Why did we decide to include home-free retirees world travel tips?

Posted by worldwide-admin on September 23, 2020 with 2 Comments

The Golden Temple Amritsar, India, is seen through a decorative archway on the religious grounds of the historic Sikh location. Please click here to see more photos from Amritsar.

Note: This post is the second of the 2000 word posts required for SEO. Some of the verbiages may sound repetitive. We’ll be back to our usual post tomorrow. Only three more of these to go. Thanks for your patience. Feel free to read.

As Tom’s retirement was fast approaching and we’d made the outrageous decision to travel full-time, we searched online for travel tips that possibly could point us in the right direction, especially those applying to retirees. When many young people travel the world, even with children, they often stay in hostels, camp, rent or buy campers or caravans, and live very different lifestyles than we were seeking.

At that time in 2012, considerably fewer retirees had “given it all up” to do what we’d chosen to do, travel the world for years to come with minimal possessions with us, no storage facility anywhere in our home state or country, and find a way to make it work being home-free. We considered no condo, apartment, or studio-type living quarters as a base to return to should we so desire. We chose to make the “BIG commitment,” and for us, that only came when we sold everything we owned, leaving us little opportunity to change our minds if something went wrong, especially in the early days. Always a part of our mission was to include home-free retirees’ world travel tips.

Our friends and relatives bombarded us with suggestions and travel tips amid a plethora of travel warnings on all the potentially horrible situations we could encounter along the way, some even life-threatening. We chose not to take heed of their warnings when instead, we chose to research on our own.

Searching online was little help. We found countless travel tips from travelers who’d been “out there” on their own, as a couple of a family of three or more. But, few were retirees, and most had a place to call home to return to for a break or respite. Of course, today, eight years later, we’ve encountered other retirees, home-free and traveling the world. But after a fashion, most acquiesced and returned to their home country, recovered their belongings from storage, and began again. Not us. As retirees, we wanted to do it differently to truly experience the challenges and benefits of living life on the move, with no safety net.

What are the potential challenges facing home-free retirees’ world travel tips?…

The most frequent travel tip/question most travelers tossed our way revolved around these two topics:

1. What will you do if one of you becomes very ill when retirees are more likely to encounter health problems due to an advanced age?
2. What will you do if something goes wrong or you tire of traveling?

In the first over six years of our home-free world travel lifestyle, neither of these potential issues had any impact on our lives. As retirees, we were healthy, fit, and relatively active. We’d had extensive medical tests before we embarked on our journey, all required dental work completed. As we traveled the world, we each had basic health checks, blood tests, and dental appointments every few years. All was well until…

The “worse case” scenarios transpired…

While living in a holiday home in the bush in South Africa, in February 2019, I had to have emergency triple cardiac bypass surgery, which resulted in four total surgeries (due to complications) and over the US $150,000 in medical expenses, which our then international health insurance company refused to pay, claiming I had a preexisting condition (I had no idea).

The question many other retirees had asked, “Should such an event occur, what would you possibly do?” Would being home-free prevent us from quality medical care and a place to recover after such a frightening event? It did not. We extended our rental period for the holiday home or would have moved to another while I recovered.

At the time, many home-free retirees’ world travel tips came our way with suggestions for us to return to the US, but that tip was preposterous. I couldn’t travel on an airplane for at least three months. We stayed in the wonderful bush house while I recovered sufficiently to again begin our world travel journey. Nothing was holding us back. We continued for three months in an oceanfront house in Connemara, Ireland, as my recovery continued.

The second question above asks, “What will we do if something goes wrong or you tire of traveling?

Tom and I made a pact when we began traveling the world as home-free retirees. If either of us ever became tired or bored with traveling the world, we would stop. Even amid the challenges facing us these past few years, neither has suggested ending our journey to the other.

Another huge challenge that tested our durability and commitment as home-free retirees was the pandemic that hit the world in January and February 2020. At the time, we’d just completed a weeklong tour on the renowned Maharajas Express Train from Mumbai to Delhi. After the train, we embarked on a 55-night tour of India, which we had to cut short when COVID-19 presented us with a considerable risk of continuing. Most temples and tourist sites were packed with people, often crowding in small spaces. More, we considered home-free retirees’ world travel tips from other readers with similar experiences.

We decided the risk of being at crowded venues was too high and started self-isolation on or about March 12, 2020, when we were notified that our upcoming cruise on April 3, 2020, had been canceled due to the COVID-19. As of this writing, we have officially been in India’s government-mandated lockdown, which began on March 24, 2020, for a full six months. More and more of our readers write to us each day with tips and suggestions as to what we should do at this point. But, our particular circumstances and home-free lifestyle have guided us as to what works well for us.

Considering home-free retirees’ world travel tips weren’t a factor in preventing us from heading back to the US to hunker down in lockdown. Where would we stay? Ultimately, we decided to stay put in a lovely Marriott hotel until we could continue our travels. At this point, the pandemic has reached such proportions in the US, we have no desire or plan to return. Also, it would not be easy to decide where to stay without a home while we waited it out. We’ve been safe in this hotel, although India has been a hard hit as well. Only time will tell when we can continue.

We’ve received hundreds of tips geared toward our home-free status as to what we should do during this period. We’ve appreciated all the tips, suggestions, and updates sent by readers, family, and friends. Most of the retiree’s circumstances are very different from ours, and what they would choose to do in these circumstances may differ from our choices.

What do we do as home-free retirees if the lockdown/pandemic continues for more months to come?…

We are safe. This hotel has exercised diligent efforts to avoid a single case of COVID-19 since we arrived. All staff is required to wear face masks and gloves. All staff members live within the walls of the hotel. No one is allowed to clean our room or serve our meals via room service unless they’ve been living here for a minimum of three weeks. We are confined to the fourth floor except for those few times we’ll head downstairs to the reception desk to pay our bill. We haven’t been outdoors in six months.

But, when we think of retirees living in a retirement community, they most likely haven’t been outdoors much either. Perhaps, our situation isn’t so unique after all. We’re safe. We have everything we need. We’re relatively comfortable. We miss socializing and often think of how enjoyable it would be to get together with other retirees and commiserate over this challenging situation.

