Why so long???…

Our family and friends are asking, why so long? Why 880 days (so far)?

There are only a few answers to this question. Aging is one. By the time we leave the US, I will be 65 years old and although physically fit as a result of healthy eating, healthy living, and daily exercise, the ravages of “old man time” (darn him!) can be felt every morning as I step out of bed.

Tom will be 60 years old (“They,” say I robbed the cradle!), but after 42 years on the railroad, his knees and other joints are worn to the bone and he too feels the aches and pains upon awakening.   

There is no doubt that down the road, when and if we tire of traveling, we’ll hunker down to a warm climate and into the predictable senior citizen condo complex. We’ll get a little dog, play some bingo, hang out with guys whose pants are pulled up six inches above their waists, and with the ladies with the purple permanents wearing silky flowered print blouses. That will be us, as well.  

We have traveled very little these past years, always preferring to stay home to enjoy Minnesota’s short summers and our lake home. It often felt as if we were on a vacation on the warm summer days with the fish jumpin’ and the birds’ singin’, while we lounged in the comfy white lawn chairs.  

We didn’t have a care in the world other than to fire up the grill, pour ourselves a cold glass of something good, or to haul some wood to the fire pit for a roaring fire when the sunset (and the mosquitoes came out to indulge in our tasty flesh).  

We had traveled in our minds, a few years ago when we recorded every episode of the TV show, House Hunters International. We dreamed while we discussed the possibility of owning a home in an exotic location. As time has neared, (7 months and 2 days), we knew that staying in one place was the opposite of what we really wanted. We want to be “free” to explore the world.  

Tom believes that the state of the economy and that hyperinflation will take hold in the entire world. We will travel before the effects of such inflation will prevent us from being able to do so.  

Our last reason is simple. Tom and I both had our children when we were teenagers. We spent our 20’s making every effort, with a certain level of immaturity, to be responsible parents. In some ways we were successful. In other ways, we weren’t. 

As our family has grown with the addition of significant others, and six precious grandchildren, we feel their lives and their traditions are established and we can let go, with the love, with the hope and, the dream to share a piece of our adventure with all of them in times to come and to build new memories to cherish together, forever

Finally, the itinerary…

Admittedly, I have procrastinated about posting the itinerary. Procrastination is not my style. I am a “get-it-done” kind of person who contemplates a task in advance, sorts out the details, and then fires away. Why, the procrastination?

There are a few reasons. One, as indicated in today’s earlier post, I was definitely preoccupied with the pending immunization appointment, and two, I’ve been wrapped in the details of the rental house in France, which is now complete.  

We have yet to book a portion of the time in Europe and in Hawaii (primarily due to the hesitancy of property owners committing so far out). In addition, the last three cruises, although upcoming and available, have not yet posted for bookings.

Will we continue traveling after experiencing this itinerary?  

Yes, we will if the following prevail as planned: Are we healthy? Did we follow the budget? And of course, do we want to?

Location Days  
11/2/2012-11/4/2014
Minnesota drive to Scottsdale AZ
3
11/4/2012-1/2/2013
Scottsdale Condo Rental 
61  
(included in the above)
Scottsdale to Las Vegas-hotel
5  
12/30/2012-1/3/2013
Scottsdale to San Diego – stay with family

4
 
1/3/2013-1/18/2013
San Diego to Fort Lauderdale – Panama Canal Cruise
15  
1/18/2013-1/20/2013
Fort
Lauderdale to Boca Raton- stay with a friend
2  
1/21/2013-1/29/2013
Fort Lauderdale to Belize – Cruise
8  
1/29/2013-4/8/2013
Belize Rental-House on beach
70  
4/9/2013-4/13/2013
Belize to Miami Cruise
3  
4/13/2013-4/20/2013Miami
Visit friends in Boca, Bonita Springs
7  
4/20/2013-5/1/2013
Miami to Barcelona – Cruise
11  
5/1/2013
Barcelona to Majorca (RT) – ferry
0  
5/1/2013-6/3/2013
Majorca Oceanview
Condo Rental 
33  
6/3/2013
Majorca to Barcelona-Ferry 
0  
6/4/2013-6/16/2013
Barcelona to Venice- Mediterranean Cruise
12  
6/16/2013
Venice to Tuscany-Train
0  
6/16/2013-8/31/2013
Tuscany Rental-17th century villa
76  
8/31/2013
Tuscany to Rome-Train
0  
9/1/2013
Rome to Kenya-Flight
2  
9/1/2013-11/30/2013
Kenya Rental- Diani Beach house
90  
11/30/2013
Kenya to South Africa-Flight
1  
12/1/2013-3/26/2014
South Africa Rental-Kruger National Park – House
115  
3/26/2014
Kruger National Park to Durban, South Africa-driver
0  
3/26/2014-3/30/2014
Durban to Cape Town-Cruise
4  
3/30/2014-4/17/2014
Cape Town to Genoa- Cruise                             
18  
4/17/2014-4/18/2014
Drive to Genoa, Italy along
French Riveria, to Hotel in Cannes
1  
4/18/2014-5/17/2014
Cannes to 16th Century
Stone House, Cajarc, France
30  
5/17/2014-9/17/2014
Spain, Portugal, London (take the Chunnel under the ocean) rentals
123  
9/17/2014-10/1/2014
London to Fort Lauderdale-Cruise
14  
10/1/2014-10/5/2014
Fort Lauderdale to Boca-stay with friend
5  
10/5/2014-10/19/2014
Fort
Lauderdale to
San Diego Cruise
14  
10/19/2014-10/22/2014
San Diego to Baja CA
-Hotel
3  
10/22/2014
Baja CA
to Ensenada,
Mexico
0  
10/22/2014-11/2/2014
Ensenada Mexico to
Honolulu Cruise
11  
11/2/2014-3/31/2015
Hawaii – Home Rentals-Island Hopping (Christmas booked with family on Big Island during this period)
150  
Total
Days Booked to Date (more will follow)
880

Photos of rental properties will be coming soon. Thanks for stopping by!