one of them has managed to purchase two biz class tickets since starting in May without spending a dime more than he would have otherwise.

In just over a month, I will leave on my very first business class trip. I am flying to Bali on Eva Air - considered one of the swankiest airlines for biz class. Swanky means I get pajamas for sleeping in that are designed by New York luxury fashion designer Jason Wu, and Dom Perignon champagne, and a three course dinner complete with aged wines from around the world. 

At 61 years of age, and after a year of super hard work building my permacuture demonstration garden,  where I personally moved by wheel barrel 5 cubic yards of mulch, 8 cubic yards of compost, 5 cubic yards of gravel and 3 cubic yards of crush, I am going to really enjoy this trip.

Best of all though, I get to lay flat and get a decent night's sleep on the 20+ hour flight which stops in Taipei. My three bulging discs are going to thank me for taking the time to learn to play the points game. In fact, my damaged back is the reason I started collecting points. It was that - or give up long haul travel.

Until I leave for Bali, I am enjoying driving down the west coast of the U.S. by myself, foraging for mushrooms in the amazing forests of Washington state and walking the  breathtaking beaches on the coast of Oregon. 

Today I am in Cannon Beach, Oregon and after a quick forest foray am headed to Newport where I will spend the next five weeks. Once settled there I hope to get my Global Village Permaculture website built, start my taxes, record and publish my book as an audio book, play some pickleball, and of course, take a daily forage into the forest for both edible and medicinal mushrooms.

Last summer I began living my dharma - teaching courses on edible and medicinal flowers, permaculture basics, and on how to build a food forest. Next fall I hope to add a mushroom foraging class - taking participants into the forest with me.

Teaching these skills is something I am passionate about, and as the world wakes up to the truth of how indespensible fungi are, and the important role their mycelium network plays in keeping our planet alive, I hope to small part in facilitating that knowledge - not just for the sake of food security, something else I am passionate about, but for the sake of our planet's very survival.

Seeing the Treasures in the Rain

This is my second trip through the Pacific Northwest hiking and foraging for edible mushrooms. The last time I did this was during covid. I crossed at the very same U.S. Canada border crossing and began my trip not too far away from where I am now at the base of Mount Baker.

I left for that trip in the middle of October, two weeks earlier than this time. Last time, my timing was perfect. The leaves in the forest were a vibrant yellow that made the forest look aglow. This time however, I left two weeks later, and the large yellow maple leaves are all on the ground forming a wet, slimy, golden carpet several inches thick that effectively blankets the ground and, yup, you guessed it, covers the mushrooms.

Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of fungi around growing on mossy logs, up the sides of trees, and pushing through the thickness of decaying leaves, but it makes mushroom hunting much more difficult.

I love the forest.

Being in the forest awakens my senses. I love the smell of decaying wood and soggy leaves. I love the moss that covers all the trees turning every surface into a moist, lime green carpet.

I love the way the ground springs when I walk on the spongy floor of pine needles, and how the sunlight filters through the treetops making everything glitter.

Being in the forest grounds me. Connects me with something much bigger than myself. When I walk in the forest, I feel like I am part of it – connected through the mycelial network beneath my feet. Although I am alone, I feel a part of something special. Something enduring.

Being in the forest slows me down. As I wrote in my book Around the World: A JourneyInward “Busy is not better; it just creates noise that keeps me from being in the moment. Busy lies. Busy blinds.” 

As I tread gently and slowly through the forest looking for mushrooms, I carefully analyze the space around each step I take, searching for those little treasures, and if I walk slow enough, I always find some. I see fungi with caps the size of pin heads. Others that are as large as a soccer ball. I see mushrooms that are red, yellow, green, white, and brown. Some have minuscule hair on them while others are full of jelly. Some are the shape of pigs’ ears and some look like coral. It is too bad that most mushrooms spring forth in the spring and fall when the sky must unleash its unrelenting - but needed - torrent of water.

I hate rain.

Walking in the rain annoys me. The moisture wicks up my pant legs until I am wet from the knees down. I have learned the hard way that bell bottom jeans are not conducive to walking in the rain, and good rain gear is essential to survive the inevitable deluge of nature’s nourishment.

Walking in the rain also fogs my glasses, making it impossible to see the treasures – the very reason I choose to commune with the forest.

 But, despite my indifference to the pitter patter of raindrops on the roof, and my disdain for these dramatic torrents, the joy of the forest wins out every time. The good outweighs the bad.

A great walk in the forest reminds me of relationships. We have to take the good with the bad.

Or do we?

