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A Life Less Ordinary

Category: Travel (page 13 of 28)

Writing Update October 2021 – Reducing Promotion Efforts and Book Dedication Soon

October 6, 2021 / / 57 Comments

Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For October, the question is: “In your writing, where do you draw the line, with either topics or language?”

This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the co-hosts are Jemima Pett, J Lenni Dorner, Cathrina Constantine, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Mary Aalgaard.

My answer to the question – In your writing, where do you draw the line, with topics or language?

This is a toughie, especially with memoir, as the idea is to represent the story as truthfully as possible in this genre, even the dialogue parts. That being said, it is easy to omit curse words or swearing. Yet, when the situation allows it or “asks” for it, I am tempted to and I do leave some of these words in the prose, since they are important to the context of those situations. Finding a balance is the solution, I think. You don’t want to put readers off, but you do want to draw them into these real-life scenes.

An author ready for the road…

My book news

Another month has passed. Can you believe it? Even though I swapped my comfortable “home base” in Massachusetts for the confines of a truck camper mid-September, I still managed to get a lot done, book-wise and otherwise.

The goal was to come to a stopping point with a few promotion tasks I still had in mind for my travel memoir Plunge. Once I moved into our new home on wheels, I knew my focus would (and should and did) shift to a life on the road, driving, figuring out our new set-up, sightseeing, hiking, taking it slower, and not being a slave to the internet and the computer anymore. But all that is for a different blog post. This one touches on what I was up to lately, regarding book stuff.

Facebook banner
Blog banner
  • I finally created a book banner for Facebook and my blog, based on my Yankee Homecoming banner, leaving space for default images in the middle.

These are the quotes I decided to pick excerpts from:

Amazon editorial reviews

Here are a few photos that vied for the background:

San Blas Islands
Barbuda beach
Barbuda
Somewhere in the Caribbean
Island in the San Blas
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New York Surprises – Waterfall Extravaganza!

October 4, 2021 / / 42 Comments

“Where are you going first?”

This is not a weird question at all, when you talk to people hitting the road indefinitely. And the poser of said question might get annoyed with the ever-present “We don’t know yet” answer coming from our mouths.

But, first things first; Mark and I had to take care of a few specifics before an actual destination could be determined. Once our departure from Newburyport became imminent – the truck camper was taking shape, the bikes didn’t fall of the new ladder rack, help was in place for my in-laws, ties with friends and family were rekindled, and personal projects reached a stopping point – we could finally look at a map.

Two days before we coasted out of the driveway with our dog, Maya, and our belongings, Mark and I decided to head towards Chicago, Illinois, after visiting a couple of friends in Massachusetts and New York. I contacted three sets of friends in the Windy City, aka Chi-Town, to gauge their availability and location for a meet-up. Then, on September 17th, 2021, the three of us left Newburyport for the last time with a new-to-us vehicle and – somewhat of – a plan!

A quick, one-night stop at good friends in Uxbridge, MA, was followed by a Saturday night visit to a work friend of Mark’s in New York, who cooked his staple meat-loaden pasta sauce for us, following an amazing family recipe.

It was on Sunday, when our trip west was to start in earnest, that we realized we weren’t in a rush anymore. Why hurry to Chicago? We’d returned to our own home, our own routine, our own lives, our own priorities. We were our own boss again with few responsibilities! And, the weather was unseasonably pleasant with temperatures in the mid-70s Fahrenheit (mid-20s Celsius).

“Let’s explore New York a bit,” I exclaimed. A state so close by, yet so far away, as I’d never actually ventured into upstate New York for any length of time, other than quick visits – to our friend Sean and Mark’s college town Troy once, when on one of our many road trips across the USA.

(As always, click on or hover over photos to read captions.)

Schenectady

Mark grew up in Schenectady. I’m pretty good at spelling, but when he challenged me with this one years ago, I miserably failed. To make matters worse, Mark also lived in Niskayuna, a town to its east. I still have to look up how to write that one. But, I’m happy to say that I finally visited both cities, thanks to our friend Sean, who offered us a quick tour, that Sunday of our “real departure.”

Circle in the Stockade
The house to the right belonged to Mark’s parents many years ago.
Typical street in the Stockade
Native American statue

While both men convinced me there is “nothing to see” in Schenectady, I enjoyed a stroll through the Stockade, an 82-acre historic district located on the banks of the Mohawk River. It is the oldest neighborhood in the city and has been continuously inhabited for more than 300 years. The National Park Service describes it as “the highest concentration of historic period homes in the country.” It is here that Mark’s parents used to own a house, while their son attended college and lived on campus nearby.

