We always travel with a back-up plan and with COVID’s presence in the planning this time we’ve felt we needed more than one plan depending on which way the wind might blow. Which plan would be B and which one would be C went back and forth for several months and we have never really decided on an order – both have multiple pros and cons. And, during all our deliberations and discussions we stayed patient, things calmed down with COVID, and we will be flying to France as planned in May following YaYu’s graduation.
Now, with the invasion of Ukraine and potential threats posed for Europe, we once again have had to come up with an alternative plan if travel to France becomes untenable or there are too many unknowns.
Our first Plan B way back when had us moving to Seattle and renting an apartment there. We picked Seattle for several reasons: it’s located halfway between Japan, where our son is, and New England, where the girls are, with direct flights to both locations. There are good healthcare resources in Seattle, good public transportation (no car purchase would be needed; we would use Zipcar like we did during our summer in Portland), and lots of other things we need and want in a permanent location. On the negative side, and these were big negatives for us, the cost of living is very high and we were not sure about living again with the gloomy winter weather. We decided it might be best to have another option.
Another one of the big downsides to settling in Seattle was that we would be settled. It would mean buying furniture again, and building a life there, and we were not sure we’re ready to do that right now, especially after planning and getting ready to travel full time again. So, we began to think that maybe we could travel full time around the U.S. We could buy a car (a Prius) and drive around to different locations and stay in Airbnbs like we do elsewhere in the world, or we could get an RV of some sort, either a camper van or a trailer and travel that way. We got very excited about Boho camper vans for a while, but eventually realized a camper van was just too small for full-time travel and also a big commitment. So, we looked at several trailers but they were too much of a commitment at this stage of our lives as well. Also, RV living is really not our style so we went back to the Prius/Airbnb option.
Both the above plans have been moved down the list. Our current Plan B has us going to Mexico for a few months instead of France as the airline we’re flying to France also flies to Mexico, and we could change our destination without too much disruption and no loss of funds (no change fees and the Mexico flights are less than the ones to Paris). We will lose what we paid for our first month in France, but it’s a sacrifice we’re willing to make to stay safe.
We hope to follow our original plan and head to Strasbourg for three months followed by stays in Oxford and Edinburgh, and then hopefully heading back over to Tokyo. We have until April 18 to make a decision. Frankly, if we had to decide now we would be going to Mexico.
By the way, working through these plans, evaluating all the plusses and minuses, greatly helped us organize our thoughts about where we’ll eventually settle when our traveling days are over. New England (Massachusetts or Maine) has landed at the top of our list. Winters are brutal there but WenYu reminded us at Christmas that, “the sun comes out a lot. It isn’t gloomy and overcast for weeks on end” like the Pacific Northwest, and she and Meiling have come to love the winter season. We have no plans to settle there any time soon, but we’ve decided that’s where we’ll go.
The Occasional Nomads 
I’m glad you’re back. We live in Massachusetts and we love it. Yes it is a bit pricey but we’re ok with that. We have ocean, we have small mountains, and lots of other landscapes for great walking opportunities. We have colleges for intellectual stimulation and good health care. My husband and I are 63 and thinking about retirement. While we will probably move from the home we raised our 2 kids in the next couple of years we fully intend to reside in MA (and travel as much as we can).
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Carol, every place is pricey right now! The Boston area is pretty much out of our price range, but we like western Massachusetts and have been looking at that area. Maine is also attractive, but we would have to be very careful about the location, mainly because of healthcare needs in the future.
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I live in western Massachusetts and if I ever saw you out and about it would be a true celebrity encounter!!
My father and stepmother live on the coast of Maine even farther north than Lewiston…they are in their mid seventies.
I love winter and grew up in New England so I am probably not a good one to convince you that winters aren’t all that bad here. Though it is a fact that winters have become much more mild over the past several decades here.
Anon in mass
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Western MA is high on our list, but Maine is up there too. We feel fortunate two of our daughters are in the Boston area as it will be a good base for us to get out an look and make a decision when it’s time.
I am fine with snow as long as I don’t have to do a lot of driving in it.
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My plans for this fall have had several iterations. First, it was driving around the country to stay in AirBnBs near friends. Then I thought I might buy a small R-Pod trailer as my friend has one and loves it. That would be an investment as opposed to the money going to AirBnBs.
But then in a conversation with my bestie around the first of the year, I realized I really wanted to stay near her for a while. And some friends, whom I love dearly, I just couldn’t stay around as long as others. So there would be hurt feelings. 😦
So now the plan is: leave San Diego for Tucson around Labor Day, and stay near my husband’s aunt and uncle for a month. From there, I’ll wind my way across and up the U.S. to meet my BFF in the Northeast for a fall color trip. And then I will wind my way down the eastern seaboard to Virginia, where I’ll stay in Richmond.
