The first day of the year starts off cold!
I know I’m late, but I have good excuses. 🙂
Mark, Maya, and I wish you all a fantastic 2026, during which all your desires, intentions, relationships, and health work out exactly as you want them to be!
Thank you for following along with our adventures and for being an active part of this blog. I continue to appreciate every comment, reaction, suggestion, and dialogue on Roaming About and I truly cherish the friendships I have made here. If we haven’t already, maybe 2026 is the year we will meet in person!
Winter walk – slippery at times – in Uxbridge, Massachusetts
So, what has been going on and why have I been quiet on this site for almost three weeks? The short answer is that we’ve been busy, stressed, and sick. Kind of in that order. As a matter of fact, Mark, his mom, and I are still battling a nasty flu that has us surviving on Tylenol and cough drops for ten days so far. It’s not fun, especially when needing to take care of family members at the same time.
My mother-in law’s condo in Newburyport, where we are spending most of our four weeks back in Massachusetts. Our room is located on the front corner of the second floor.
My last post documented our final days in our truck camper Thirsty Bella, in Chile. This was followed by three weeks at an Airbnb in its capital Santiago, where we were supposed to rest up. It might not come as a surprise that this didn’t happen and in addition, we had worries about a dog in pain. On Christmas Day, we flew to the US. We were welcomed by snow, icy temperatures, and a nasty virus.
Maya posing in the snow
As I try to catch up on blog writing the coming days, you will learn more about all these events. I’ll start with our expense report for December 2025, which also acts as a monthly overview. Then, I plan to finally post about my five-day trip to Easter Island. This will be followed by regular posts about what we have been up to, until we find a new home on wheels for our upcoming European adventures.
Thanks again for continuing to follow along and, please, stay tuned!
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January 9, 2026 at 14:05
Hope everyone is healthy soon 🙏
January 9, 2026 at 15:36
Thanks, Carol. Our immune systems are not used to New England winters and diseases… 🙁 I hope you are doing well and had an enjoyable festive season!!!
January 9, 2026 at 14:35
Happy New Year, and sorry about all the illness and Maya’s pain. She still looks pretty cute! 🙂
January 9, 2026 at 15:37
Hi Lexie! Maya is still a troublemaker and still cute and we love her dearly. I hope you two had an amazing holiday season and that there is some adventure and traveling in your near future!
January 9, 2026 at 15:04
oh, no – hoping everyone is doing better soon. a good time for a break
January 9, 2026 at 15:38
Thanks, Beth. It’s like our bodies know when we really need a break by forcing us to have one by being sick. Ironic in a way…
January 9, 2026 at 15:06
Oh, Europe! I look forward to reading about those adventures and your catch-up posts. Best of luck finding your new ride.
January 9, 2026 at 15:40
Thanks, Pete. The search is proving to be more complicated than expected due to a few factors. But we are looking and researching every day – and have been for six months! Enjoy the winter in your pretty neck of the woods!!
January 9, 2026 at 15:54
Sorry you guys got it, flu season has been very nasty this year. Hope you feel healthy soon
January 10, 2026 at 10:40
Thanks, Sandra. Yeah, we’ve heard about the bad flu season here as well. I’m just annoyed and bummed that all our mask wearing in public was not enough to prevent being sick like this.
January 9, 2026 at 19:15
Patiently waiting. Take care of that pup!
January 10, 2026 at 10:40
Thanks, Jacqui. Maya is the only one being healthy right now! Lucky dog. 🙂
January 9, 2026 at 19:24
Being sick sucks… being sick when it’s cold outside is even worse. I hope you all feel better soon!
January 10, 2026 at 10:41
Thanks, Janis. It’s ironic how Mark and I are both sick and taking care of two different family members in different states right now. I am getting really sick of wearing a mask!
January 10, 2026 at 00:36
I echo everyone else’s best wishes for a quick recovery, a new set of wheels, and a Happy New Year! All the best to the three of you, Liesbet.
January 10, 2026 at 10:43
Thanks, Annie. I hope all your wishes come through. One sooner than the other. 🙂 A quick recovery is not possible anymore after ten days of having flu (which is still not improving, but at least not worsening either at this point) but as long as the recovery will come soon-ish now, I’ll take it. Finding new wheels will take a tad longer, but we are aware of and prepared for that.
January 10, 2026 at 03:05
Aw, poor you 🙁 I hope you’re all better soon.
On the up side, I think 2026 could well be the year we finally meet up and I am beyond excited 🙂
Best of luck finding those wheels. xx
January 10, 2026 at 10:45
I think – and hope – you’re right, Jacqui about that meet-up. We will be in Southern Spain soon after your last dentist visit in France! 🙂 If all works according to plan that is. And you know how plans “work”… Where are those new wheels???
January 10, 2026 at 07:52
I remember Newburyport from one of our road trips. It has a beautiful marina and waterfront area. Not a bad place to hang out while you sort the next chapter. Unless you are sick, and it’s winter. That part sucks. Feel better soon.
January 10, 2026 at 10:49
Hi Suzanne,
You are right: Newburyport is a great town – very walkable, pretty, and with a nice atmosphere – in the summer. 🙂 And we do love it as our “home base” while we are here despite the lack of space and privacy. But because of those elements, we only last one month.
That month is usually packed with chores, care taking, research, planning, and work. So, you can imagine we are a bit bummed and annoyed at being sick throughout all this, with no end in sight. I honestly had no idea that flu could last this long!! One thing we know for sure: we will never come back here in the winter. Unless it’s an emergency.
January 10, 2026 at 08:38
Wow, there’s lots going on. Sorry to hear that you’ve been unwell on top of all the busyness.
I’m looking forward to hearing more about your travels. Best of luck.
Stopping in from Weekend Coffee Share: https://brewingcoffeetwistingwordsbreakingpencils.ca/2026/01/09/introducing-my-next-bucket-list-oh-and-lets-share-a-virtual-coffee/#comment-8987
January 10, 2026 at 10:57
Thanks for swinging by and leaving a comment! I like the 60-item bucket list you created. It sounds fun to check parts off it, especially the puzzles and reading challenges. Have a great 2026!!
January 10, 2026 at 09:52
What a welcome the weather brought you upon arrival in Newburyport, Liesbet. Doesn’t sound like a great start to 2026, though. Wishing you all a speedy recovery, and I hope Maya is much better, too.
I hope the rest of 2026 is much better for you all. New adventures await.
January 10, 2026 at 11:00
Hi Hugh,
The snowy scenery is quite pretty and fun in some ways, unless it is covering up icy patches. I’ve actually been okay with the freezing temperatures and being in Newburyport this time of the year, apart from the actual danger on the sidewalks and driveways while walking. This constant slipping danger was a new thing to me!
I do hope the negative start of this new year is not a bad omen for the rest of it. Onward and upward!! I’m hoping to feel better by February! 🙂
January 10, 2026 at 11:08
Happy New Year! I hope you feel better soon!
January 10, 2026 at 15:46
Thank you and a fabulous 2026 to you and yours as well!!!
January 10, 2026 at 16:19
So sorry about the sickness. What a bad welcome back. I hope Maya is better and that you all get better soon.
I’m looking forward to reading about Easter Island and where you are in this next chapter of your adventures. Happy New Year.