Walking along the Mohawk River with Sean, Mark, and Maya
Old house reminiscent of Holland
Historic neighborhood in the Stockade
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My Interview with Travel Tales of Life about Being a Nomad

September 25, 2021 / / 1 Comment

A few years ago, Mark and I met Sue and Dave Slaght in Northern California at a pub serving Belgian beer. They’d arrived for a family visit from Calgary, Alberta, where they live close to the amazing Canadian Rockies. Our then house sit was nearby, so after following their informative, entertaining, and attractive travel blog Travel Tales of Life for many years (it was one of the first blogs I ever subscribed to when starting Roaming About, thanks to my sailing friend Lisa Dorenfest). The four of us had loads in common, became instant friends, stayed in touch, and kept following each other’s travels and adventures.

Dave and Sue have traveled pretty much everywhere, are avid bicyclists, and come up with fascinating angles for their blog content. Sue has an engaging writing style, great sense of humor, and an adventurous, can-do spirit, which is reflected in the inspiring and insightful questions she asked me in our interview. Check it out!

Nomadic Living Tips and Truth From an Expert

My sea sickness has finally subsided after being in the middle of the ocean, hanging over the side of the boat next to author Liesbet Collaert. Plunge left me ‘feeling all the feels’ of nomadic living. 

Through 2020, I could not settle my mind to actually read a book. Call it anxiety or being unsettled by a global pandemic, my mind refused to still itself enough to concentrate on more than a page or two.

That is until I began reading Plunge. So intriguing and honest in its telling, for the first time in 10 months I enjoyed reading again.

Looking at the glorious photo cover of turquoise water, white sand beaches and the author swimming blissfully with her dogs, one might assume the book will tell tales of paradise woven together like a mural of travel ecstasy. Instead Liesbet vividly shares the challenges of her insatiable quest for adventure along with the joy and freedom of nomadic life.

I invited Liesbet to tell readers more about the ups and downs of nomadic living.

San Blas Islands

In your book Plunge you are refreshingly honest about relationship challenges while at sea. What suggestions do you have for partners considering a nomadic way of life?

My husband, Mark, and I are in the unique situation of having been together 24/7 pretty much since the moment we chose each other in 2004, because of our lifestyle – sailing, house and pet sitting, camping. Sometimes, I think our partnership comes naturally but other times, the desire for me-time and the curiosity about how we’d do in a settled situation gets the better of me.

To answer your question, there are certainly factors that are important if you want to share a small space and a relatively challenging lifestyle with someone full-time. Compatibility is one of them, but if you have been a pair for years already, I assume that has been figured out. At least in a general sense. While you don’t have to be on the same page with everything, sharing similar interests when on the go is important. This includes agreeing on your travel style, means, duration, and comfort levels.

Liesbet and Mark on board their boat Irie in the Bahamas

Being patient and respectful about your partner’s feelings, thoughts, moods, and priorities, being grateful for his/her abilities, and being flexible when it comes to plans and ideas are other qualities that will make your relationship last. Communicating about each other’s needs is important. Even when you know your partner really well, do not always assume the next step. Talk about your differences and make sure there is enough me-time.

Each month you publish your living expenses which often are under $1,300.00 USD. What are your top five tips for inexpensive nomadic living?

Over the last eighteen years of my nomadic existence, costs have gone up, which I blame on inflation, technology, and the need for more comfort. Our biggest expense has always been maintenance on our floating and rolling homes, which partially contributes to our safety as well. Ever since my husband and I moved aboard in 2007 – and then on the road – our yearly average expenses for two adults and one or two large rescue dogs have been between US$12,000 and USD$20,000 with a steady US$ 16,000 average on land.

…

Continue reading the interview here. And if you’re not subscribed to Travel Tales of Life yet, I highly recommend following along with Dave and Sue’s travels and stories.

Back on the Road, Heading Southwest – The Reward for a Summer of Complexities

September 23, 2021 / / 54 Comments

Mark, Maya, and I have moved into our new-to-us truck camper and are back “on the road.” This is not the start of a new adventure yet. We are merely picking up where we left off in April of this year, with a different vehicle and set-up, which will take a while to get used to. We have yet to choose a name for our camper, as other priorities prevailed this summer.