At most, the staff and any other guests appear to be mostly in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. But, it seems, as retirees, we’re the oldest people in the entire hotel. Every few days, we receive tips in our email with movies and TV series, we should binge-watch, and games we should play to alleviate the boredom we’re experiencing now. We take many of these tips to heart and find ourselves streaming many fun new series suggested by our readers. This means a lot to us.

How are we emotionally impacted by home-free living?…

Often, we’re asked, don’t you feel lost without “roots?” Our answer is simple from an adage, “Home is where the heart is.” And, although our hearts are filled with love for family and friends back in the US, as a couple, we have made anywhere we may be living, at any given time, our “home.” That premise prevents us from ever feeling lost and lonely in a home-free lifestyle.

Most home-free retirees’ world travel tips include comments from those who spent their lives and careers in Minnesota, often leaving to spend their retirement in warmer climates. In most cases, they’ll purchase or rent a condo, house, or apartment in such states as Arizona, Florida, Texas, or Hawaii. Often, they’ll keep their original home and deal with the maintenance of having two homes. This didn’t appeal to us at all.

Instead, as retirees, we chose to be home-free; no apartment somewhere; no bedroom in one of our adult kids’ homes with a closet full of clothes; no lease on a storage facility as a safety net to enable us to “set up housekeeping” once again. This was it, just the two of us and our luggage, the size of which has significantly diminished over the years.

In the beginning, Christmas was a time we had to make adjustments. We’d no longer have a Christmas tree, nor did we have decorations or a need to bake endless cookies and baked goods. We no longer sent Christmas cards and gifts instead of mailing gift cards to our grandchildren. This commitment required a lot of emotional changes experienced by many retirees who become ex-pats and world travelers.

The most challenging time we’ve experienced has been during my recovery from open-heart surgery and now, six months in lockdown in a single hotel room. But, somehow, these two home-free retirees have managed to maintain emotional strength and resilience in the knowledge that in time, we’ll be on the move again.

Will we ever settle down?…

This question has been asked of us over and over again. And, the reality is, we’ll have to at some point. With advancing age and potential health conditions, we may need to return to the US and find a place to live. Does this worry us? Not at this point. We’ve survived so much, we both feel confident that when the time comes, as has been the case in every other situation, we’ll figure it out.

Home-free retirees’ world travel tips often include ways to figure out significant life changes at some point or another. We are no exception. The fact we’ll have lived a home-free existence for so many years makes those decisions only a little more complicated, mainly revolving around: Where will we choose to live?

We’ve considered the possibility of staying in holiday homes in several parts of the US for three to six months, giving us a further opportunity to see more of our own country in our waning years. There’s also the possibility that we may find a country besides the USA where we’d like to live as retirees in the next few years, again with the principle of renting various, fully-equipped holiday/vacation homes.

In conclusion…

A home-free lifestyle is not for everyone, whether a young person was starting their lives, a young family, couple, or retiree. We each have our unique desires and emotional needs when it comes to our chosen lifestyle. If and when we have a need and a desire to be “rooted” to one location, we’ll do so.

World travel is not on everyone’s radar or in their dreams of what will ultimately be fulfilled and purpose-driven. We never knew we had a plan to travel the world as retirees, living a home-free lifestyle. It came upon us in a happenstance manner described in our first few posts and many more to go over the years.

As we’re fast approaching our eighth anniversary since we became home-free on October 31, 2012, we have no regrets from the most exciting adventures to this most recent mundane period, spending over six months in lockdown in Mumbai, India.

We’re hopeful for the future that we’ll be able to continue on our home-free journey to see the world in time. In the interim, we’ll continue to offer home-free retirees world travel tips as well as hearing from other world travelers. The world is a prominent place. We all have much more to see and to say.. Stay with us, dear reader. There’s more to come.

Photo from one year ago today, September 23, 2019:

The pond next to our house, Pond Cottage, in Witheridge, Devon, UK, with a few ducks and geese. For more photos, please click here.

Early morning routine…Life of retirees…More photos from cultural coffee farm tour…

Posted by worldwide-admin on September 12, 2017 with 0 Comment

Tom was holding the broom (escoba) made of vegetation at El Toledo Coffee Tour.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

Layers of clouds rolling into the valley.

As candid as we are regarding how we live our daily lives, we’re also curious about how other retirees may spend their time. Is it so unusual it’s Tuesday at 8:00 am, and we’re sitting in the screening room while Tom is watching last night’s Minnesota Vikings game while I busily peck away at my laptop?

The items throughout the cafe each had their own story to tell.

Probably not. We haven’t spent any of our retirement years living near friends and family, which would give us a better perspective of what other retirees may be doing in their spare time, as compared to us.

The El Toledo Coffee Farm’s coffee is nicely packaged.

It’s not a desire to emulate the activities of others. More so, it’s simple curiosity, the same curiosity bringing some of you back, again and again, to see “what we’re up to” from one day to the next.

An old-fashioned cart.

A significant difference for us, besides living in a new country every few months, is the reality of living without a car at specific points, often without easy access to public transportation. It’s the price we pay for choosing to live in more remote locations.

Every corner of the area was filled with family treasures.

Many world travelers with whom we’ve communicated chose to live in apartments and condos in big cities, heading out each day for sightseeing, dining, and tours.

Gabriel was educating us while we sat at the long table. We were entranced by his manner of speaking and expertise.

The big city life is far removed from our reality, except on occasions such as our upcoming one-month stay in Buenos Aires beginning on December 23rd (Tom’s birthday). Indeed during those 31 days, we’ll be dining out (no kitchen), using public transportation for tours and sightseeing, and getting out of the hotel room each day to wander about.

Handmade wood boat.

Even us, who don’t mind staying in, don’t enjoy sitting in a hotel room all day and night. This period will give us an excellent opportunity to get out walking, something we’ve missed here in the villa in Atenas. The hills are too steep to navigate for an enjoyable leisurely walk.

The coffee cafe, with its cultural decor, was fascinating.

Luckily, in the weeks we’ve had a car (every other at this point), we’ve chosen various types of sightseeing, all of which have required extensive walking. Although these “hikes” aren’t frequent enough to build the level of fitness we’d like to restore, at least these tours, thus far, have kept us on the move.

The clutter was oddly appealing.