It is true that relationships are never perfect. There will always be storms. But I believe I get to decide how much “rain” I am willing to live with. I get to set healthy boundaries and walk away when the good no longer outweighs the bad. When being cold and soaking wet risks my own health or sense of self.

Healthy relationships, like the forest, should awaken our senses as we look for each hidden treasure in our partner, sibling, or friend. A healthy relationship should lift our spirits and make the world sparkle. And when the rain comes, good gear is essential: that is, self-awareness and self-love. Without it you will drown in the atmospheric rivers that inevitably come. With it, getting wet is hardly noticeable.

I choose to only be in relationships where both people thrive, where you can both find treasures and where each person is appropriately geared up to weather the storm.

Only then will I be able to see the sunshine through the treetops.

Battling the Blues with Bali

Since coming back from Spain this past fall I have not written a blog post. That is unusual for me. I like writing, but finding time this winter has been difficult. Well, if I am to be honest with myself, I have time to write – all I need to do is turn the latest Netflix series off. What I cannot seem to find is the mood to write. I need to be in the mood. Hmmmm. Reminds me of something…

Anyway, I remember someone telling me that even if you are in a bad mood, if you force yourself to smile, your mood will change. So, I decided maybe if I just start writing, even though I don’t feel like it, my mood will change. Here’s to hoping.

I have been thinking about some of my earlier posts, when I first started this blog in 2017, and about how convinced I was my two-star retirement would be something to write about. Don’t get me wrong, it has been in many ways. I have done some amazing travel, visiting many parts of Mexico, living on a small island in the Caribbean, touring South Africa, Egypt, Spain, and Portugal. I have learned to play pickleball, published a book, and have tasted a lot of great wine.

I have also experienced many things I did not plan on, like the isolation of Covid, separation from my husband, and inflation. All these things have taken their toll on me and at times I have felt so sad I can hardly bear it. Retirement is supposed to be the reward at the end of our lifetime of hard work, right? A reward for having sacrificed pleasure in the now to save money for the future. Retirement is your time to travel, or delve into hobbies, and to spend more time with your family and friends. Or is it?

Retirement doesn’t always work out that way. Often, by the time we retire our kids are older and busy with their own lives and kids, and their time for us is limited. Or our parents need our care, so we have no time for ourselves either. I had a friend visit me last week and she is turning 65 this year. I asked her what she was planning on doing when she retires and she answered, “I plan on getting a job.” I get it. The worst part of retirement for some is boredom. For others, the very thought of retirement is depressing and scary because they have allowed themselves to be defined by their children or career, so they just keep working. 

I cannot say I have lived a very traditional career life, nor that I share most people’s definition of retirement. For me, retirement means I am retired from having to work when someone else wants me to, and I am retired from only being able to travel a few weeks a year. So, throughout my adult life I have taken mini retirements. I took my first job at age 14 and worked until I was 23. Then I retired, stayed home, and had babies. Then at age 33 I started a business, worked like a demon, saved a shitload of money, and then retired again and went to university at 42. Then after a trip around the world I went back to work again for two years, then retired again and did another trip around the world. Then I went back to work, did another trip around the world, retired...you get the picture. I am now 60 and after a Covid induced retirement I am once again starting a new business.

This time though, for the first time, I am scared.

I am generally not a scaredy cat, in fact, I have been told by more than a few people that I am the bravest person they know. But I feel like I am losing my nerve because I wonder how long my body can keep up with my brain. And how long will my wallet keep up with inflation.

Hmmmm. Writing is not improving my mood. Better change topics…

Whenever I feel down I do one of two things: I start cooking...weird, since when I am sad I have a hard time eating, or I start planning my next trip. Well, this week has been gray and cold, and I am in a flare so I am in pain and pain makes it so I do not sleep well. Making matters worse, a lack of sleep reduces my capacity to handle pain and that contributes to me being down. 

So this week I bought a flight to Bali using points I collected during my renovation this year. It is a lay flat first class seat all the way, and it only cost $89.00 plus 87.5K Aeroplan points.

This was no easy task and I have to give thanks to my brother the Biz Class Bum who helped me learn the tricks of the points game. (More on that another day.) 

I will spend two months in Bali where it will cost me well under a $1000/month in rent, while collecting twice that in rent for my house here. I also used my travel club weeks (read about that here) to book two months at a resort on the coast of Oregon for Novemeber and December so I can go hiking and mushroom hunting. The lovely one bedroom unit on the ocean will set me back only $1600/month – still well below what I can rent my house out for. This is the part of my two-star retirement that is working well. I basically travel all winter and it costs me nothing.