(As always, hover over or click on the photos to read the captions.)

Ready to leave!

August was an eventful month. We were crazy busy – with my book, the truck camper, the in-laws. Mark and I worked hard, without earning (much) money. It’s what we seem to do. But, it’s time to hit the road again and relax about projects, researching, book promotion, taking care of people. We are rekindling our nomadic lives, indefinitely.

Cheers to hitting the road again! (Photo courtesy Denise Constable)
Bye, bye Ryan and Denise – Maya hesitated to leave her friends but did decide to join us back on the road
And, we’re off! Waving goodbye to our friends in Uxbridge (Photo courtesy Denise Constable)

For the last two years, we returned to Massachusetts for the spring and the summer. Six months in 2020 and over five months this year of being stationary. I can’t say it’s a bad thing – luxury for us comes in the form of running water, unlimited electricity, and pressurized, non-military showers – but our hearts crave adventure and experiencing new places, cultures, scenery, and activities. So, here we go. With no plans to ever drive back to Massachusetts.

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Live Anywhere on Airbnb – Who Won?

September 16, 2021 / / 45 Comments

On June 18th of this year, I received an email from my virtual friend, blogger and artist Peta Kaplan of Green Global Trek. The message read “Had to forward you this, because, well, yeah DUH! Good luck!” and was followed by the link https://www.airbnb.com/d/liveanywhere. Well, that encouragement sounded intriguing enough, so upon checking out what the link was about, I was enthralled.

The company Airbnb was giving 12 individuals (and up to three companions each) the opportunity to live around the world – anywhere – for an entire ten months for free, including traveling to and living in listings on Airbnb. They were looking for candidates resembling remote workers, creatives, empty nesters, young families, staycationers, and digital nomads. This contest had our name on it! Especially since Mark and I didn’t have much luck finding a used pick-up truck, the program would start in the summer, and departure was planned early September. Perfect!

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Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – August 2021

September 8, 2021 / / 29 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

Apart from two days with friends in Vermont (picking up our camper), Mark, Maya, and I lived the entire month of August in Newburyport, MA, in our room above the garage at my in-laws. We had a busy month with work and prep of our new camper set-up (see this post for more project photos and this post about how we found our pick-up truck). Just like with Zesty, the camper category is often the highest expense, especially when first equipping our vehicle and living space. That’s also why the household amount is high.

Our new camper on the driveway of friends
A quick glimpse at Vermont scenery
Going for a hike with Maya, Max, and Dixie in Vermont
Dixie and Max welcome Maya in their home
Enjoying cooler evening temperatures on the porch
Maya makes herself at home on the bed in our truck camper. She loves it!

Everything else is pretty much “average,” except for the renewal of my driver’s license, I bought the book of my colleague at the Yankee Homecoming event, and dining out. We did our best to keep last month’s expenses reasonable (other than camper necessities), but then decided to treat good friends for lunch.  Who would have guessed a simple Mexican meal (burritos and tacos) costs over $100 for four people? Newburyport is super expensive – another reason to leave soon.

Our truck camper parked on the condo driveway in Newburyport
Protecting the car and camper from paint
Mark spray paints the (rusty) bottom parts of our four jack stands
Replacing the fan in the bathroom
The new vent ($225) on the top back right corner of the camper. Mark is re-caulking the roof edges.

On the positive side, a few months ago we decided to obtain a new credit card to benefit from Chase’s generous offer: receive 80,000 points (which, when transferred to Mark’s account rewarding us 1.5 times the points, means a value of $1,200) if you spend $4,000 the first three months. We had trouble getting there at first (in Belgium multiple places didn’t accept Visa), but once we found our truck and bought car insurance, we were all set! During the summer, the extra points (money) could be used towards groceries, hardware, and dining out as well. so, of the $1,200 we received, $434 went to last month’s expenses, so theoretically, we spent $1,093 instead of $1,527. 🙂

Maya always curls herself around chairs…
Family visit in Newburyport
Maya trying to sneak into the kitchen of my in-laws

If anybody is interested in checking out this offer, which – believe it or not – they have since upped to 100,000 points (a value of $1,000 at 1X the points) – this is my Chase referral code: https://www.referyourchasecard.com/6c/PR3FJUQ8CP.

