Home Sweet Anywhere

by Lynne Martin

  Ultimately, embracing the changes in our life’s dynamics, finding the flexibility to temporarily switch roles (muse and writer, optimist and realist, dreamer and doer), and becoming acquainted with thousands of people also in the process of discovering new directions in their lives reinforced our belief in the power of saying “yes.” To this day, it inspires us to postpone nothing because life is too short and too sweet not to savor it the way you want. We hope that you will, too.

  The Learning Curve: Things the Guidebooks Won’t Teach You

  We’ve been asked by many people how to create a homefree lifestyle, and we’d be happy to oblige! For those of you who are interested, here are some of the essential tips, tricks, and lessons we’ve learned on the road.

  Basic Chores Before You Go

  •Visas: It’s vital to do your homework about visa requirements for places you want to visit. Allow time to get it right. Not doing so could derail important plans. Also, some countries charge a significant amount for a visa, which could have an impact on your budget, so keep that in mind when picking destinations. Also, don’t forget to check your passport. It should be more than six months before renewal time. You can find out more about all of that on this website: www.travel.state.gov.

  •Legal: Make a trust or at least a will. It’s a morbid thought, I know, but your family will thank you in case the unspeakable were to happen.

  •Money: Arrange with your bank to pay bills online. It makes life so much easier abroad!

  • Acquire at least two major credit cards, preferably one that offers mileage points. Some also offer no currency exchange fees, which can be helpful when using them abroad.

  • Get a PayPal account so you can deal with rentals while you are on the road. Phone them before you leave home to tell them your itinerary. Otherwise, they will not debit from your bank account and you’ll be charged a substantial transaction fee.

  •Mail: Ask a family member or trusted friend to receive your mail, if possible, and take time to stop the catalogs so they won’t want to murder you when they have to dig through those tree-killing monsters that pile up every day.

  • Or try a mail service. USA2Me.com will receive and sort your mail, forward packages, and perform all kinds of tedious chores for a nominal fee, and you don’t even have to write them a thank-you note or worry if they’ve forgotten to take care of your dentist’s bill.

  •Health Insurance: Medicare does not cover you outside the United States. It is prudent to look into international health insurance. There are a number of companies that offer policies to cover you for major emergencies. They will also evacuate you, if necessary. Many countries besides the United States offer excellent medical care to visitors for nominal fees. You might want to check the details of the places you plan to go as well to see what health services and insurance options are available to you.

  •Inoculations: Check CDC recommendations for the places you will be going: www.cdc.gov/travel. Your local health department should be able to provide inoculations if needed. Give yourself enough time before your trip to get your shots and recover from them, because some of those puppies hurt!

  Transportation

  •Cruising: We highly recommend repositioning cruises to get where you want inexpensively. Twice a year, cruise lines reposition their equipment. These crossings offer big savings because they’re not particularly popular routes. For more:

  • www.RepositioningCruise.com

  • www.VacationsToGo.com

  •Cars: We have used two companies primarily:

  • CarRentals.com for general use

  • AutoFrance.net for rentals over seventeen days that commence in France. This is a terrific deal where you will get a brand-new Peugeot for much less than you would pay for a standard European rental car.

  •Housing: We book apartments and houses far in advance with:

  • www.VRBO.com

  • www.HomeAway.com

  And here are a number of other things we learned in the various places we went (organized by chapter below):

  Chapter 3: San Miguel De Allende, Mexico

  •Watch Your Step: Good walking shoes are essential in old cities. The sidewalks are paved with stone and held together unevenly with concrete grout. Narrow driveways and treacherous curbs lurk everywhere. Never look up while you are moving. Stop walking when you window-shop or stare at a wonderful church.

  •Take It Easy: The elevation is 6,500 feet. Unless you are super-human, you will pant like crazy for the first few days, so don’t push it. Remember, on any extended visit, you’re not a tourist, you’re a traveler. We move at a slower pace.

  •Plan Ahead: Guanajuato International Airport near León is about an hour and fifteen minutes from San Miguel. You can save money by taking a shuttle. If you want to indulge yourself, send for a car, which will cost about $100. Either way, prearrange transportation. Just put it in the budget and start out happy. You may also fly into Mexico City and take a bus to San Miguel. It’s a savings and those who do it often tell us it’s just fine.

  •Health Issues: Do NOT drink water from any tap unless you are certain that it is purified. Use bottled water—even to brush your teeth. Eat uncooked, unpeeled vegetables only in restaurants with good reputations. Restaurant ice will not hurt you, so margaritas are your friend.

  •Be Nice: The Mexican people respond to courtesy. Do not shout. Greet people when you enter a store or restaurant, and use gracias and por favor liberally.

  Chapter 4: Buenos Aires

  •About Long Flights: You can make yourself so much more comfortable, even without springing for a higher-class ticket. For a much cheaper fare than business class, you can buy bulkhead seats. These offer more room and privacy. It’s worth it! Also remember that drinking alcohol in-flight makes jet lag worse!

  •Car Pickup: Our standard advice applies here, too. Spend a few extra bucks for a car pickup when you arrive. The driver will get you to your apartment without a hassle, and you can begin your homefree life with less drama! It’s worth the extra expense. Economize on champagne to make up the difference.