As for a day like today…once the football game ends and I’ve uploaded the post, most likely, we’ll spend time out by the pool. The past three days have been cloudy and rainy by the time I’ve finished the post. We’re both anxious to get our token 20 to 30 minutes of sun time and spend time in the pool. Rain or shine, we spend the better part of each day on the veranda with the roof protecting us from the rain.

Once we embarked on the tour, we entered this working area.

We discuss our dreams for the future during those pool times, where we’d like to go after revisiting the US in 2019. At this point, we’re tossing around some ideas, considering which countries we’ve yet to visit and those we long to see.

Gabriel was explaining the use of the space.

Our typical day-to-day lives may not be too different than yours, except for a few factors; we don’t do any household repairs and maintenance; we don’t do yard work, and we don’t go to Home Depot.

Wine-making area.

We don’t “jump in the car” to drive short distances to visit with friends and family; we rarely go to the doctor; we don’t go to Costco for a fun shopping trip loading up large quantities of food and supplies; we don’t head over the Walgreen’s or CVS for a few items, using these little rewards cards for discounts hanging on our keyring.

Drying racks for the coffee beans.

Then again, most peculiarly…we don’t have a keyring! How odd is that?

Have a pleasant day!

Photo from one year ago today, September 12, 2016:

When we watched this activity on the river, we had no idea what was transpiring until we saw they were cleaning the carcass of a cow in the river. Yikes! For more photos, please click here.

Day 12…Sea days continue…The world of cruising, including an array of demographics…

Posted by worldwide-admin on November 7, 2025 with 0 Comment

In 2025, the world of cruising continues to evolve, and nowhere is this more evident than on the ships of Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean. These two lines, while under the same corporate umbrella, attract somewhat different guests, each with distinct motivations and expectations. Yet, they share one powerful commonality: the magnetic pull of the sea and the desire to escape the ordinary. Walking the decks of either line, one quickly senses the diversity of today’s cruising demographic, an ever-expanding tapestry of ages, backgrounds, and stories from around the world.

On Royal Caribbean, the atmosphere is lively and intergenerational, a microcosm of modern travel where families, couples, solo adventurers, and retirees coexist under the same expansive sky. The average age of passengers hovers in the mid-forties, but that number barely scratches the surface of the real story. Parents travel with children, sometimes even with grandparents in tow, making these voyages multi-generational gatherings unlike any other. The newer, larger ships, floating cities in their own right, offer endless opportunities for fun and excitement, attracting thrill-seekers and those seeking a new experience every day. There are rock-climbing walls, surfing simulators, ice-skating rinks, zip lines, and Broadway-style shows. These ships are designed for those who see travel not as an escape but as an adventure.

Celebrity Cruises, by contrast, appeals to a slightly older, more refined demographic. The average age of passengers leans closer to the fifties and sixties, and the pace is gentler, more contemplative. These guests appreciate fine dining, art, culture, and conversation over cocktails at sunset rather than karaoke or game shows. Couples celebrating anniversaries, seasoned travelers who’ve already seen the world, and professionals taking a break from demanding lives fill the elegant spaces onboard. The design of Celebrity’s ships, sleek and modern with thoughtful touches of luxury, mirrors the preferences of its clientele: sophisticated yet not pretentious, polished yet never sterile.

Still, the gap between the two lines is narrowing in fascinating ways. Royal Caribbean’s younger guests are aging into Celebrity’s demographic, bringing with them a love of technology, connectivity, and wellness that is reshaping the luxury cruise experience. At the same time, Celebrity’s efforts to attract a younger audience, through social media outreach, wellness programs, and modern cuisine, are paying off. Millennials and Gen X travelers, many of whom once thought of cruises as something their parents did, are now embracing the ease, value, and quality these voyages offer. Couples in their thirties and forties are booking suites and spa cabins, appreciating the balance between relaxation and exploration.

Both lines are seeing an influx of international passengers. North Americans still make up the majority of guests, but travelers from the UK, Europe, Australia, and Asia have grown significantly. As the world becomes more connected and the cost of long-haul flights continues to stabilize, cruisers are venturing farther afield to join itineraries in the Mediterranean, Asia, South America, and beyond. For many, these cruises serve as floating hotels, offering a familiar comfort while exploring foreign ports. For others, they are a social experience, an opportunity to meet like-minded travelers who share a passion for the world.

Another emerging trend in 2025 is the increasing number of digital nomads and remote workers who choose to sail for months at a time. High-speed internet, once a luxury, has become a lifeline, enabling guests to work from anywhere, even in the middle of the ocean. Celebrity’s quieter, more luxurious setting appeals to those who crave both productivity and tranquility, while Royal Caribbean’s bustling energy suits travelers who prefer to balance work with play. It’s not unusual now to see laptops open at a café overlooking the sea, where someone types away between ports, turning a stateroom into an office with a view.

Cruising has also become more inclusive and accessible. Both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity are welcoming guests from a broader range of economic and cultural backgrounds than ever before. Special promotions, loyalty programs, and flexible itineraries have opened the doors to travelers who once thought cruising was out of reach. Solo cabins, a relatively recent innovation, have also changed the face of the passenger mix, encouraging those who travel alone, by choice or circumstance, to join in the experience without paying the traditional “single supplement.” This shift has added a vibrant new energy on board, as solo travelers bring fresh perspectives and spontaneous friendships.

In the end, the demographics of 2025 tell a story of transformation. Cruising is no longer the preserve of retirees or the wealthy. It has become a reflection of the global traveler, curious, connected, and craving experiences that blend comfort with discovery. On Royal Caribbean, the laughter of children echoes through the promenade while couples dance under the stars. On Celebrity, the clink of wine glasses mingles with the soft hum of conversation in elegant lounges. Together, they capture the full spectrum of modern travel, where age, nationality, and background blur into something shared, a love of the sea, of new horizons, and of the gentle rhythm of life aboard a ship.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, November 7, 2015:

After recently watching a David Attenborough documentary on the in-depth life cycle of caterpillars, we gained a new perspective on these amazing creatures, with two distinct life cycles as they eventually morph into butterflies. We spotted this one on the veranda a few days ago. For more photos, please click here.