August 2021 Overview:

Camper (parts: $584; fuel: $137; insp.: $36; license L: $50):

Groceries:

Household (supplies):

Dining out:

Alcohol:

Health & Fitness (vitamins M):

Utilities (phone/internet):

Medical (meds M):

Dog (supplements):

Entertainment (book):

Gifts:

 

TOTAL:

 

$807

$328

$132

$102

$50

$41

$35

$13

$10

$6

$3

———

$ 1,527

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Writing Update September 2021 – An Eventful Month

September 1, 2021 / / 70 Comments

Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For September, the question is: “How do you define success as a writer?”

This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the co-hosts are Rebecca Douglass, T. Powell Coltrin @Journaling Woman, Natalie Aguirre, Karen Lynn, and C. Lee McKenzie.

My answer to the question – How do you define success as a writer?

This is an excellent question and answers will greatly vary. As a matter of fact, this question is so good and insightful that I could write an entire post as my answer. Don’t worry, I won’t. Being a perfectionist (when it comes to work) with an A-type personality (I think that’s what it’s called), it is very difficult for me to reach what I would define as success. I always want to do better, reach more readers, inspire more people, engage a wider audience.  

Each writer has their own goals. I set mine six months after publishing Plunge and I will revisit those on my first book birthday. In short: success to me as a writer is first to have my work published – in magazines, newspapers, anthologies, or books. Next, it would be to touch/inspire readers. I also aim to get some kind of recognition (positive reviews, write-ups, feature articles, awards, prizes) and – eventually – make a little bit of money with Plunge, once I break even. All this requires a lot of time, effort, and focus.

My book news

August was an incredibly busy month – in life, with our truck and camper projects, a summer-long noisy condo deck project, helping out my in-laws, writing, editing, and translating commitments, and with book stuff! In this post, of course, it’s all about the book action.

  • I finally created a banner for Plunge.

  • In the beginning of August, I did my first in-person “book event” by manning a (shared) booth during the annual Yankee Homecoming Festival in Newburyport, MA. Fellow travel author Marianne Curcio (find her book here) and I split the cost and the space on Craft Fair Day, which is where the organizers thought we’d fit in the best.
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Buying a Used Pick-up Truck in 2021 – How Hard Can It Be?

August 20, 2021 / / 54 Comments

I played around with a few titles for this post, like “The Reality of Finding a Pick-up Truck in a Pandemic Climate” and “Our Terrible Truck Saga,” and the folder with my collected notes on the subject is called “The Truck Shit.” If that doesn’t set the tone for this multiple-month ordeal…

Mark and I have been looking non-stop for a sturdy, decent SuperDuty Ford pick-up truck to carry a truck camper, our new set-up, with extended travels in South America on the horizon. I was not going to write about this quest until it was a done deal (spoiler alert!), unlike when I touched on buying one of those cute houses (and land) for sale in Baja this past winter, which didn’t end well. (Read that post here.)

WARNING: This is a very long post, so browse the photos, skip to the end, or settle in with a cup of tea or coffee. Or, better, an alcoholic beverage.

(As always, click on or hover over the photos to read the captions.)

Why did we sell Zesty?

The first question that might arise for most long-term readers of this blog is probably why we changed gears and got rid of a perfectly-maintained and awesome campervan? A few reasons:

  • While we loved Zesty, his components – besides being European – were 15 years old; we didn’t want to risk breaking and sourcing uncommon parts in remote places, a continent removed.
  • We wanted a sturdier vehicle with high clearance and 4WD, as many boondocking areas (free parking without facilities; our main way of camping) are located along dirt roads.
  • The mileage was still relatively low and the van kept its value the last four years.
  • We wanted to sell Zesty on the US West Coast, where these vehicles are desired. You can read here how that went.
  • If we sold the van, we would HAVE TO finally change campers and make that trip to South America happen – it would be the fire beneath our bums…
  • Mark and I (and our two previous dogs) owned a truck camper before and traveled throughout Mexico and Central America with it for one year. It was the perfect set-up for such an adventure. (If you’re interested in photos and snippets of that adventure, check out this site and scroll down to “California Coast” and below. No blogs back then.)
Our previous truck camper (F350 crew cab 4WD diesel) in Costa Rica
Our previous no-name truck camper in Baja California in 2006

Do we regret selling Zesty?

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Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – July 2021

August 14, 2021 / / 42 Comments

Expenses - image

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups, we both return to the East Coast.

