Category: Life Lessons
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The Gift of Time Together
Coming home exhausted from a trip usually isn’t a travel problem — it’s a planning problem. We learned that the hard way more than once, which is probably why this episode hit home for us. On this one, Rita and I sit down with Paul Partridge, a former financial advisor who traded spreadsheets for travel…
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Confessions of an Exploited Amazon Author
Let me tell you something about the publishing business that nobody tells you before you get into it: Amazon is not, in fact, running a charity on your behalf. I know, I know. Shocking stuff. But here’s the actual math, because I did it so you don’t have to. Say I sell a paperback for…
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A Chat With Madison Rolley
Technology is changing travel planning faster than a lot of us can keep up with. And if you’re a retiree, or just late to this particular party, it can feel like someone handed you a new phone and expected you to already know the passcode. This episode is our attempt to connect the dots between…
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When “Error Establishing a Database Connection” Turns Into a Week Long Odyssey (with a Happy Ending)
If you follow this site regularly, you may have noticed things got a little quiet — or downright broken — for a stretch. I promised the whole story and here it is, warts and all, because honestly? It’s too good (and too maddening) not to share. It Started With Five Words Every Website Owner Dreads…
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How Educational Travel Builds Confidence Through Connection
Saying yes to the trips that scare you a little can reshape your entire life, and that idea sits at the heart of this conversation with Jewel Rozanski, founder of Cultured Travel. After 14 years as a public high school Spanish teacher and training in educational psychology, she turns educational travel into a practical path…
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The Scavengers of the Publishing World
As Dennis Miller used to say, “Now I don’t want to go off on a rant here..” – but here I go. A few years ago I wrote a blog post called “Do The Write Thing“, in which I moaned about the difficulties and costs of self-publishing, and how the only people who make any…
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A New Life in San Miguel de Allende
Trading a familiar routine for life abroad sounds dramatic until you hear how normal it can feel when you break it into steps. Chris and Deanna move from the Los Angeles area to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, after realizing they did not want to look back with regret. Their story speaks to anyone searching…
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Summer Travel Without the Crowds
Planning a summer family vacation can feel like signing up for heat, crowds, and sticker shock. When school lets out, millions of families hit the road at the same time, pushing the same theme parks, beaches, and national parks to their limits. That demand drives up hotel rates, fills restaurants, and turns travel days into…
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Is The Summer Getaway Disappearing?
Memorial Day weekend at Virginia Beach is usually a loud, crowded signal that summer travel season has arrived, but this year it felt strangely quiet. An empty boardwalk and half-closed shops are more than a weather story; they are a snapshot of shifting American travel behavior. When a classic drive-to destination looks subdued, it raises…
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Are Travel Credit Cards Actually Worth It?
A Real-World Look at Points, Perks, and Pitfalls If you’ve spent any time in travel forums or Facebook groups, you’ve heard the pitch: “Just put everything on your points card and you’ll fly business class for free!” It sounds great in theory, but between annual fees, transfer ratios, and vendor surcharges, the math isn’t always…
