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Fishing Boat in Da Nang Vietnam

Traveling After Retirement

Ah, the grand adventure of Traveling After Retirement! Hopefully you have been a prudent saver during your working years. If not, it’s never too late to start putting away some cash for these Golden Years. Here’s how to make it even more of a hoot:

Embrace the Chaos:

Forget meticulously planned itineraries. Sometimes, the best stories come from the days when you took a wrong turn and ended up at a goat yoga session in rural France, or when you missed your flight at an isolated runway in Tanzania.

Time Travel:

Since you’re not bound by the 9-to-5 anymore, why not travel through time zones like they’re mere suggestions? Arrive before you left, or leave after you’ve arrived. Time’s just a number now! Post retirement travel should be the magic elixir that helps your forget what year it is and how old you really are. No more will you need to creatively stretch your business vacation allotment.

The ‘Senior’ Advantage:

Flaunt that age! Many modes of travel and destinations offer senior discounts. Use them to get into museums, or better yet, to skip the line at the local gelato shop. Who knew aging could taste so sweet? That one camel left outside your tent in Egypt will be yours because of the Senior Advantage.

The Grandkid Gambit:

Use post retirement travel as an excuse to “kidnap” your grandchildren for educational purposes. Teach them about the world while they teach you about the latest tech tech gadgets. It’s a win-win.

Bucket List Bingo:

. Create a bingo card of destinations or experiences. Skydiving in New Zealand? Check. Eating pizza in Naples? Check. Winning a karaoke contest in Tokyo? Well, that might need some practice. Bathing an elephant in Thailand is something not everyone has done.

Join the ‘Silver Nomads’:

There’s a whole community of retirees who’ve decided that home is where you park your RV or drop your anchor. Swap stories, share tips, and maybe even trade your least favorite travel snacks.

The Art of Getting Lost:

Purposefully lose the map (or GPS). Discover hidden gems, like that diner where the pie recipe hasn’t changed since 1952, or the bookstore where the cat is more famous than the authors it sleeps on. Post retirement travel is meant to be at a slower pace so that getting lost is no big deal. You can find out where you are tomorrow.

Culinary Misadventures:

Dare to eat something you can’t pronounce. Worst case, you discover what not to order the next time. Best case, you find your new favorite dish and a story to tell. Visiting Asia and the South Pacific will certainly awaken those dormant taste buds.

Photobombing Mastery:

Hone your skills in photobombing. Nothing says “I was here” like a well-timed jump into a stranger’s vacation photo. Bonus points if it goes viral. Camera / cell phones make everyone a seasoned photographer.

The Language Lottery:

Try learning just the fun phrases in every language. “Where is the bathroom?” might be practical, but “Can I ride your camel?” could lead to more interesting outcomes. Swahili was an interesting language. It is so lyrical. “alala salama” is good night while “asante” is thank you.

Retirement Roaming Clubs:

Join or start a travel club where the only rule is you must have a good story to tell from each trip. Think of it as a book club, but instead of books, you’re discussing real-life adventures. We started this travel blog as a way to share our family’s post retirement travel with friends, acquaintances and the occasional stranger. We also enjoy using small travel companies to assist us with unfamiliar side trips; like in France with French Side Travel.

The Souvenir Strategy:

Instead of magnets or keychains, collect something unusual. Like local spices, or stories from fellow travelers. Your kitchen or your anecdotes will be the envy of every dinner party. You will find others staring out with their post retirement travel will be very interested in your experiences, even those times you mastered the art of getting lost.

Remember, the joy of post retirement travel isn’t just in the destinations, but in the freedom to enjoy the journey, laugh at the mishaps, and maybe, just maybe, leave a little bit of your heart in every place you visit. And if you ever get homesick, just remember, home is where your next adventure isn’t happening yet.

Traveling After Retirement: a remote African airstrip for our next adventure to begin!
Traveling After Retirement: waiting at a remote African airstrip for our next adventure to begin!

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