The first two weeks of July, Mark and I visited my family and friends in Belgium, while our good buddies Greg and Duwan (of Make Like An Apeman) took good care of Maya in Newburyport, Massachusetts. We splurged on goodies from the grocery store, alcohol to share, and gifts to thank our generous hosts in my home country and our friends back in the US.

Liesbet and aunt Nicole
Flowers for aunt Nicole in Oostende
Plenty of different flavors for a fun night with family
Our fancy credit card allows for free access at the airport lounge – more splurging!
Mark’s last Belgian beer for a while in the airport lounge in Brussels

The two of us also went out for food and drinks one evening to celebrate our fourteenth wedding anniversary outdoors in Oostende. Where did the time go?

Liesbet and Mark in the summer of 2007
Wedding night dinner at a bar – you can read in “Plunge” why we didn’t go out for a fancier meal that night. 🙂

Upon our return to the US, Duwan and Greg stayed on a few more days. Fun! We ordered pizza one night – they treated – and the following night, we splurged on Thai food – our treat. Life was good last month, socializing and catching up with friends and family!

Duwan and Greg in our room – Maya’s new best friends!

The last ten days of July, we tightened the belt for common expenses, as a new money pit arrived! Firstly, we had to order a new passport for Mark and – with the delays – we hope he will receive it before wintertime, when would like to return to Baja California (Mexico).

Truck shopping in Rhode Island
Checking the engine compartment when inspecting this vehicle for the first time
When we bought the truck, it came with a Teneau cover, which we are trying to sell now.

More importantly, we found a pick-up truck! More about that in a next post. Owning a vehicle again means expensive insurance, extra (used) parts to add a truck camper, and relatively pricey improvements. As always, we do all the work ourselves, so only spend money on materials, which Mark researches and buys at the best quality/price ratio. And, of course, there are fuel costs – for our new “thirsty” vehicle and for the one of my mother-in-law.

Our new vehicle
Ready for some car jobs
Adding the rear tie-downs – previously sanded and painted
Wheel well covers for the back

July 2021 was a super expensive month, but for good reasons! 🙂

July 2021 Overview:

Car (ins.: $1,167; gear: $580; fuel: $131;

reg.:$135; parking: $7):

Groceries:

Dining out:

Customs & Immigration (passport Mark):

Drinking out (anniversary):

Gifts:

Utilities (phone/internet):

Alcohol:

Medical:

Postage:

Household:

Entertainment:

 

TOTAL:

 

 

$2,020

$377

$120

$110

$40

$36

$35

$27

$11

$4

$2

$1

———

$ 2,783

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Three-week Visit to Belgium – Vacation or Not?

July 29, 2021 / / 54 Comments

What is considered a vacation? Getting on a plane? Traveling to a tropical destination? Crossing the border? Visiting friends and family? Taking a road trip to the other side of the country? Staying at a hotel?

I have done all these things and I can guarantee that none of them resulted in a vacation. Mark and I have been together since December of 2004; that’s almost seventeen years. Even though we have lived a life less ordinary, in many different countries, the two of us have NEVER been on a typical vacation together (or apart) since we met. I know this is hard to believe and/or grasp by people who don’t know us well…

My plane from Boston to Reykjavik

The closest we have come to anything like a medley of peace, exploration, and relaxation without worries is a three-day city trip to Budapest in 2017 and two months of “living off the grid” in Baja last winter (this one still involved work, book promo, and the necessary stress that we seem to incur).

Based on all that, I have decided that the best way for me to describe “a vacation” is when I am able to leave my computer behind. Yep, that’s right. Not take my computer on a trip. How is that possible? I have a monthly editing job, receive occasional translation assignments, need to promote Plunge, write blogs on my laptop, save photos in folders on my computer, and have my important information (including passwords which I could never remember) stored on its hard drive. I actually considered this drastic act for my recent three-week visit to Belgium. (I really craved a vacation.) And … decided against it. That’s just too long without my most important electronic buddy.

(As always, hover over or click on the photos to read the captions.)

Ready for a visit “home” after three years
Quiet at the gate
The last week of June, the airport in Boston was still relatively quiet and everyone wore masks.
Quick stop in Iceland
Pretty mural in the airport of Reykjavik
Every time I have a stop-over in Iceland, I happily refill my water bottle with some of the best and purest water in the world!
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