Spent a small fortune at the pharmacy…But not as much as…One week and counting…

Posted by worldwide-admin on September 7, 2025 with 0 Comment

All of that packaging resulted in this small pile. The pharmacy provided the bottles and labels at no extra cost. We will carry the original prescription if we are questioned at any point.

Travel often brings us face-to-face with contrasts. Sometimes it’s the scenery, the shift from arid bushveld to lush coastline in a single day. At other times, it’s cultural, such as the way a meal is served or how greetings are exchanged. And then there are those moments when the difference lies in something as practical, yet deeply personal, as the cost of healthcare.

This past week, we experienced one of those moments in Komatipoort, South Africa, a small but busy town that hugs the border with Mozambique. Our mission wasn’t to stock up on souvenirs or local crafts but to tackle something far more essential: filling prescriptions that will carry us through the next year of our travels.

When the pharmacist tallied up the total, ZAR 29,000, or US $ 1,629, my heart skipped a beat. It felt like such an enormous sum, handed over in one swipe. The stack of neatly packed boxes and bottles was daunting, filling up three big plastic bags. But then, as the shock subsided, we reminded ourselves of the bigger picture. This was a year’s worth of peace of mind, a year’s worth of uninterrupted health, and a year’s worth of freedom from worrying about whether or not we’d be able to find what we needed in the next country.

When compared to the United States, the difference is almost laughable. The same medications were available there, even with insurance, but would have cost several times what we paid. Since we don’t live in the US, there was no sense in buying a pharmacy plan when we could only get three months of drugs at any given time due to insurance restrictions.

These inhalers are for allergies and in the event we get a cough/flu..Two EpiPens are included, as we are both allergic to bees and wasps. Many medications have different names in South Africa, but they are the same as brand-name medications in the US.

In the U.S., prescriptions are a monthly reminder of how expensive it is to stay well, with bills that keep piling up, appointment fees added on, and insurance companies deciding what is or isn’t “covered.” Here in South Africa, we paid upfront, yes, but we walked away knowing the next twelve months are accounted for, at a fraction of the American cost. What felt at first like a fortune suddenly seemed more like a bargain.

There’s a psychological comfort in that. As travelers, we live with a certain level of uncertainty. Where will we be next month? Will the Wi-Fi be strong enough to stay connected? Will we find a place to stay that feels like home? Those unknowns are part of the adventure, but health is different. Health is the foundation upon which all those adventures are built. Knowing we have what we need neatly tucked away in our luggage allows us to embrace the journey with less worry and more joy.

I thought about how many people in the U.S. don’t have that option. Even retirees, who should be able to enjoy their later years without constant financial strain, often find themselves paying shocking amounts for the medications they need. It’s one of the strange ironies of our travels that moving through countries where people sometimes have less materially, we often find greater accessibility when it comes to healthcare. South Africa may not be perfect, but the availability and affordability of medication is a lifeline not just for locals but also for travelers like us.

Of course, spending ZAR 29,000 in one go isn’t something to brush off lightly. It was a big line item in our travel budget, and I’ll admit we were a little shocked.. But when you consider what that figure represents, the decision made itself. It isn’t just a transaction; it’s an investment in our ability to keep going, to keep saying yes to new places and new experiences without the nagging worry of running out of something vital.

There’s also a strange sense of gratitude that comes with moments like this. Gratitude for the pharmacists who took the time to patiently gather everything we needed. Gratitude for the fact that South Africa’s system makes it possible to buy in bulk. And gratitude that, as nomads, we’ve learned to adapt to different systems, to figure out what works and what doesn’t as we cross borders.

Doc Theo wrote us prescriptions for several preventive medications in case we become ill on the upcoming cruises, including Tamiflu, Prednisone, respiratory drugs, and various antibiotics suitable for norovirus or the cruise flu/cough. If we’re lucky, we won’t need to use some of these. Also, he explained we can WhatsApp him if we need guidance on which ot these we should take, leaving us with tremendous comfort with the concept of our “doctor-traveling-with-us.”

These three bags contain all the packaging material from which we removed the pills. Yesterday, we popped out over 1800 pills from blister packs. Our thumbs are sore today.

Walking out of that pharmacy, bags in hand, I couldn’t help but feel lighter, even if the luggage itself was a bit heavier. It wasn’t just about the medicine. It was about knowing that we’d taken care of ourselves in a way that allows us to keep chasing the life we’ve chosen. The freedom of the open road, the constant stream of wildlife outside our door in Marloth Park, and the endless discovery of new places —all of it — is sustained by these practical decisions made quietly in a small town like Komatipoort.

Yes, ZAR 29,000 is a significant amount of money. But it bought us more than pills and prescriptions. It brought us reassurance, continuity, and the ability to keep moving forward without pause. And when weighed against the alternative, the spiraling costs and stress of the American healthcare system, it feels less like an expense and more like a gift.

Travel teaches us to value experiences over possessions, but it also teaches us to recognize the worth of what drives us forward. This time, it wasn’t a spectacular view or a cultural encounter that left the biggest impression. It was a simple transaction at a pharmacy counter, reminding us once again that sometimes the greatest luxuries are not material, but the peace of mind that allows us to continue our journey through the world.

Today, at 4:00 pm, we’re meeting Rita, Gerhard, and Inge at Amazing River View for river watching, sunset viewing, and dinner.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 7, 2015:

Pond view at the Cattana Wetlands in Trinity Beach, Australia, taken on our last day before moving on. For more photos, please click here.

Traveler’s favorite cruise lines…What are our favorite affordable cruise lines?

Posted by worldwide-admin on August 31, 2025 with 2 Comments

Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas, the cruise ship we’ve booked for 47 nights, is setting sail in less than two months. It’s an older ship that was refurbished in 2019. The last time we sailed on this ship was in April 2016, and it was to our liking at that time.

When travelers sit down and reminisce about their favorite journeys, cruising often comes up with a kind of wistful fondness. There is something about being out at sea, unpacking your suitcase only once, and waking up in a new port every morning that captures the imagination. Yet among all the cruise lines that sail the world’s oceans, people do develop favorites. Sometimes it’s the loyalty perks, sometimes it’s the destinations, and other times it’s simply how a particular ship makes them feel. For seasoned cruisers, their favorite line becomes like a trusted companion—familiar, comforting, and ready to whisk them away when the mood strikes.