Richmond is a lovely city with a very fun, funky area called Carytown. It’s walkable and has everything I need. My bestie is only 30 minutes away, and our other bestie is not too far outside of Cincinnati. I can take my two small dogs with me, and take it as slow or as fast as I want to go. I can fly home to San Diego out of Richmond on Delta. And if I can’t take the weather, I can just head back west!
Like you, it’s been a process. My daughter moved in last fall and I gave up my master suite, and realized I can live with much less – and prefer it. So after I return from France in April, I will start cleaning out the downstairs of the house so they can rent from me (as it’s her house anyways once I’m gone).
I’m very excited to be on the road this year! I’ve had plans forever, but circumstances finally helped me make the decision! Sheesh, I didn’t mean to write a novel, but it’s really exciting!
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It really was a process, and we’re grateful we’ve had the time to think carefully about what we want to do if our original plans don’t work out rather than have to make a snap decision like we did in 2020. Your plans sound perfect for you!
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It is unfortunate that just as the war on Covid seems to be fading, we’re now faced with another type of war.
Interesting that you’d choose brutal winter over PNW gloom. I know a lot of people who feel the same. After seven years of officially living in Central Oregon with snow, snow, and more snow (but also lots of sun), I’ve decided I MUCH prefer the gray skies and rain in Vancouver to the cold and snow in Sunriver. I still go back and forth, but I cringe when I see it has snowed again in Sunriver.
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I know, Debbie. The Ukraine situation is heartbreaking. Fingers are crossed it can be resolved sooner rather than later.
We’ve been reading a lot about winters, and realized with proper planning we could pretty much get through the snow and cold back mostly by having enough supplies to stay inside for most of it! We’ve had plenty of practice during the pandemic for not having to go anywhere, and we’ve learned a lot from others who live back there. If we had to drive a lot, forget it, but if we can spend spring, summer, and fall stocking up and line up plenty to keep us busy indoors during the winter, I think we’ll do okay. I suffered from seasonal affective disorder when we lived in Portland, and it got worse every year (and came back when we were in England in 2019 and it rained every day for over a month), so I’d rather be stuck inside but with the sun shining, than live in the gloom again.
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I can understand your hesitations. We haven’t been back to Europe since 2018 to see family, and I can’t see us getting there this year either now. Mind you, I have a brother in Vancouver and family in the US too so it might be the year to visit them, depending on what happens in the world, Our other problem here is the potential lack of or very expensive flights, but we do feel so lucky living where we do.
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I’m glad we have time to wait and see how things unfold rather than have to make a snap decision now about what to do. I think the waiting is worse than anything for traveling right now, and hope you can at least get to the U.S. or Canada this year.
You do live in a lovely place – we hope to get back to NZ one of these days.
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Crazy to think that travel plans need to consider a global pandemic and war. We didn’t know how good we had it back in 2019!
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I realized back in late 2020 that travel was never again going to be like it was before, but I had no idea we’d still be facing the pandemic AND war at this point!
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We were hoping that 2022 would see a return to normality and international travel recommencing. We are considering a relocation to Europe for a 6 month period this year, but we have agreed as long as war is simmering we are well advised to stay home. Like you, we struggle to come up with a firm answer on where do we want to live long term. It’s hard to find something that ticks all the boxes and is affordable. Where we are living in Australia at this time offers a nice life, I’d give it a 6, but if feels like life here has flat lined. As we turn 60 this year told my husband these are the best years of our life and we need to be out living them rather than just existing.
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We’re definitely no where back to normal although it’s now possible to travel internationally to some places (Japan still hasn’t opened up, most of SE is closed, etc.). And, there are still a whole lot of new hoops to jump through as well if you do want to travel. We are tired of sitting around, even in beautiful Hawaii so we’re willing to put up with the hassles of getting somewhere else.
Figuring out where to stay long-term when our traveling days are done has been incredibly difficult. As you say, there are lots of boxes to check and no place is perfect. Besides locations in the U.S. we’ve looked at overseas locations as well. Seattle looked perfect for a while until we remembered the weather. And, the high prices. So back east it will be for us . . . eventually.
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Your plan(s) make a lot of sense. If you end up going to Mexico, where will you go after the 3 months are up? If things have settled down by then, would you try to do the Europe trip again? If you do decide to settle in New England and find you can’t deal with the winters, you could always go someplace warmer for the winter, but like you said, you could just stay in and get cozy. That’s basically what I do. I’m not really a winter person, but it is a time for hibernation and getting cozy with a good book!
