May 18 2022

This Travel Blog Is Coming Out of Retirement

We’re back! The blog is back! *blows dust off of keyboard* *coughs*

Like, literally, we’re back.

I never thought we would return to the U.S. so I’m as surprised to (STILL) be here as you are. We thought it would be temporary, and even after a few years I thought, “Well, we might go to Mexico again,” or to Portugal, or Italy (I really like Italy.) So many options, and I didn’t feel like a traveler if I wasn’t going somewhere far, far away.

So I let my travel blog sit and wait, and I left you sitting and waiting too, Dear Reader.

Sorry about that.

About a week ago I realized I still tell people about our time in Mexico because it’s the best way to stick in their memory. Selling everything and moving to Mexico with our family, the adventures we had, everything on this blog (and a lot that didn’t make it)–is that the most interesting thing about me? If so, does that mean I’ve peaked and it’s all downhill from here? Depressing.

Hello, Midlife Crisis, nice to meet you.

Just kidding, but I did ask myself those questions, and I wasn’t very comfortable asking them, much less answering.

So I decided to do what I always do, to just make shit happen.

I refuse to let those 3 years in Mexico be the highlight of our lives-there’s plenty of time to raise the bar! We may not be roaming as much as we used to but we are still going places and doing things.

For example, one of the kids has joined the circus, the other is a mermaid. No, really, this is our life now.

Asking myself that question was my wake up call, now I’m sending you yours.

The Everyday Journey is going to get a makeover in the next few weeks so watch this space. I’ll be purging the subscriber list of inactive users as I redesign and shake things up, checking in will make sure you stay on the list and don’t miss anything.

There will be fresh content, travel and otherwise and a new look. We have actual trips planned now that The Virus That Shall Not Be Mentioned is easing up, and I’m working on some other writing projects that will interest those of you who come here for the smooth wordsmith skills.

Before I go I have a question for you:

What do you want to hear from me?

Burning questions? Story requests? Comments on my hair? This is your chance to pick my brain and/or make your demands (just don’t ask for money because I still don’t have any.)

See you soon…

I may never bother to have a full head of hair again, the undercut makes it so much cooler. Literally and figuratively, I feel cooler.

February 27 2018

A Day in the Life Homeschooling/Worldschooling a 9 and 11-year-old

We didn’t start homeschooling until a few months after we started traveling full time, two big changes in our lives at almost the same time. Needless to say, there was a bit of an adjustment period for both. Continue reading

September 7 2017

Stopped By The Police In Mexico City-Twice

One of the most common stereotypes is that all the police in Mexico are corrupt and will expect a bribe. In two years of traveling and driving and sometimes getting pulled over here we’ve never had a problem…until last week. Then it became a very expensive problem.

Continue reading

January 24 2017

Getting Around Guatemala: Part 2

Yesterday I ended Part 1 on a cliffhanger (literally) as our driver dropped us in the wrong place on the side of a mountain in Guatemala. The bright side was that the girls were learning how to wash laundry by hand from a patient local woman.

Continue reading

October 13 2016

Living in Playa del Carmen vs. Cozumel

Planning Cozumel

When choosing where to live as an expat I used to think that Playa del Carmen and it’s island neighbor Cozumel were like two parts of the same city connected by a ferry. They are both Continue reading

August 4 2016

Questions For A Traveling Family

Bathrooms with toilet paper and seats! Drinking water straight out of the tap! Bathtubs! Is this heaven? Nope, just Iowa, but if you are a traveling family you understand our excitement. Continue reading

June 18 2016

The Bumpy Road to Homeschooling

First I accidentally sent my 6-year-old to college. Or at least it felt that way. Continue reading

June 15 2016

One Year as a Traveling Family

Palenque

One year ago today we drove away from our house for the last time. We chose to have no permanent home, no structure to fill with furniture and appliances and all our personal items. Almost all of it was gone by that point anyway, sold or given away. A year ago we officially became a traveling family…even if the first place we traveled to was Grandma’s house. Continue reading

May 25 2016

Aluxes Eco Park – Visa Run Part 10

turtle eco park aluxes

“In Mayan culture the Aluxes are young, happy, and playful elves that care for crops and protect the jungle for Mother Nature.”

This is the sign that greets you when you enter Aluxes Eco Parque between the town of Palenque and the ruins. Continue reading

April 12 2016

Tikal and 3 Kings Day Fireworks – Visa Run Part 7

Guatemala tikal

After a 6 hour bus ride we were finally in Guatemala.  The tour guide for the ruins of Tikal had said they would pick us up “At 8, maybe 825,” which I took to mean they would be late. We were sitting at the breakfast table downstairs in our hotel at 750 and had just placed our orders when the van showed up. So much for food, we had to go, couldn’t keep the group waiting. Continue reading