Roaming About

A Life Less Ordinary

Tag: Newburyport

Happy New Year & A Quick Update

January 9, 2026 / / 32 Comments

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!

A Break from the Road – In Massachusetts (USA) and Belgium

July 24, 2024 / / 45 Comments

Many of you know that I, Liesbet, was born, raised, and educated in Belgium. But, did you know that it has been 21 years since I actually lived there (July 2003)?

Goodbye party invitation front
Goodbye party invitation back

That’s right, I have officially been a nomad for over two decades now. During that time of sailing, RVing, house and pet sitting, and overlanding (a fancy term for roughing it internationally in a vehicle), I tried to return to my home country once a year or every other year. During Covid, it took three years before I was able to see my family and friends again. Too long!

For me, it comes easy to leave everything behind, because I have an adventurous streak and do just fine on my own (and with my husband and furry companions). If I were to get homesick easily, miss my loved ones too much, or crave familiarity and routine, this roaming lifestyle would not be a good match! That is not to say I don’t enjoy summer visits “back home,” usually for two or three weeks at a time.

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

Ready to fly to Belgium
Departing Boston
On the plane – we were the only ones wearing a mask!

Mark, Maya, and I are currently in Belgium. For two entire months! This is beyond exciting and special. For once, there is no need to rush, have an overfull schedule, and feel more tired when I leave than when I arrived. It’s not a vacation – Mark and I still perform our jobs – but to be living in comfort with a healthy dose of routine, convenience, and luxury is something we don’t take for granted and enjoy immensely.

It’s like Christmas! Opening the many packages we ordered while still in Argentina.
Two new pairs of jeans for Mark. Exciting!
One of the slow feeders we ordered for Maya in Massachusetts
Maya with one of her new toys, which holds frozen peanut butter
Most toys are boring to Maya
This new toy contains food nuggets that are dispensed when Maya moves the toy around.
Maya’s first real dog bed. She likes it!
At the dentist – many issues with my teeth

This visit to Belgium follows a hellishly busy three weeks in Massachusetts, USA, during which we combined tons of health visits and follow-ups (22 between Mark and me; two for Maya) with work, taking care of my mother-in-law, dealing with (extra) issues regarding her car, running errands, preparing for our trip to Belgium, buying gear for Thirsty Bella in Argentina, and squeezing in leisure time with friends.

Mark hard at work
Our new living quarters, since niece Jo and her husband moved in with grandma
Hanging out on the patio with Mark’s mom, Carol
Maya loves tight spots!
Maya and a neighbor’s dog, Wetzel
Mother-in-law Carol had a little fall, so 911 checked in on her and Jo, our in-home nurse practitioner family member, took care of her. Luckily, nothing serious…
Visit from the fire brigade
Cooking healthy meals every day
Quick visit to friends Joe and Elsa in Newton, MA, after a specialist’s health check-up
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The Summer of Covid – Pandemic Update from Newburyport, MA

August 27, 2020 / / 79 Comments

Lately, Massachusetts has not been one of the “bad” Coronavirus states in this tumultuous country. The guidelines have been pretty strict since the beginning of the pandemic (according to US-norms), the Governor (Charlie Baker) has handled the situation well, and most residents have been compliant.

(Hover over the photos for captions and click to enlarge.)

Boardwalk to the dog park
View over one of Newburyport’s marinas
A little oasis – and multi-use, off-leash area – along one of the rail trails

In my home country, Belgium, the reactions to this virus – real “lockdown”, strict rules, and fines instead of self-imposed quarantine, “guidelines”, and raised eyebrows – have had a drastically better impact. As a result, their Summer of Covid was more “benign” than ours. Restaurants, bars, theaters, pools, hairdressers, zoos, … have been reopened for many weeks. Kids went on summer camps and most schools (especially kindergarten and the lower grades) will start “as usual” on September 1st.

Historic buildings in downtown
Plaza and pedestrian-only area

How is the situation in Newburyport, where Mark, Maya, and I have been “hunkered down” since mid-April of this year (apart from a multiple-week trip to Maine and Vermont in June and one week in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in July)?

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5 North Shore Destinations within 1 Hour from Boston (or Newburyport)

November 21, 2019 / / 42 Comments

After my parents met Mark, Maya, and me in Quebec City and explored a chunk of Maine with us in Zesty, we all settled in the home of my in-laws in Newburyport, Massachusetts for the last week of their US vacation. Mark and I happily offered up “our” room above the garage and moved into another guest room of what we fondly call “our home base”. It has, in fact, been both Mark’s and my official residency for over a decade. The area is full of treasures.

My favorite photo op in Rockport

1. Newburyport

I was delighted to have my parents visit us in my “second home”. I’ve grown fond of this seaside town over the years and couldn’t wait to finally show them why. Having visitors around turns us into tourists and helps us appreciate the beautiful surroundings we have grown accustomed to.

My in-laws own a condo in this building in downtown Newburyport.
Antique store
Public restrooms
Maritime Museum
Lighthouse restaurant along the rail trail
The Unitarian Church that Mark’s parents attend
Entrance to the church
Church-turned-restaurant – I’ve never eaten there
One of the many stately homes along High Street

Newburyport has a wonderful waterfront area and boardwalk along the Merrimack River, two rail trails to walk and bike on, an attractive downtown, outdoor art displays, and many historic buildings. It’s a joy to take Maya for long walks. There are museums, heaps of restaurants and bars, and the necessary antique shops, typical for North Shore villages.

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Snapshots from Newburyport, MA

August 14, 2019 / / 33 Comments

For the last month, Mark, Maya, and I stayed with my in-laws in Newburyport, Massachusetts, where we have a comfortable room above their garage. The summer is the time for us to deal with doctor’s visits, catch up with friends and family, and get work done. Here are a few glimpses of our recent “sedentary” life.

Maya feels right at home on the porch

Visits from the twins – playing with grandma and her hose on a hot day
Cera and Lily showing off yoga poses
Lily put her bow on Maya
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Wordless Wednesday – Ice Skating in Winter

January 23, 2019 / / 46 Comments

In Newburyport, Massachusetts

In San Diego, California

Spot the seven differences. 🙂

This post is my contribution for this week’s Wordless Wednesday.

I have not touched ice skates since I was a teenager. How about you? Do you ice skate these days? Indoors or outdoors? Only in winter or all year long?

The Convenience of a Home Base

November 15, 2015 / / 24 Comments

The idea of a house and pet sitting lifestyle sounds great in theory and is pretty amazing in reality as well, but… what to do in between assignments? That is, if you don’t have a place of your own like us. Staying in hotels is cost-prohibitive, a hassle and contrary to our frugal manners. The chance that one house sit position smoothly transitions into the next is pretty rare as well. And, visiting with friends is not a long-term solution. So, what is the answer? Continue reading

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