I was thinking today how I wish I could get in a time machine and go back to 2019. I personally have given up on making travel plans. I can’t seem to plan anything more than a day or two in advance these days with everything that’s going on. I haven’t traveled since February 2020 and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. This is the longest I’ve gone without traveling anywhere since 2005! But I’m not complaining. Let’s hope the world settles down soon.
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Boy, Mexico is starting to look more and more like it may happen. Staying in Europe makes us feel very nervous right now. If we do end up going to Mexico we will probably still go to the UK, to Oxford and Edinburgh, and then on to Japan.
I wish, for the most part, that travel-wise we could go back to 2019. There were some problems, like overcrowding in some areas, that were in an issue, but otherwise it was easy to get wherever you wanted to go.
You could make travel plans, for nothing more than the fun of it. Go all out, fulfill all your fantasies. Then, when you are ready to start traveling again you’ll have the delicious problem of not being able to decide which plan to follow!
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It does seem Mexico is looking more likely for you. I’ve only been there once when I went to Cancun in 2009. Have you ever been there?
I like your idea to plan out a travel fantasy. That will be fun and give me something to look forward to.
I’ve actually never been to Maine, so maybe I’ll do that this summer!
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We still really want to go to France, but if we had to decide now we’d choose Mexico based on what’s happening in Europe. The situation makes us feel very nervous.
Maine is beautiful! So much to see, do, and eat!
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I think Mexico is a fabulous idea and I also think Maine is a splendid idea! I always wanted to live near Leeds, Maine, probably because Amy Dacyczn of The Tighwad Gazette fame, lived and wrote frugal tips from there at her farm….. lol
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We were supposed to go to Mexico in 2020 so it made sense to make it our backup destination. We checked first to see if the airline we’re using to go to France went to Mexico City and since it does, that sealed the deal for us.
We really like Maine. Leeds is near Lewiston, an area we like.
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Welcome back, it’s great to hear again about your plans! Wise travelers like you always have a solid plan B in place. It’s wise to have some sort of safety net to fall on to, should unexpected situations arise. I am glad you have come to a conclusion you are comfortable with.
The war in Ukraine has put yet another strain on our ability to enjoy traveling to Europe besides Covid. Mexico seems like a good destination to wait out a couple of months, although I think the war and its aftermath will continue for a lot longer than it’s anticipated. Only time will tell. Sometimes one just needs to follow their instincts and do what feels right regardless of what the initial plan has been.
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We grow a little more nervous about the situation in Europe every day – I’m grateful we have time to see how things play out and options if we feel it’s not safe to go (or we don’t feel safe). We’ve planned visits to Mexico twice before that we had to cancel, so maybe the third time will be a charm!
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My family in Romania is always confused about distances. If they hear that something happens in New York, they always worry about me, although I keep telling them that I’m as far from New York as they are from Paris.
There is a full continent between Ukraine and France, imagine the distance between Seattle and New York and then some, so I don’t think there is a real risk for you to get caught up in the actual war. However, there is a refugee crisis and economic instability that may impact your travels. Protests and civil unrest in general may affect your ability to move around and do certain things. The end of April is a good time to make a final decision. I was planning to go to Romania and the Netherlands this year but for now, just like you, I’m waiting.
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The reasons for skipping France are the ones you mention: refugee crisis, the economy, etc. We don’t think war will come to France, but there is a good chance for upheavals from all the things that war affects.
We’re probably going to make a decision by the end of March rather than waiting until April. We think we’ll have a good idea of the way things are going by the end of this month.
P.S. We got the same worried messages when we lived in Japan and whenever something happened there, like an earthquake, and we had to explain we were no where near what had happened.
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My DD did her masters at Clark and we all loved the Boston area. It’s pricey, but what isn’t? And I think their healthcare is tops, which is huge as we age. It’s also drivable to so much on the east coast and in Canada. And I love Maine. Of course, I grew up with snow so it’s less of an issue for me. But a sunny winter day is amazing. And with all the walking you do, you might find you like snow shoeing or cross country skiing! Lastly, I find the hibernation of winter cozy (within limits) and it REALLY makes you appreciate spring! 😉
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You’re right – everywhere is pricey now.
The big thing about winter weather (i.e. snow) is that these days we don’t have to go out in it like we did in the past, when the kids were young. We can stay home and hibernate. So, I’m not as deterred by it as I would have been in the past. I get depressed just thinking about the gloomy weather in the PNW. We think New England will be a good location for us, especially as we want to be closer to the girls as we age and as they eventually build their families.