Each cruise line has its own character, and over time, travelers gravitate toward the one that feels most like “them.” Carnival, for example, is loved by those who want fun at sea without breaking the bank. Known for its vibrant atmosphere, casual style, and endless activities, Carnival appeals to travelers seeking energy, laughter, and nights that don’t end early. Families and younger couples often declare Carnival their favorite because it feels approachable and never too stuffy. For them, it’s less about formality and more about making memories together.

Royal Caribbean, on the other hand, wins hearts with its sheer spectacle. Its massive ships are floating cities, packed with innovations like surf simulators, ice-skating rinks, rock-climbing walls, and even zip lines high above the decks. For travelers who crave both relaxation and adrenaline, Royal Caribbean becomes the cruise line of choice. Many families pick it as their favorite because there’s genuinely something for everyone—children, teens, parents, and grandparents alike. The entertainment is Broadway-caliber, the dining options are varied, and the destinations are wide-ranging. Once a traveler experiences the scale of a Royal Caribbean ship, it’s hard not to feel dazzled.

For those who lean toward elegance, Celebrity Cruises often tops the list of favorites. Sleek, modern, and stylish, Celebrity caters to travelers who enjoy fine dining, thoughtful design, and a slightly more refined atmosphere. Foodies especially praise Celebrity for its culinary offerings, from rooftop grills to wine cellars that rival those on land. Many couples celebrate anniversaries or milestones on these ships, and it’s no surprise they come back again and again. Once you’ve had a sunset dinner on the deck of a Celebrity ship, it lingers in your memory, calling you back.

Princess Cruises holds a special place in many hearts, particularly among couples and retirees seeking a balance of comfort and affordability. Princess has built a reputation for romantic sailings, partly thanks to its long history with itineraries to Alaska and Hawaii. Many travelers will tell you their very first cruise was with Princess, and because of that, it remains their favorite. The line feels traditional in the best way—classic dining, friendly service, and ships that are large enough to offer variety but not so big they feel overwhelming.

Azamara Journey, on which we sailed in 2023.

Disney Cruise Line stands alone in its own category. For families with children, there is simply no contest. Disney’s attention to detail, storytelling, and service creates an experience unlike any other at sea. Characters roam the decks, themed dining immerses guests in fantasy, and there’s even fireworks at sea. Parents who have sailed with Disney with their little ones often say that no other cruise compares, even years later, when the kids are grown. For them, Disney remains their favorite because it delivered pure magic in a way no other line could.

Some travelers, of course, are drawn toward luxury, and their favorites reflect that. Lines like Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, and Seabourn specialize in indulgence. These ships are smaller, the service is more personalized, and nearly everything is included, from champagne to shore excursions. Once a traveler experiences that level of attention, it’s tough to go back to the bigger, more commercial ships. Luxury cruisers often describe their favorite line with a sense of loyalty that borders on devotion. For them, cruising isn’t about entertainment or activities; it’s about being pampered in a serene, sophisticated environment while sailing to some of the world’s most exclusive destinations.

Then there are the explorers, those who want to go where big ships can’t. Expedition lines like Hurtigruten, Lindblad Expeditions, and Ponant appeal to travelers seeking adventure at the world’s edges, including the Arctic, Antarctica, and the Galápagos Islands. For these passengers, their favorite cruise line isn’t about pool decks or shows, but about knowledge, exploration, and connection to nature. Instead of late-night karaoke, evenings are filled with lectures by naturalists and stories about the day’s discoveries. Their loyalty lies with whichever line brings them closest to the wild.

We sailed on Ponant’s Le Boreal when we visited Antarctica in 2018. It’s a small ship with a maximum passenger capacity of 264, but on our sailing, there were fewer than 200 passengers, making the cruise especially intimate and special.

We sailed on Ponant’s ship, Le Boreal, to Antarctica in 2018.

What makes a cruise line someone’s favorite isn’t always the obvious. It can be a small gesture: a crew member remembering your name, a cabin attendant surprising you with a towel animal, or a chef preparing a dish that tastes just like home. These personal touches often define loyalty more than the size of a ship or the length of an itinerary. Travelers speak warmly about the little things, the sense of belonging that a line fosters. Once that connection forms, it endures.

Favorites also evolve with time. The young partygoer who loved Carnival in their twenties may find themselves preferring Celebrity’s sophistication later in life. Families who adored Disney may shift to Royal Caribbean when the kids become teenagers. A retiree who started with Princess may eventually discover Seabourn and fall in love with its intimate atmosphere. As travelers change, so do their favorites.

At the heart of it all, a traveler’s favorite cruise line isn’t about the advertisements or the rankings. It’s about how that line made them feel. Did it bring joy? Did it create memories worth holding onto? Did it make the world feel a little closer, a little more accessible? That’s why the answer to “What’s the best cruise line?” will always be beautifully subjective.

For one traveler, it might be Carnival, because it brought their family together in laughter. For another, it might be Silversea, because it offered peace and luxury after a lifetime of hard work. For someone else, it could be Disney, because it made their child’s eyes light up in pure wonder.

And so, travelers’ favorite cruise lines are not just about ships at sea…they are about stories, memories, and the ways we connect to the world and to each other while the horizon stretches endlessly ahead.

Overall, for the sake of affordability and quality sailing, we’ve enjoyed Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Azamara, and look forward to more sailings in the future.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 31, 2015:

Walkway along the pond in the Trinity Beach area. There doesn’t appear to be as many vacation homes in this particular area as we’ve seen in other beach areas. For more photos, please click here.

Do you dread Monday mornings?…Does retirement alleviate this familiar dread?…Norman is on the mend!…

Posted by worldwide-admin on August 18, 2025 with 0 Comment

Norman is improving and is now able to lie down to rest his broken leg. He’s able to put a little weight on it. We feed him a voracious amount of healthy fruit and vegetables to help him recover. He often spends several hours a day with us.

There’s something almost universal about the dread of Monday mornings. No matter what corner of the world we live in, no matter what stage of life we’ve reached, Monday seems to carry with it a shadow that hangs over Sunday evenings like a looming cloud. It doesn’t matter if one works in an office, teaches in a school, or even enjoys the so-called freedom of retirement and even a joyful life of world travel; Mondays have a reputation, and not a good one. They are the gatekeepers of responsibility, the unwelcome reminder that another week must be faced, whether we feel ready for it or not.

