Travel has been significant to me ever since I saw the movie Around the World in 80 Days in 1957. Since it is still important, especially after retirement, it was imperative to manage my expenses in order to explore the World and still support myself.

I was divorced after 28 years of marriage and realized that life would be more difficult unless I made changes. At that time I was working at an airline which would have made travelling easier but tougher to buy good health insurance and pay my mortgage. By the way, this was the first time in my life that I had a bedroom of my own. (never slept better!) I had to resign and return to teaching high school, something I had not done for many years. This choice allowed me self reliancy in addition to time off for travel!

Once I decided to retire I knew I needed a new plan. I sold my condo, moved to Panama where one could live a nice life for $1000 a month and still travel. It was also a chance to see most of South and Central America. I stayed until I felt a need to help out with my aging mother who recently had moved to an assisted living facility in Washington. Lucky for me, a sister agreed to rent me her vacation home nearby at an inexpensive rate.

After my mom passed I moved back to San Diego to be close to family. I moved into a garage my landlord had converted into a nice little nest. A year or so later I moved into what I called my “shed with a bed”, a small studio apartment. All of these choices allowed me to continue my quest of seeing the World before I die.

Initially I tried visiting 5 new countries each year which was easy when they were adjacent and well connected by public transport. Once I had been to all the countries in Europe it was a little more challenging. Lucky for me, one of my daughters moved to Hong Kong because of her job for a few years, affording me a jumping off place for Asia.

I currently live in an apartment close to the airport and am one of the few who never complain about the planes flying over. I’m hoping not to move any time soon as that is difficult plus I’ve already lived in 26 homes at last count. The places left to visit are both “far and few between”. I discovered that cruising makes my quest much easier. Some lines are now offering cabins for solos without adding a single supplement, which makes it totally awesome!

I finished last year with a trip down the West Coast of Africa and in a month I’ve embarking on one that will take me to Papau New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. A sweet life, lucky me.