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France? Time will tell. Mid April should be a good deciding point. If it comes to it, plan B looks pretty good. Mexico with England, Scotland and Japan still on the books. To be honest- driving around the US is pretty unpredictable right now. Even finding a car is unpredictable!
Living in the Northeastern US seems a good choice for you and yours. I have learned to cope with extreme cold and snow this Idaho winter. It isn’t bad when the sun shines almost every day. The Northeast seems to have lots of indoor walking places, you just need to scope them out. My sister in law and I meet at Costco to walk our two miles inside.
I know costs are high near the girls, but would that be offset by your desire to “keep small” and not having a car? Something to keep in the back of your mind. I know we are looking within five miles of the kids for the future. One bedroom with a study and bath…
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There are many places in the NE to consider, but we’ve got time on our side now to firm things up and decide what we want as well as what we don’t need once we settle.
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Two comments I’m thinking of here- when we get old and realize that we might need the help of relatives, it seems like living an hour or two away will be good, and it certainly is better than living a continent or an ocean away. But having been on the caregiver side, it’s too far! For a full-time worker to run errands, visit, do chores, help in emergencies, it can be very difficult to add a few hours of commuting, too. If we can live within minutes, rather than hours, it makes a total difference. Luckily my parents lived halfway between my home and my work, so I could stop twice a day if needed, and they lived near their shopping and doctors. I was able to do what needed to be done without abandoning my husband, losing my job, or going crazy. I’m glad I was able to be there for them. I had watched my parents try to help THEIR aging parents who lived a thousand miles away, while working and raising kids- brutal.
Now in my situation, my husband and child have died, and I have no relatives anywhere nearby, but I do have a business here and my friends, doctors, volunteer work, and everything is here, since we’ve been here for 50 years. If and when needed, I’m willing to relocate- but where? Stepchild in Florida would honestly not be able to be of help- that’s just how it is. Grandchildren are college ages, so no idea where they might end up. Sister and nieces in a so-so state midwestern 5 hours from here. Pretty brutal weather, but affordable. Other mostly male relatives in Texas, spread out, though. The issue, though, is there are no guarantees that any one of these people will stay where they are now.
How did I go from 21 to 60-plus overnight, though?!?
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You bring up many good points about the dilemma we face as we get older about where to settle. After a lifetime of encouraging our children to be more independent, to realize we will probably become dependent on them and what do we do about that? is difficult to consider. So, we will probably start out near our children, but not too near, and then move closer as necessary. One of our children has said they will provide all the income necessary for us to live independently for as long as possible rather than have to care for us as we age (a loving child, just not good at caregiving).
I remember thoughts as a child of teenagers being “old.” And now I’m turning 70 this year. How did that happen? And so quickly?
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Always good to have multiple plans. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I don’t have too much trouble with the winters, especially because I’ll walk in any weather–except ice and snow, unless there’s enough for snowshoeing. The humidity on the east coast is horrible according to my husband who grew up there, although maybe living by the ocean would be better. I can’t handle heat and humidity. I don’t think there’s any perfect place, just a place with fewer things you dislike.
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I loved the PNW weather when we first arrived and for many years after, then gradually it began to wear on me and I came to dread it. I also dread humidity (the worse we ever have experience, other than Japan, was in the Washington, D.C. area) but hopefully we will have ways to mitigate that. Lots to think about, and lots of places we can settle, but we hope to keep traveling full time for the next five years, at least.
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We have visited a small fishing village a bit outside of Puerto Vallarta called BUCERIAS which we fell in love with.We had decided to spend a whole month there when Covid hit.. our flights were cancelled 2 days before the flight, and our country on lock down. I am hoping to return,someday.Not yet. The cost of living is low, is safe for the most part, fresh seafood, lots of sunshine, the water.. buses,cabs. Local markets.What part of Mexico are you thinking of settling in, if you choose that option? I am thinking I would not be going to Europe any time soon..just the nuclear plant situation is an eye opener.. Putin is way too crazy to leave things to chance. I don’t even feel safe in AMERICA right now! Admire your preparation and ability to pivot!
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We have planned two visits to San Miguel de Allende that have had to be cancelled, so we’re going to give it another try if we end up going to Mexico.
We feel the same as you do about going to France right now; things feel too unstable, and with the Russians firing on nuclear power plants, also scary. But, we’re just not ready to pull the plug yet and will give it another few weeks before we make a final decision.
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Great plan B. looking forward to your food blogs if you do go to Mexico. I have heard that the street food is both cheap and delicious.
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I think the food may be the biggest reason we’d love to go to Mexico, but prices are just low there overall. We’ll know by the end of this month whether we’re going to change our plans or not.
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