  •Inspection List: Make a list of all the things you’ll need to know before you go. Politely insist that the agent or owner review it with you before he/she leaves the apartment. This includes: run-through on all appliances, how windows and doors work. Look at the pots and pans. Are they clean, usable? Is there a coffeepot? Note the location of closest stores, transportation options, and telephone, plus items particular to the country. You need a list because you will be too tired and excited to remember what to ask. Trust us. Take it to every new country. There is a good list on our website, www.homefreeadventures.com, which has been augmented with great ideas from our readers!

  •You’re Not Special: Remember that big cities are busy and people must lead their lives. Be prepared to fend for yourself and get out of the way. Don’t take rudeness personally. Unless you stay in a hotel, you won’t be treated with much deference in Buenos Aires.

  •Mexican Spanish: This does you little good in Argentina. The dialect is difficult to understand and speak. Brush up on Argentinean Spanish before you go. Don’t even try using Spanglish.

  •Unhappiness: If you are too hot, cold, stressed, or unhappy, you have our permission and your own to leave early. You didn’t start this life to be miserable, remember?

  •Ask the Right Questions: In Argentina, the first answer to your every question usually will be, “No.” Even locals will admit this fact. We’re not being mean. Neither are they. Phrase the question so it leaves an opening to ask the next one. For instance, it’s better to ask the waitress, “Do you have wine by the glass?” instead of, “May I have a glass of wine?” And before you enter a taxi, ask the driver if he or she will make change!

  Chapter 5: Transatlantic Crossing

  •Pick the Right Cabin: Pay attention to the season. For instance, a balcony cabin may not help you in winter, but staying in a lower deck room will reduce the risk of
your having to tie yourself into your bed at night!

  •Choose Friends Carefully: Watch and learn for the first day or so on your voyage. If you make pals too fast and change your mind, it will not be easy to avoid them gracefully in such close quarters.

  •Hide Out: A night of room service (free on board), if needed, can be therapeutic!

  Chapter 6: Turkey

  •Location, Location, Location: If you plan a shorter stay in Istanbul, it is a good idea to rent a place close to the heart of the old city. You can walk to most major monuments and treat yourself to the real flavor of life in that marvelous country.

  •Match Your Attention Span: Don’t sign up for the in-depth, all-day tour if you’re an overview kind of person. Sometimes, hitting the highlights and making time to wander is the better choice.

  •Keys!: Always check your keys before leaving your apartment, especially if there is no supervisor or attendant. Otherwise, you can waste large amounts of time.

  •Read Reviews: Take advantage of recent reviews before booking. Don’t rely on memory or friends’ recommendations from their trip ten years ago. Things change. If you’re not careful, a diet of lousy European rock ’n’ roll could assail you—or maybe inedible, all-inclusive fodder.

  •Make New Friends: Talk to everyone. You’ll learn from other travelers about places you might not have considered, and pick up all kinds of great ideas.

  Chapter 7: Paris

  •Relax: Enjoy the benefits of homefree life. Give yourself “down” days to read, cocoon, relax. This is your life, not a vacation when you must pack all the highlights you want to see into four days.

  •Shrink Your Ego: Don’t be afraid to look foolish and ask questions. People will usually forgive your ignorance and your lack of French if you ask for help politely.

  •Observe: Avoid humiliation. Take a moment to watch locals in action. You’ll learn the drills for the subway, grocery, movies, and restaurants by first observing how it’s done.

  •Buy One, Toss One: You can buy new clothes, but get rid of something in exchange. Otherwise, you will be traveling like a pack mule every time you move.

  •Grooming: Ask a local about beauty salons and nails. You may get lucky; you may not. Be philosophical. Even the worst haircut grows out.

  Chapter 8: Italy

  •Driving: Buy a good GPS and take it with you. Your outbound and inbound drives will not follow the same route in a thousand-year-old city designed on goat paths, so you’ll really need some help.

  •Invite the Kids: Visits from children or grandchildren can double your fun!

  •Be Cool: Do not live in Italy in July and August without air conditioning. The Italians have a different take on discomfort. Remember, dry heat cooks turkeys.

  •Get Out: If you are unhappy, hot, and miserable, move on. You’re a grown-up.

  Chapter 9: England

  •Driving: When you arrive, give yourself time to learn how to drive on the left side. Before putting the key in the ignition, also get a grip on the roundabouts concept—enter on the left and drive clockwise.

  •Side Trips: Do not make a long trip to Cornwall or anywhere in the country the first day. Plan your country drives after you have settled into your “permanent” home. You will be too tired from traveling and too burdened with luggage if you tour first. Spring for the extra dough to take side trips while traveling light; leave your stuff at “home.” Unless you’re young and hardy, the extra lodging bill is worth it.

  •Say “Yes”: When someone offers you an opportunity to go somewhere, see something, do something new, say “Yes” whenever possible. Your best stories will come from things you never expected, but tried! Postpone nothing!