For so many people, Monday mornings are synonymous with alarm clocks ringing too soon. That piercing sound is rarely kind, interrupting dreams that seemed sweeter than the reality of another commute, another round of meetings, another set of deadlines. The weekend, with its promise of leisure and choice, is cut short by the inescapable reality that we must show up. Monday never negotiates—it demands, it insists. We can bargain with ourselves, press the snooze button once or twice, but in the end, Monday wins.

Part of the dread comes from contrast. Saturdays and Sundays often carry a lighter rhythm, even if they are filled with errands and chores. There’s a psychological difference in knowing those days belong to us, however briefly. We can choose when to wake up, what to do with our time, and how to order our day. But Monday steals that choice away. Suddenly, the hours are structured around commitments we did not freely design. There is a rigidity to the schedule, a narrowing of freedom. Monday reminds us that our lives are, in many ways, not entirely our own.

Norman loves carrots, apples, pears, and cabbage. His left broken leg’s swelling has gone down about 50% in the past week.

The dread is also tied to anticipation. Human beings have an uncanny ability to live inside their thoughts, and Mondays often trigger the mental checklist of everything waiting for us. Emails left unanswered on Friday afternoon suddenly stare back from our inboxes. Projects that seemed distant last week are suddenly due. Even before our feet hit the floor, our minds are already racing through tasks, obligations, and responsibilities. It’s not just the weight of Monday we carry, but the whole week stretching ahead like a steep climb.

There is also something about Monday that magnifies fatigue. No matter how much rest we get, it rarely feels like enough to reset from the demands of modern life. Many people spend the weekend trying to cram in recovery—sleeping late, socializing, catching up on housework—only to find themselves more tired when Monday arrives. It feels as though we are starting a marathon with legs that haven’t quite healed from the last one. No wonder Monday feels heavier than it should.

But not all of the dread is physical or practical. There’s a psychological layer as well. Mondays remind us of routine, of sameness. The novelty of a new week rarely sparks excitement—it signals repetition. For those in jobs that lack fulfillment or joy, Monday can feel like stepping back onto a treadmill that leads nowhere. Even for those who enjoy their work, Mondays still carry the pressure of performance, of having to prove ourselves again, week after week. That pressure can be exhausting in its own right.

What makes this dread so peculiar is that it affects people who technically have no reason to fear Mondays. Retirees often confess they still feel that twinge of anxiety when Sunday evening rolls around. Old habits linger in the body. After years of waking up early, dressing for work, and showing up on time, the mind can’t fully shake the association. Monday is etched into our cultural rhythm as the day of seriousness, of responsibility, of effort. Even without a boss waiting or a desk piled high, the feeling lingers. It is as though Monday has imprinted itself on our collective psyche.

Yet, when we strip away the reputation Monday carries, it is still just another day. The sun rises the same way. Birds still sing. The world does not change its rhythm because the calendar has turned. What changes is us—our anticipation, our dread, our expectations. We project onto Monday the weight of obligation, and in doing so, we give it power. Perhaps that’s why Fridays are celebrated and Mondays are mourned. We’ve collectively decided to honor one and curse the other.

Of course, not everyone feels this way. There are people who look forward to Monday as a fresh start, a clean slate. They welcome the routine, the structure, the chance to begin again. But they are often the exception. For most, Monday signifies the loss of freedom, the beginning of effort, and the burden of another cycle. The dread, then, is less about the day itself and more about what it represents in the story of our lives.

Maybe the challenge lies in reframing Monday, not as a punishment, but as an opportunity. Easier said than done, of course. But when we see Monday as inevitable suffering, it becomes just that. When we see it as a chance to begin anew, to reset intentions, to step into possibility, it can take on a softer tone. The day itself doesn’t change, but our relationship to it can.

Still, the cultural weight of Monday is hard to shake. For many, the dread will always creep in on Sunday night, a familiar visitor knocking at the door. And maybe that’s not entirely bad. Perhaps it’s a reminder that we crave balance, that we long for more freedom, more rest, more joy in our everyday lives. If nothing else, Monday makes us aware of what we’re missing, and perhaps that awareness can push us to shape our lives in ways that feel lighter, not just on weekends, but every day of the week.

Sure, we’ve lightened the load of dreading Monday morning, considering our fulfilling lives of non-stop world travel, but, even so, on Monday mornings, for a few minutes, that feeling washes over me, after which I shake myself loose and remind myself of this extraordinary life we lead. Grateful. Very grateful.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 18, 2015:

The drive to Smithfield Regional Park in Carins, Australia, was pleasant. The day started sunny, quickly changing to clouds and sprinkles. For more photos, please click here.

We couldn’t be enjoying this simple life more!…

Posted by worldwide-admin on August 2, 2025 with 2 Comments

View of the Crocodile River from the veranda at Ngwenya.

We’ve lived a nomadic lifestyle for so long now that “home” has become an ever-evolving concept, sometimes a flat in a bustling city, sometimes a beach cottage with nothing but the rhythm of the waves and a good Wi-Fi connection. But right now, as I sit in our holiday home at the big table on the veranda, tucked deep in the South African bush, it feels like we’ve stumbled upon one of the most magical chapters yet.

Marloth Park is not just a place—it’s a feeling. A wild, untamed blend of raw Africa and warm community spirit that never ceases to stir something deep in us. Here, in this dusty little piece of paradise on the southern edge of Kruger National Park, we’ve found both thrilling adventure and unexpected comfort. After years of drifting from country to country, city to jungle, we’re utterly content being here—right now, right in this moment.

The days begin slowly here, just the way we like them. Early morning sunlight spills through the trees in golden ribbons, and the bush comes alive with birdcalls, rustling leaves, and the distant grunt of hippos down at the Crocodile River. Coffee on the veranda has become a sacred ritual, made even more delightful by the frequent wildlife guests. Zebras stroll past like they own the place, and they sort of do. Families of warthogs snuffle their way through the garden, tails held high like tiny antennae catching the joy in the air. Kudu stand statuesque under the trees, and mongooses dart around with endearing boldness, hoping for a leftover scrap from last night’s braai.