Now THAT makes me feel better!

The Bright Side of Bad

Three blog posts in one week you say? Well, living with a chronic illness has taught me to look at the bright side of bad, and the bright side to limited mobility this week has been more time to write (and more time to watch Netflix without feeling guilty!)

So while rewatching old House episodes I have been thinking about all the curiosities I have observed while in Spain and decided I would share those with you while waiting for my homemade soup to cook.

I covered a lot of miles in Spain since the beginning of October when I arrived, and until this week did not see a single stop light. The Spanish really like traffic circles! They are everywhere. Small towns and villages and big cities have traffic circles adorned with flowers and fountains and statues. It really is lovely and keeps the traffic moving quite well. What is odd is that the Spanish do not seem to know how to use traffic circles! Or at least if they do, the rules here are quite different than in Canada. It is kind of an every man for himself scenario here that does not seem to involve being in the outside lane of the circle when exiting it!

Traffic circles remind me of when I was giving my oldest son Joel driving lessons. Joel and his brother Nathan and I were driving in a new neighbourhood in southeast Calgary where there was a brand new traffic circle – one of the few I could find where I could teach Joel how to navigate them. The problem was that I never thought to teach him before we entered the circle. What that meant was that once we were in the circle Joel had absolutely no idea what to do – so while I explained it to him, he drove around and around and around…making so many circles that Nathan and I started to laugh so hard that poor Joel got flustered and that made him unable to execute the manouver even after I explained what he needed to do. So around and around we continued, driving in circles which fueled more hysterical peals of laughter, causing poor Joel enough stress to ensure he did not take another driving lesson for years!

Another Spanish oddity are the rows and rows and rows and rows (you get the picture) of Iberian ham in the grocery stores. I get that the Iberian peninsula is famous for its ham – but the equivalent would be to go to a grocery store in Canada and have to walk past four aisles of nothing but maple syrup!

Next up – the Spanish language. Now I love Spanish and have been learning it since 2016. It is a fairly easy language to learn (at least compared to French) and most things make sense to me. Except for the standard greeting everyone knows… good day. Good day in Spanish is Buenos Dias…which actually translates “good days.” Why plural? Why not use the singular bueno dia? Well – they do in fact come close to that when they shorten buenos dias to Bueno…or just “good.” Now that’s odd! Good what? Good body? Good smile? Good riddance?

Another oddity is the propensity of restaurants in Spain to serve both potatoes and rice with any given entre. Like dried cured meat isn’t bad enough for one’s heart they have to throw in fried potatoes? After travel to dozens of countries over the years I am beginning to realize that vegetables (of the crunchy green variety) is a Canadian thing. Even when I toured for many weeks in the United States I had trouble finding decent al dente green veggies on the menu (except maybe in very high end restaurants – which I suspect may also be the case here). Everywhere I go vegetables (if they are even on the menu at all) are stewed or fried or just plain overcooked and mushy!

The last oddity I noticed is the distinct lack of fat people – despite rice and potatoes being eaten with EVERY MEAL! What gives? I just look at French Fries and gain five pounds! Maybe it is because they drink so much wine??? 

That’s it! Drink more wine and you can eat all the French Fries you want!!

Now that’s looking at the bright side of bad! 

 

The Rain in Spain

 There seems to be a lot of buzz about Spain and Portugal these days. I blame International Living magazine which states that they are two of the cheapest countries to live in. American politics, the cost of living in other countries, and inflation everywhere has people rethinking where they want to live.

I am Canadian and feel no reason to flee my country’s politics, and God knows I cannot afford to flee my free health care and Pharmacare. One of the drugs I am on costs $4344.18 for a 30-day supply! I must admit however that the buzz got me curious enough to come here this fall for a five-week sojourn to see what all the hype is about.

I have visited Madrid, Segovia, San Sebastien, Pamplona, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Peniscola, Valencia, Toledo, Ronda, Malaga, Seville, Algarve, Lisbon, Porto, Salamanca, Avila and even made a quick foray into the tiny country of Andorra. I am currently in Estepona, and like it so much I am hanging out here for two weeks. Watching the sunrise over the mountains and reflect on the Mediterranean Sea in various shades of orange, pink and yellow has been spectacular. As has the weather – but I will come back to that topic later.

