Roaming About

A Life Less Ordinary

Tag: relationships

Join Us at the Virtual Vanlife Summit – An Entertaining, Inspiring & Free Event

July 20, 2022 / / 24 Comments

A free three-day event packed with information, talks, and interactions

Tomorrow, the three-day Virtual Vanlife Summit begins and I am one of the speakers and live panelists. My talk takes place on Thursday, July 21st at 12pm PDT (US West Coast time), which is 9pm in Belgium (where I currently am) and focuses on living on a budget while on the road. I will happily answer any questions you have in the chat box.

Talk about living as a nomad on a budget

The next day, on Friday, July 22nd at 11am PDT, I join a live panel in which we will discuss relationships on the road. How do we survive living together 24/7 with our partner in a tiny space without killing each other? Again, ask us any question during the broadcast.

Live panel about relationships in a small camper

This entire event is free, but you have to register to attend. Check it out and sign up here. I hope to “see” you there!

Mark, Liesbet, and Maya pose in front of Thirsty, the truck, and our soon-to-be-named camper

Plunge – One Woman’s Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary

Available on Amazon and elsewhere

eBook: US$ 5.99

Paperback: US$ 13.99

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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A Very Important Woman – My Oma

March 8, 2017 / / 39 Comments

Today’s blog post is a difficult one for me. I have written emotion-laden blogs before, like the one about our sweet, smart and cute dogs Kali and Darwin and the one about my sister-in-law Dru. I never wrote about my dear aunt Monique or my paternal grandma I called meter. Both also passed away while Mark and I were sailing the seven seas. During all those years abroad, I had one massive dread and worry. It had to do with my maternal grandma, my oma, who I loved more and longer than most anyone else.

When I was thinking about this subject, I realized it is International Women’s Day today. Perfect! What better day to celebrate the woman who meant so much to me, my whole life? Continue reading

R is for Relationships

April 21, 2016 / / 13 Comments
Day 17 of the A to Z Blogging Challenge – Thoughts on Being a Nomad

While it is healthy to be by yourself once in a while – a little me time boosts confidence, brings inner peace, focuses on what it is that you want and allows you to reflect and prioritize as you see fit – humans are social creatures. Experiencing life with someone else to share the good, the bad and the ugly is much more rewarding, meaningful and satisfying than going at it alone. Of course, there are exceptions, but when I look around me, whether it is here in small town USA, on a boat surrounded by tropical islands or from a camper in lush Central America, people prefer to do things with a mate or as a family.

All of our parents visited (and first met each other) in St. Martin in 2009

All of our parents visited (and first met each other) in St. Martin in 2009

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L is for Love

April 14, 2016 / / 15 Comments
Day 12 of the A to Z Blogging Challenge – Thoughts on Being a Nomad

 

Love. Another one of those big and meaningful words, like freedom. One can love many things: possessions, animals, people, dreams, activities, hobbies, food, fashion, photo books, memories… the list goes on forever. My deepest love, in no particular order, goes out to nature, family and friends and my husband. Since the first two subjects of my endearment will be covered in future blogs, this one will focus on the purest form of love I have for the person who is closest to me, physically and psychologically.

Wedding photo in St. Martin

Wedding photo in St. Martin

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