Living amongst the wildlife isn’t a novelty anymore—it’s a privilege we don’t take for granted. There’s an intimacy to it, a kind of peaceful cohabitation that makes us feel less like visitors and more like part of something ancient and essential. We’ve learned to walk slowly, to listen more, and to take notice of life’s quiet moments. There’s no rushing here. Just the steady heartbeat of the bush, and we’ve synced our pace to it.

The setting sun as seen from Ngwenya on Thusday evening when friends Carol and Colin joined us with nieces Ursula and Anita.

What makes this chapter even more beautiful is the community we’ve become a part of. Over the years, through repeat visits and long stays, we’ve formed lasting friendships with people from all walks of life, including locals, retirees, and fellow travelers who’ve also chosen this unconventional path. There’s a camaraderie among us, a shared understanding of what it means to be a little bit rootless, a little bit wild.

Social life here is anything but quiet. There’s always something happening; impromptu sundowners with friends, potluck dinners under the stars, trivia nights, conservation fundraisers, and long, lazy afternoons spent swapping stories on verandas shaded by marula trees. These people have become our tribe. They know where we’ve been and where we dream of going next. They celebrate our joys and offer support when things get hard. And despite the lack of a fixed address, they make us feel grounded.

What’s more, there’s purpose here. Conservation is woven into the everyday, from the local volunteers tracking rhino movements to the casual conversations about water and electricity scarcity and wildlife preservation. Living in the bush makes you acutely aware of your impact. It humbles you. It teaches you to tread lightly. We’ve learned so much, not just about animals or ecosystems, but about how to live more meaningfully.

Of course, not every day is postcard-perfect. There are power outages and water interruptions. The heat can be oppressive, and the bugs, well, they thrive just as much as everything else here. But the trade-off is always worth it. When the stars come out at night, clear and sharp in the black African sky, and the roar of a distant lion vibrates in your chest, it’s easy to forget the small inconveniences.

Giraffes in the garden have become a regular occurrence.

Being here has reminded us why we chose this life in the first place. We didn’t want ordinary. We didn’t want predictable. We wanted to feel alive. To live richly, fully, with our eyes and hearts wide open. And Marloth Park gives us that in spades.

We’ve found ourselves falling into a rhythm here that suits us perfectly. Mornings and nights with the animals, working, writing, and planning. Many evenings are spent laughing with friends or listening to the cicadas as the fire crackles nearby. There’s no pressure to be anywhere else. No urge to chase the next destination. We’re content. We’re rooted, not by geography, but by connection, by purpose, and by joy.

We know we won’t stay forever. That’s the nature of this life we’ve chosen. But for now, this is home. A wild, dusty, sun-drenched, zebra-trodden slice of Africa that has captured our hearts all over again. We’ll carry it with us wherever we go next, the sounds, the sightings, the scents, the friendships, and of course, the African sunsets.

And most likely, we’ll find our way back here again. Because Marloth Park doesn’t let you go easily. It lingers, like the smell of woodsmoke in your clothes or the memory of a kudu staring into your soul.

For now, we’re simply grateful. Grateful for the animals that remind us how to be still. For the friends who make this place feel like family. And for the chance to keep living this beautiful, unpredictable, nomadic life, on our terms.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 2, 2015:

As we entered Four Mile Beach in Queensland, Australia. For more photos, please click here.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all!…Fun news about a dear friend to share…15 days and counting…

Posted by worldwide-admin on February 14, 2025 with 2 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day to our readers/friends and world travelers. May your day be filled with love and adventure.

We don’t make a big fuss about Valentine’s Day other than to go out to dinner. We stopped giving one another cards and gifts like we did in our old lives. I’d usually decorate a cake in my heart-shaped baking pan, befitting the occasion. We’d either go out to dinner at a special place, or if time allowed, I’d make a special dinner.

Tom was often working on the railroad in those days, and we may have had to celebrate on a different day when we knew he’d be home. Celebrating all special occasions was predicated on his work schedule, which often changed by the day. Now, as world-traveling retirees, we can do whatever we’d like, which usually consists of dinner at an incredibly lovely restaurant.

We’re going to the fabulous Italian restaurant in the Village in Lake Las Vegas tonight, a short walk from our condo. We enjoy the candlelight ambiance, white linen tablecloths, black-and-white-dressed Italian servers, a view of the lake, and fantastic food to celebrate this day together. That’s all we need besides the joy of being together on this day and every day.

On another note, our dear friend Lisa, whom I met in the 1980s in Minnesota and with whom I have stayed in close touch over the years, is coming to Marloth Park for an entire month at the end of March. Tom and Lisa have also become good friends, and it will be delightful to share the wonders of the bush with her soon.

A few days ago, I was on the phone with Lisa when she booked her flight from Orlando, Florida, to Nelspruit/Kruger/Mpumalanga (MQP), arriving on April 2, the same day Tom has to return the rental car to the small airport. That way, Lisa could ride with Tom on his return drive and then again for her return flight when she leaves on May 1, and he returns the rental car again.

Lisa and I are like sisters, with endless stories to remember of our friendship over the years. We never run out of conversation and treasure our time together. It will be fun for all of us. Of course, sharing the wonders of the bush with a dear visitor is beyond exciting. Her visit will only enhance the time we will spend in the bush.

We’re also waiting to hear from our dear friends Rich and Karen, who live in Florida and plan to visit sometime during our second stay in Marloth Park from June to September. We should hear from them soon.

As of tomorrow, February 15, it will be two weeks until we depart Nevada to begin the long journey to South Africa. It’s been almost two years since we left in April 2023. When we left, we thought we’d be returning in 13 months and now, after dealing with medical issues, we’re returning in 23 months. I’ve missed it so much.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you. We hope you have an opportunity to share your love with those special people in your lives today and always.

Be well.♥

Photo from ten years ago today, February 14, 2015:

This Laysan Albatross parent and chick sit close to one another until the chick becomes more confident and the parents feel more at ease. In time, the chick will likely be left behind on its own in June or July. For more photos, please click here.