I have been to Europe several times before, but I have to say, if one is into ancient architecture and well preserved historic buildings – Spain is definitely worth the visit. I walked the streets of villages dating back to the 1100’s and saw sights that were pre Roman Empire. The Gothic, Baroque, Spanish Colonial, Renaissance, and Moorish architecture at times had me in tears. Lovers of art will go nuts. Many cities seamlessly marry modern architecture with ancient. My favourites were Seville and Valencia.

The geography in Spain varies greatly from place to place and I have to say that I did not find most of it outstandingly beautiful. Coming from one of the most beautiful places on earth keeps my bar set pretty high for what can impress me. The north (Basque Country) was mountain and forest with lovely green valleys. Unfortunately, it was cool, gray, and rainy. The centre of the country was flat, mostly treeless, and reminded me of the Canadian Prairies. The sun shone most of the time but it was quite cool – especially in the mornings. (I doubt whether the rain in Spain falls mostly on the plains). 

The east coast was beautiful with lovely turquoise water, sandy beaches and the hills were dotted with villages. Peniscola looked like Santorini…steep skinny streets and whitewashed buildings. The weather in that part of the country is some of the warmest and I defiantly would consider returning sometime for the month of November or December. The south, Andalucía province, is my favorite. The mountains run almost to the sea. The hills are dry – much like south central British Columbia – and are covered in orange and olive groves. The towns and cities are clean and vibrant and the weather has been spectacular. I arrived here on October 23^rd and highs each day have been 28 Celsius.

Packing for this trip was a challenge as I knew the weather was going to vary greatly from place to place. I brought more warm clothes to be safe – as I hate the cold, and was glad to have my wool coat and scarf with me when I was in Portugal where it was quite cold, rainy, and windy. On the other hand, I have been laying by the pool without a bathing suit – wearing the only sundress I brought. I try not to hang out here at the resort very long so people don’t figure out I am wearing the same thing every day!

I cannot say I was overly impressed with Portugal. I did love Lisbon – it is a lovely city, and fast becoming the go-to city in Europe – but apart from Lisbon, not so much. The historical sites there were run down and everything is covered in a layer of mildew for it is humid and wet. While the coast is dramatic – there are similar dramatic coastlines in Spain where the historical sites are pristine and the weather is welcoming.

The food I have experienced has been disappointing. You hear about the great food here all the time but unless you have A LOT of money and can afford to eat at the higher end restaurants, the affordable food at restaurants is mediocre at best (in my humble opinion). They eat a lot meat here and a lot of French fries and rice – in fact practically every meal has nothing but these three things on the plate! As for vegetables…good luck finding those on the menu!

The first thing I did when I settled in here in Estepona was go to the grocery store to buy fruits and veggies…and wow…were they ever expensive! People are seriously misled it they think it is cheaper to live here. Rent and housing might be cheaper – but only in older buildings that are freezing cold in the winter and have no air-conditioning for summer! Or in areas that are very Spanish with few expats.

Personally, those were the areas I liked – the places that were not overrun with tourists and wintering Brits. Estepona, where I am now, is mostly Spanish. It has a lovely old town, and everywhere I go there are flowers. Buildings have murals painted on them and there is an amazing long flat beach with gorgeous Malecon. As I walked about I saw very few tourists, and heard very little English. Here, if you don’t mind living in an apartment (that is all there is in this town), they can be had for under 200,000 Euros. I found a place that I could rent in the winter, right on one of the lovely plazas, for about $1500 Canadian. It would be 3 blocks to the beach, and walking distance to everything.

The place I am renting right now could be rented for about the same and it has a lovely big balcony and gorgeous stunning views – but requires a vehicle for it is up on the hill overlooking Estepona (thus the views) but there is no public transport into town and no amenities here on the mountain. What is nice about Estepona is that it retains a small town feel, but it is very close to the larger cities of Malaga, Seville, and Granada with their operas, theatres, art galleries, cultural events, festivals, historic sites, great restaurants, etc.

Today I am off to drive up the mountain to the Paraje Natural Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja where I hope to observe some stunning views, birds of prey, and maybe – if I am lucky – I will find some mushrooms!

 

Is There a Bidet?

 

A bidet is not something I have ever installed in the many homes I have renovated. In Canada, if someone mentions a bidet it is likely to be about the famous Saturday Night Live bidet skit. It is funny, and if you have never watched it, click here to watch it for a good giggle. 

Bidets are a big thing in parts of Europe. I tried one once in Japan and the stream of water nearly sent me across the room. I was not a fan…until recently. You see, until this recent trip through Portugal and Spain I don’t think I had been using the bidet correctly. NOW I get it!