  •Keep in Touch: Use your Internet connection to speak with friends and family via Skype or FaceTime. A thirty-minute chat can feel like a visit home and be a great tonic to you and the ones you love and miss. Best of all, Skype to Skype calls are free!

  •Shop Green: Don’t be shy. Charity shop browsing is considered chic in most countries. When seasons change, you can supplement your wardrobe without going broke, then recycle your purchases and enjoy the bonus of feeling righteous!

  Chapter 10: Ireland

  •Housing: When you’re looking for a place to stay, do pay attention to all the things that are offered. This may be your chance to live in an authentic Irish cottage or have an apartment in a Georgian building!

  •Driving: Tiny is better. Get the smallest car possible that will hold your luggage. Narrow roads are easier to negotiate with a little car. You’ll save on petrol, too, a major consideration. It is much more expensive than U.S. fuel.

  •Side Trips: Sometimes, it takes more than once for us to learn a lesson. We traveled around the country with all of our gear and were exhausted by it. Get settled, then travel.

  •Meet the Neighbors: If you’re lucky, your new neighbors will be interesting, informative, and own wonderful homes with comfortable furniture. If the people next door start to chat you up, do invite them in for a coffee or a glass of wine. The Irish love conversation and are interested in everyone’s story. You may make friends for life!

  Chapter 11: Marrakech, Morocco

  •Single File: Don’t consider walking side by side. A bicycle, motorcycle, or cart could ruin your day.

  •Don’t Ask for Directions: Expect to pay up when someone offers to show you the way. They will expect a tip. You WILL become lost in this labyrinth of a city, but it’s half the fun. Don’t panic, but be prepared to pay if you need help.

  •Everything Is Negotiable: Don’t consider paying full price for anything. Haggle over everything, including cab fare, and enjoy yourself while you do it because the natives will be having fun.

  •Eat Large: Don’t let the huge outdoor food stalls scare you into missing the fun. Plunk yourself at the paper-covered table and dig in.

  Chapter 12: Break Time

  •Cruise and Schmooze: After living on the road for such an extended period of time, use the voyage home to rest, reflect, and visit the gym to lose those extra pounds.

  •Make Appointments: Take advantage of being “home.” Deal with the documents, accountant, taxes, and all other boring but essential stuff, so that when you return to your next round of homefree adventure, you’ll be worry-free as well.

  •Get a Visa: As previously mentioned, take care of long-term visas while you are in the United States if you are going to go that route. It takes time to gather the necessary information, and a personal visit to the consulate may be necessary. Plan ahead.

  •Shop: Use what you learned the first time out: pare down, replenish your wardrobe, and leave unnecessary gear at home.

  •Cruise News: Before booking, check out the age and amenities of a ship, and whether it has experienced any mechanical or structural problems, or complaints about its voyages. Quality is more important than price. Eighteen days on an elderly ship is not necessarily a good bargain.

  Chapter 13: Portugal

  •If Something Is Wrong, Speak Up: If anything in your living situation is not up to par, correct it right away. The owner/manager wants you to be happy, so don’t suffer in silence.

  •Succumb to a Checklist: As we mentioned before (it’s that important), make a checklist for use before leaving the house. It’s really a good idea. Just a single omission, like house keys, money, or credit cards, can cause unnecessary havoc. You don’t have to admit your surrender. We’ll never tell.

  •Annoyances Fade: Don’t let minor irritations like barking dogs, noisy construction projects, or occasionally rowdy neighbors spoil your good time. You’ll be gone soon. Buy some earplugs or a great set of headphones and tune them all out.

  And last but not least, two essentials to do anywhere you go!

  •Remember to Laugh: No matter how distressing your situation might seem at the time, inconvenient travel events make great dinner-table yarns later. Try to see the humor when you end up at the opposite end of Paris
from where you intended to be or the bottle of capers whose German label you can’t read turns out to be searingly hot green peppercorns, sending your dinner guests into gasping, red-faced anguish. Bad at the time, great stories later!

  •Write It All Down: Be sure to take notes. Sometimes the most colorful parts of our experiences are found in the small moments, and you WILL forget them over time, so make a few notes every day before they get away from you. Trust us, you’ll love yourself for them later.

  Acknowledgments

  My collaborators include every person who rode a bus, plane, train, ferry, underground, or ship with us, shared a laugh, gasped at a beautiful sight, ran from a storm, or gave a busker a buck. I thank every stranger who offered kindness, help, and their friendship as we stumbled along finding our way in the world. You are with us each day as our amazing journey unfolds. You have enriched our lives immeasurably!

  We thank my parents, Wanda and Leonard Shomell, for their example. They were our inspiration and are always in our hearts. They blazed the international trail for us forty years ago, without the benefit of Internet or cell phones. Their courage and devotion to each other—and their determination to have fun and see the world together in their later years—drew the map for us. Daddy, how you would have loved all that has happened to us.

  I am forever grateful to Jim Gray, a writer whose generous introduction to Glenn Ruffenach, editor at the Wall Street Journal, opened the door to a thrilling new opportunity. Working with Glenn was a privilege. He is a genuine gentleman and a distinguished journalist whose graceful editorial guidance and friendship made my experience with that celebrated publication pure joy.