Day 4…Road trip…A memorable stop along the way…

Posted by worldwide-admin on December 17, 2024 with 4 Comments

The Trstar Express Motel is reminiscent of the 1950s or 1960s

I wouldn’t say I like saying it was a podunk town, but in reality, it was…Tucumcari. New Mexico.As we drove down the main road in the old, worn-out town with a population of about 5,000, I was transported back to my youth, when I rode with my parents across the US from California to Massachusetts to visit my grandmother in the summers.

Tom, last night at dinner at Del’s Restaurant in Tucumcari.

Grandma lived in a mansion on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, which I recall as if it was yesterday, with the carved coconut heads hanging from the ceilings in the basement to the huge elegant dining room on the main floor and the no-touch parlor intended for observation rather than use.

I could go on about that magnificent house for hours, but I will return to the seven-day road trips I’ll never forget, including an overnight stay in Tucumcari, which looks the same today as I remembered it 70 years ago.

Fake flower decorations outside the door at Del’s Restaurant. We chuckled.

The difference was the shuttered old businesses that had long since closed on Route 66. When the interstate came through in the 1950s/1960s, the well-known thoroughfare became obsolete due to modern change.

Ironically, time stood still for the little town of Tucumcari and remained as I remembered it many decades ago.

We made our way down the road to our quaint motel, which was still standing seven decades later. I checked in to meet the owner, Mike, who welcomed us with open arms.

Much to our delight, the Wi-Fi was good, the room was clean and comfortable, and we wanted for nothing. I couldn’t stop smiling.

There wasn’t an empty spot for another Christmas decoration. It was adorable!

Tom had never made that route but appreciated the charm and the mystery of this unusual little community, mostly filled with retirees, cowgirls, and cowboys of varying ages—many who had lived there all their lives.

We found a great restaurant that reminded us of an old-fashioned supper club from the 1960s. It had a 10-page menu, smiling staff, and an array of old-fashioned entrees and sides. The ambiance in the supper club was indeed a Christmas wonderland.

My liver and onions with vegetable sides and of course, my one glass of red wine.

I ordered the seldom-seen liver and onions, and Tom had roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, and a couple of squishy buns. I couldn’t resist ordering a glass of red wine, my first since we began this road trip.

Tom’s favorite dinner is roast beef, mashed potatoes with gravy, and sweet corn. Of course, he has two rolls on the side.

Back at the motel, we watched the Minnesota Vikings game and lay down for the night in the somewhat hard bed, which had insufficient covers to keep us warm. My feet were freezing all night, but the only sox I had was a compression type, unsuitable for sleeping. The water never warmed up for this morning’s showers. Still, we didn’t complain and took off by 8:30 to head to breakfast at Kix, a local diner comparable to those we’ve all seen in many TV shows and movies.

We had breakfast this morning at Kix Diner.

Of course, we sat at the counter with swivel chairs and ordered hearty breakfasts unlike any other we’d had during this road trip.

Before we knew it, breakfast was over, and we headed back down Old Route 66 to a rundown petrol station to top off the tank and be on our way.

Tom was perusing the giant menu at Kix Diner this morning.

Today’s photos illustrate the incredible scenes we encountered in our short time in Tucumcari, New Mexico.

Myriad license plates are on the wall at Kix Diner.

The other stops along the way on this 4½ day road trip have already begun to fade from our minds, but our time and Tucumcari will be a fond memory, always putting a smile on our faces.

Soon, we’ll arrive at another interesting hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona, where we’ll spend the night and see what delightful story we can add to share our experience once again.

Rundown classic cars are waiting to be restored at the petrol station. Perhaps they’d been sitting here for decades.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, December 17, 2014:

Sandy Beach spots for enjoying the tide pools filled with fish and turtles at the Onekahakaha Beach Park in Hilo. For more photos, please click here.

Shocking event in the cruise business…Frustration for travelers..

Posted by worldwide-admin on September 22, 2024 with 4 Comments

The view from our condo in Vancouver before we sailed to Hawaii.

Traveling is a tricky business. We are subject to changes, cancellations, and longer-than-expected waiting periods, often at our own expense, due to situations entirely beyond our control. The following story popped up today that clearly illustrates one of those frustrations, in this case, for a more extended period than usual.

From this site:

Business

Passengers bought berths on a 3-year cruise. Months later, the ship is still stuck in Belfast.

By JILL LAWLESS and PETER MORRISON

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — Lanette Canen and Johan Bodin gave up life on land to become seaborne nomads on a years-long cruise.

Months later, the couple has yet to spend a night at sea. Their ship, the Odyssey, is stuck in Belfast undergoing repair work that has postponed its scheduled May departure for a 3½-year round-the-world voyage.

Bodin said Friday that they have enjoyed their pit stop in the Northern Ireland capital, but “when we’d visited every pub and tried and every fish and chips place and listened to all the places that have Irish music, then we were ready to go elsewhere.”

“We’re ready to set sail, for sure,” added Canen.

Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey is the latest venture in the tempest-tossed world of continuous cruising.

It allows travelers to buy a cabin and live at sea on a ship circumnavigating the globe. On its maiden voyage, it will visit 425 ports in 147 countries on seven continents. Cabins – billed as “villas” — start at $99,999, plus a monthly fee, for the vessel’s operational life, at least 15 years. Passengers can also sign up for voyage segments lasting weeks or months.

Marketing material, aimed at adventurous retirees and restless digital nomads, touts “the incredible opportunity to own a home on a floating paradise,” complete with a gym, spa, putting green, entertainment facilities, a business center, and an “experiential culinary center.”

But first, the Odyssey has to get out of the dock. It’s now at Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard, where the doomed RMS Titanic was built over a century ago.

Villa Vie Residences’ marketing manager, Sebastian Stokkendal, said the company had been “humbled by the scale of what it takes to reactivate a 30-year-old vessel from a four-year layup.”

He said that the ship was almost ready to depart after work on the rudder shafts, steel work, and engine overhauls.”

Calling itself the first perpetual world cruise, Odyssey has a busy 425-port itinerary across 147 countries through 2028. Its cabins, renamed “villas” by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, start at $99,999 and run to $899,000, with monthly fees that vary according to the cabin type and number of occupants. Non-resident passengers can also sign up for segments that last weeks or months.

As of today, the Odyssey has yet to set sail. We can only imagine the frustration of the waiting passengers who have upended their lives for this extended journey.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 22, 2014: