So I don’t usually write a Slow Travel Review unless I’ve lived in a place for at least a month (hence the “slow” part”), but I’ve now visited Iceland for a total of two weeks across 2024 and 2025 and I have to talk about it. I love Iceland so much that I gush about it to anyone who will listen and today I’ll do a deep dive into why.
Continue reading “Slow Travel Review: Iceland – The Land Of Fire And Ice”
This is only my second time writing a post like this. In retirement I’ve posted about my spending, my income and that’s basically it.
But I wanted a place to talk about my money moves in general and sum everything up for the year, so that’s what this new annual post is. So let’s look at my overall financial picture and see what the future holds!
Continue reading “2025 Financial Review: Investment Withdrawals, Dividends And The Future”
Oops 🙂 . My spending goal for 2025 was $24,000 and I spent $35,950.70. As you can see – I went over budget. Way over budget, but that’s for a very good reason. So let’s get into it!
When I first visited Auckland, New Zealand with my Mom in 2023 I thought, “My Partner would love this city”. It’s gorgeous, close to nature and filled with unique Mom and Pop coffee shops.
In 2025 after my Partner asked that we “meet in the middle” while I was in Japan and he was in New York, we met in Auckland and stayed for 6 weeks. I’m happy to report that he loved it for the reasons I suspected he would.
Continue reading “Slow Travel Review: Auckland, New Zealand – The Land Of Nature And Cafes”
Since I retired in 2020 and started traveling the world, I’ve had a goal to only visit places that are 70F and sunny. My mood is instantly improved in sunny weather and a temperature that’s not too hot and not too cold makes exploration infinitely more comfortable.
So why did I live in The Netherlands for a month in the winter of 2024 🙂 ? I was in Amsterdam from early November to early December and I’m very glad I decided to break my rule and explore this beautiful city during those months. Let’s jump into why.
Continue reading “Slow Travel Review: Amsterdam, The Netherlands – The Land Of Canals and Bikes”
This is my first time writing a post like this. In retirement I’ve posted about my spending, my income and that’s basically it. But I wanted a place to talk about my money moves in general and sum everything up for the year, so that’s what this new annual post will be! Let’s look at my overall financial picture and see what the future holds.
Continue reading “2024 Financial Review: Investment Withdrawals, Dividends And Roth Conversions”
In a surprise to no one more than me, I was under-budget this year 🙂 . I started my retirement in 2020 with the goal of spending $20,000 (which was 11% more than I spent living in Seattle) and I have increased that goal number each year based on inflation. Inflation these last few years has been high so my goal for 2024 was to spend $23,400. I ended up spending $21,499, which is 8% less than my goal.
Continue reading “How I Lived On $21,499 As A Global Nomad In 2024”
So I mentioned in my monthly recaps while in Costa Rica all the reasons that I chose to move there for over 2 months, but one of those was because I was shocked at how affordable it was to get there.
I’ve worked out that my flights are usually $200 one-way anywhere in the US. I’m able to get those prices even for longer flights because I book early and I am able to plan my travels around when flight prices are lower. However, despite Costa Rica being way farther than any location in the US, it only cost me about $200 to get there.
Specifically I paid $201.78 on American Airlines to fly from Albany, NY to San José, Costa Rica and $232.34 to fly from San José to Austin, Texas on COPA Airlines to see the Solar Eclipse. Continue reading “Slow Travel Review: San José, Costa Rica – The Land Of Pura Vida”