Dear So and So

[shootingstar]

There are definitely trade-offs with any lifestyle. I am sure we will not be nomads forever, but for now, we have no real reason to be tied to one place -- we're retired and don't have children, so we might as well travel while we're healthy and able. And one big advantage for us is to be able to stay far away from winter but still visit places that have cold winters in the summer, if we so desire. We have yet to find one single place where we like the weather year-round, so we may always live in at least two places even when we finally do settle down. We met a lot of folks in Belize who were doing just that: six months in the US or Canada, six months in Belize.

I'm sure you and hubby will find a place one day. I agree if one is healthy, go for it. Always better to travel when one is healthy.
I gave up camping for several nights on ground..about 15 years ago. On long distance bike touring, it just became an energy drainer after 3-4 consecutive days....after cycling for 5-6 hrs. with our loaded panniers, set up camp, rest and then next morning, de-camp. I always made sure such long trips by bike, 50% of accommodation was in hotel/motel/b'n b. On such trips one is so acutely reminded of Canada's vast terrain!

Just today, my former boss told me she sold her 3 bedroom house (after making sure her 2 adult children found their own rentals), sold/gave away her furniture (which meant removing frosted glass doors, etc. that the buyers didn't want) and whittled down her assets to 2 large suitcases. Rest in a rented storage rm. size of 1 small bedroom. She retired just 2 wks. ago. She's off to live temp. in Italy, then Greece and Paris.

She's not sure where she will land permanently. She did live in Greece for a few years with her lst child.

I admire her guts to sell everything. I'm not quite like that: I know a close friend who is close to 80, always been single her whole life. She has owned a home. But sold it about 15 yrs. ago.

Now...she's running out of money..she's had to downsize to a cheaper apartment that she doesn't really care for but has no choice. I know she must be living on the line because she's very careful to order modestly when we have coffee together.

I've watched my parents struggle so hard financially for us and saw that when my father died last year, at least my mother still has a warm home to live in that's hers.
At this time, I prefer just to consolidate my stuff in 1 city but that will not happen until after I retire. Much of my travel budget is spent jockeying between seeing my partner and also visiting family. Because Canada is so big and there are distinct regional differences, I do consider it as form of "travel" because I actively seek to see new things in cities /areas where I used to live (things do change!) and when I'm visiting people I know. My personal blog is one of the few blogs that blends in pacific northwest coast, prairies and Eastern Canada with very recent photos all in single blog post...because I continue to be in all those regions nearly each year and so I might as well showcase what I know/see in those regions.

British Columbia is a beautiful province and there are things I continue enjoy seeing ..and miss/know I would like to see at least once.