Today is our 12 year world travel anniversary. Happy Halloween!

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A gnome sitting on a pumpkin with Thanksgiving decorations clipart, cozy autumn vibes, digital painting, isolated on white background
Happy Halloween!

It was 12 years ago today, Tom retired from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, and we left Minnesota. We loaded up his SUV with way too much stuff to drive to Arizona for a two-month stay to wrap up some paperwork, buy new laptops and smartphones, and work on visas for upcoming cruises and travels.

Everything we’d owned was sold and gone, albeit with a modicum of tears that flowed freely after saying goodbye to our loved ones. We knew we’d miss family, but with easy Facetime access online, it wouldn’t be as challenging to be away as it might have been decades ago, before the internet.

We chose to stay in Arizona for a few months to see if we’d like to live there when we eventually settled down. The two months in Scottsdale convinced us that Arizona was unsuitable for us. The summer heat was unappealing, and somehow, we never acquired a connection to the state.

While there, we enjoyed spending time with Tom’s sisters in Apache Junction, but again, we couldn’t see ourselves living in a retirement community in Arizona or anywhere. In time, that may change our minds about living in a retirement community, but not now.

Here we are now, after 12 years of the most exciting and adventurous times of our lives, seeking the medical care we knew would eventually come to pass. Nothing we’ve discovered about my health thus far requires us to stop traveling. In our travels over the past 12 years, we’ve met many seniors with heart conditions similar to mine who continue to travel regularly, some even full-time, like us.

We’re not done yet. We still have plenty of world left to see and feel no urgency to make any permanent decisions. It’s funny, isn’t it, that we feel totally at ease with that uncertainty? Many have said that not having a home would make them uncomfortable and unsettled. For us, it’s not an issue at all.

I suppose this lifestyle has reshaped our needs, and we no longer feel compelled to have a place we call “home.” We’ve learned that such a decision can be made whenever we are ready from wherever we may be at any given time.

What are we doing to celebrate today? Without a rental car, there are no exceptional restaurants nearby that warrant an Uber ride, and the fact that we’ve already ordered takeaway meals from the best nearby restaurants, we see no reason to venture out. We considered having cocktails tonight since I have one unopened bottle of white wine, and Tom has a bottle of brandy. But it’s been two months since we’ve had a drink, and we don’t need to do so today.

Today is special to both of us, and neither food nor drink is required to revel in the memories we created over the past 12 years, let alone the 4448 posts we’ve uploaded since March 2012, (see the first post here) months before we left Minnesota, when we wrote our first post. At any moment, we can enjoy the memories of the past 12 years with only a few clicks in our archives.

When we look back at any of those posts, we are immediately transported back to those precious times, memories flooding our minds, with smiles on our faces and feelings of warmth in our hearts. We are grateful for the experiences, the times we spent together, the people we met along the way, and the people and places we have yet to see. We are grateful for the safety in our travels, although, at times, we encountered challenging situations.

And now, as we near the end of our time at Cleveland Clinic (four months to go), we are again grateful for the exceptional medical care and upcoming peace of mind we’ll carry with us when we leave.

Happy Halloween to all.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 31, 2014:

This rooster was strutting around, showing off his pretty plumage at a vegetable stand in Maui. For more photos, please click here.

Why choose National Geographic Expeditions for travel adventures?…

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Beautiful Maui Gold grapefruit.

As we traveled the world over the past 12 years, we’ve encountered several groups of tourists with their tour guides. After conversing, we found that some groups, usually eight to twelve travelers, were part of a National Geographic tour.

See the link here.

  • National Geographic Journeys: These trips are led by local guides known as Chief Experience Officers. 
  • National Geographic Expeditions: These trips are led by scientists, photographers, explorers, and local guides.

Based on our desire to stay in countries for extended periods, these guided tours haven’t generally worked for us. Our most similar experience to a National Geographic tour was to the Galapagos Islands last October on Celebrity Exploration, which included tour guides, photographers, naturalists, and scientists working with us daily. Such an experience would have been difficult to organize on our own.

Unlike typical vacations, traveling with National Geographic offers a unique blend of adventure, education, and cultural immersion. Here are a few reasons why it stands out:

  1. Expert Guidance: Every trip is led by seasoned National Geographic experts, photographers, researchers, or naturalists who are deeply knowledgeable about the destination. You get the chance to learn directly from people who are passionate and intimately connected to the places you’re exploring.
  2. Authentic Experiences: The itineraries focus on authentic cultural exchanges and deep connections to the environment. Whether you meet local artisans, visit remote wildlife sanctuaries, or engage in conservation efforts, you’re not just seeing a place but participating in its story.
  3. Exclusive Access: National Geographic’s reputation opens doors that might otherwise be closed to the average traveler. You might find yourself in private wildlife reserves, archaeological digs, or with special access to scientific research sites, adding a sense of privilege to your journey.
  4. Sustainable Travel: National Geographic is an organization deeply involved in conservation and environmental protection That emphasizes sustainable and responsible travel. You can feel good knowing your trip contributes to preserving ecosystems and cultures rather than detracting from them.
  5. In-Depth Learning: National Geographic journeys are designed to be learning experiences. Whether you’re fascinated by wildlife, ancient civilizations, or the natural world, the knowledge you gain from experts and locals can be transformative. The trip often feels like an expedition, where curiosity is celebrated and every day brings discoveries.
  6. High-Quality Accommodations and Logistics: These trips balance rugged adventure and comfort. You might camp in the wilderness one night and stay in a luxury eco-lodge the next. They handle the logistics so you can focus on the experience, allowing you to immerse yourself fully without worrying about the details.

For anyone who loves the intersection of travel and learning, it’s an opportunity to see the world through a new lens, where every trip is an expedition, and every day is a chance to dive deeper into the unknown. It’s the kind of travel that expands your geographical and intellectual horizons.

Are National Geographic experiences more expensive? Yes, in most cases, perhaps as much as 25% or more higher than some group tours. For some, this added expense may be worth the added benefits of traveling through this upscale and highly regarded organization. It’s imperative to research to see what works for your needs. Again, here is their link.

Would we consider such a tour? Yes, if the cost and experience were befitting our needs and desires. We’ve already visited many of the locations offered on their site, but a few remain that appeal to us. Some of their tours include travel on their private jets, which is particularly appealing but is reflected in the cost. However, we may choose this option at some point in the future.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 20, 2014:

This full-body shot of the Gold Dust Day Gecko we spotted on a wall in Maui shows the colorful spots on her back and the cute little blue fingers. For more photos, please click here.

Waiting for change…Not always easy…

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The pretty scene in Maui, Hawaii, in 2014.

We experienced a glitch yesterday, and our post didn’t appear. Here it is today!

As we’ve traveled the world over these past 12 years (as of October 31), we’ve been entirely in control of where we are and what we’re doing. During these past many months, while we waited for appointments at the Cleveland Clinic, we have been subject to the desire for answers regarding my heart health and a plan for the future.

No, I don’t need imminent open heart surgery, for which I am incredibly grateful, after three previous misdiagnoses by cardiologists in three countries, including the US. There’s no doubt I have ongoing heart issues, not so much my heart itself but my irregular plumbing and electrical systems.

My mitral and tricuspid valves are regurgitating but not at a pace that requires surgery right now. One of my past bypasses has failed, and my arteries are clogged again by about 60%. The severity of these situations could change in a short period. I’ll need to be tested yearly.

There’s not much that can be done in either case at this time, although we’re waiting on test results to see if I need other heart procedures in the months to come. We will know when I receive the results from the recent two-week monitor I wore.

If a cardiac ablation isn’t necessary, we can leave here after all the tests are completed in December. If not, we must stay until February, when the procedure will be done. In any case, we’ll be here for at least two more months, four months at the most. We both have accepted this reality.

As we have written many times in the past, with almost 4500 posts since March 2012, the only situation that would slow us down is health. I’ve often used the words “health providing” to express our acceptance that such a scenario is inevitable. And now, over this past year, when the awful Afib escalated while we were in Ecuador, we knew the time had come to stop for a while. (The Afib and PVCs started the day I was diagnosed with COVID-19 on April 20, 2023)

No, it doesn’t mean ending our travels. However, it has meant a break in time for me to sign up for a Medicare supplement with a comprehensive plan to cover the extensive costs of determining the extent of my heart disease and discovering the results with necessary treatment. We’re almost there.

Since I don’t want to be taking a dozen different heart drugs, which doctors at Cleveland Clinic have not recommended, my options are limited. I refuse to be subject to side effects causing lethargy, exhaustion, and muscle pain. Quality of life is more important to me in the long run.

Based on a healthy diet, an attempt at a stringent exercise program, a loving “home,” a positive attitude, and an overall healthy lifestyle, the odds may be in my favor, as opposed to taking countless medications that will ultimately immobilize me.

We plan to carry on. We plan to continue traveling the world when the doctors working on my case give us “the good to go.” Regardless of the test results, I doubt they’ll say we should stop traveling. They know how important this is to both of us and how it is the essence of who we are as a couple and as individuals.

Such an essential part of our lives has been the opportunity to write to all of you each day, sharing our story, whether filled with adventure or somewhat mundane in quiet times such as now. Each morning, when I pick up my laptop to begin, I question if I have something to say. But then, I think of all of you and the love and support you’ve continually provided over the years, and if, by magic, my fingers fly across the keyboard, hoping something we have to say rings true, if only for one of you.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for this precious gift and opportunity.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 16, 2014:

Sunset over the Pacific Ocean in Hawaii. For more photos, please click here.