It is really quite simple...you put the plug in…add the bath gel until the water gets sudsy, and then put in all your stinky undies and socks. Massage lightly and then drain and rinse. The perfect mini washing machine. It is no wonder these are so popular in hotels! 

They have a secondary use too! When you are busy and have stinky feet after a long day of walking tours, but do not have time for a shower before dinner, simply fill with sudsy water, and while sitting on the toilet beside it doing other business - like catching up on the news – soak your feet!

My next renovation will definately include a bidet! Not only for the genuine water saving uses mentioned above, but also because I eventually figured out how to properly use it for its official use, and it truly is a great way to freshen up before bed without using a lot of water or getting your hair wet.

Bidets aside, I thought this would be a good time to remind my followers why this blog is called Two Star Retirement. The concept was to give people a chance to follow my travels to see the type of life I have managed to build for myself – despite NOT having millions of dollars. Almost every day during my tour of Spain this month, after talking to people, I would hear the comment, "Would be nice to have the money to be able to travel so much."

Even my kids sometimes don't get that the way I usually travel does not cost me money but in fact, sometimes I even make money. It's quite simple: I rent my furnished house out for $2000 a month and I stay places that cost less than $1500/month. The difference pays for my flights and food. Easy peasy! 

When I started writing my blog in October 2017, my husband Stephane – who even did some of the writing early on – and I had sold our house and were heading off indefinately to Mexico and the Caribbean in search of the perfect retirement spot. The early blog was meant to chronicle that search and to show how you can live comfortable - even luxuriously - on less than a million dollars.

Over time, the blog evolved to include many topics of interest from investing and health issues to a diary of living on a secluded beach for two months in the Caribbean. That part of the blog garnered readers from around the world (click here if you want to see how the reality of living on a white sand beach compares to the dream).

When my marriage ended at the beginning of the pandemic, after a four-month trip to Africa, I continued to blog, and while many things in my life have changed since then, many things have not. I continue to travel – only I do it alone now – or with friends. Last fall I went mushroom hunting in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. with a girlfriend, and this fall I am travelling alone in Spain.

While I exuded a lot of confidence early on in this blog regarding the capacity of my nest egg to withstand time, I must admit that with inflation so high, and house prices dropping, I am certainly feeling the pinch and a little less confident. I mean, let’s face it, this blog is not called Five Star Retirement! In fact I am pretty screwed if I live past 80!

Having said that, travelling has given me a good dollop of perspective. I have come to deeply acknowledge my privilege and my first world problems for what they are. People with far less money than I live happy, full lives. Travel has taught me I am rich beyond measure. I write in depth about this in the book I just published on Amazon called Around the World: A Journey Inward. It chronicles a trip around the world I took with my oldest son in 2007 - a trip which transformed my thinking and freed me to feel that I could truly live the life I want – one that is rich in experiences and rich in relationships.

You cannot take that nice new car or house with you when you die – and on your death bed it is unlikely you are going to say, “I sure wish I had worked more in my life.”

Travel has enriched my life beyond belief. A section from my book sums it up well:

Europe’s beauty and history drew me there, but it was in Europe where I learned how not to travel, and that to travel efficiently is to miss the important moments. Europe built character, and it was where Joel and I faced the truth about our relationship, and it was the beginning of trust between a mother and son. My experience in Europe is also where I learned to truly appreciate food as something that can nurture not just the body, but also the soul. Plus, it was the beginning of an appreciation for slow food and a desire to learn more about food and wine.

Ghana was the place where I left my old self behind and where three orphan boys shook me to the core. The culture shock of poverty in Ghana taught me to put my privilege in perspective and to truly appreciate it. It was the beginning of my search for real riches and my introduction to permaculture and growing food sustainably, something at the core of my newest business venture.

Kenya was awe-inspiring: the beauty of the Serengeti is impossible to capture with words, but the amazing experience of being close to wild animals - of seeing life and death unfold in front of my eyes not only inspired future safaris in Africa, but, more importantly, Kenya was where, in a mud hut in the Serengeti, I came to understand that one’s worldview is not a reflection of reality, but of perception.

India was the fulfillment of a childhood dream and was everything I had hoped it would be. The extremes within Indian culture met my need for intensity in a way that other places did not. There I learned to deeply appreciate my own nation and culture. I learned the value of clean water and pure air and how blessed I am to live in Canada.

And Nepal, well, sitting at the base of that golden mountain peak was the moment I knew, without a doubt, I had been changed. It was where I felt the intense joy of being in the present moment, and when I left there, I knew my life would never be the same.