I while back I decided to take a break from using this blog to post political commentary but I am finding it harder and harder to remain silent given all that is going on.  So, I am going to start writing again, if only to give myself a place to rant.  I don’t know if I will write daily or just when the urge strikes me but expect these musings to pop up from time to time. When I travel, I will switch gears and use this blog to talk about more pleasant things and perhaps post pretty pictures of various places around the world. 

I am still planning to go to Portugal in April.  Last year my trip was postponed due to COVID but this year it appears that the bigger threat might be a war that is breaking out in the Ukraine.  One can certainly hope that the current action by Putin will be contained within the borders of Ukraine but his actions are somewhat reminiscent of Hitler’s actions when he started to expand his sphere of influence across Europe. 

Ukraine is not a member of NATO so Article V, requiring member nations to come to the defense of any other member under attack, can not be invoked.  NATO can provide assistance to Ukraine but will likely stop short of mounting a full-scale war to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine.  Unfortunately, it is probably a given that Ukraine will fall under the Russian umbrella in the not-to-distant future.

The bigger and more important question is whether or not Putin will be satisfied with the conquest of the Ukraine.  The reason that is important is because the next targets that are most likely on Putin’s radar screen are the former Soviet republics of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.  These countries are, in fact, members of NATO and, as such, if they are attacked by Russia, the other member NATO states will be obligated to come to their defense.  That would likely lead to a full-blown war with Russia.  Is this really what Putin wants?

If you look at a map of Europe, authoritarian rulers have already taken root in Belarus, Hungary, and Turkey on the easter flank of NATO.  Hungary and Turkey are NATO members and although they purport to operate under democracy, they clearly do not.  Given this and what is now going on in Ukraine, it’s like watching the ‘authoritarian PacMan’ gobble up countries in Europe.  It is extremely unfortunate that more people do not understand the long-term threat that this poses to NATO, the EU and to this country.

And now we have the former president, Donald Trump, singing the praises of Vladimir Putin as he invades a sovereign neighbor.  That is unprecedented in American history.  Given Trump’s deference towards Putin during his presidency and given Trump’s view of the world, this should come as a surprise to no one.  Trump and Putin are cut of the same cloth and I have no doubt that, given the chance, Trump would take a very similar course of action.

Putin actively suppresses his opponents in Russia through intimidation, throwing them in prison or just having them killed.  Given Trump’s inability to withstand any criticism at all and his penchant for revenge, no one should doubt that, given the opportunity Trump would not hesitate to suppress his opposition in a similar manner.  How is anyone surprised that he finds this Putin trait admirable?  I’m sure we all remember the chants of “Lock her up.”

There is essentially no free press in Russia.  The media is controlled by the State.  If Trump had his way, it would be the same here in the United States. Given his innate ability to lie with a straight face and develop alternate narratives and realities that are not at all grounded in fact, he would love to control the media.  This is another reason he so admires Putin. 

My original plan was to go kick the tires in Portugal with an idea towards maybe moving there for an extended period of time.  Why?  Quality of life is certainly one part but, frankly, I am very concerned about the future of this country.  If Trump or a Trump-like clone were to be elected in 2024, I believe this country will begin to look more and more like Putin’s Russia and less and less like the United States that I grew up in.  I intend to watch that transformation from afar.  Portugal? Maybe.  But given what is now going on in Europe, I may find a few more places to go explore. 

As they say, ‘Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’  And that is exactly what we are witnessing now.

If you have never been to Yellowstone Park in the winter, I would definitely add it to the ‘to do’ list.  The place is beautiful and, although it seems at times that there are a lot of snowmobiles, it pales in comparison to the number of cars and people in the summer time.  Seeing things covered in snow just adds a whole different dimension to the already spectacular scenery in Yellowstone.

I arranged my tour with a company called Yellowstone Vacation Tours.  There are a handful of companies that have permits to conduct snowmobile tours inside the park but I chose this company somewhat at random and was very happy.   They ran a very efficient operation and I thought the guide was great.  You can rent complete snowmobile outfits (suit (goes right over your clothes), boots, gloves and helmet) for $25 and virtually all of the sleds were capable of carrying two people. 

If you dress adequately and have a snowmobile suit you keep plenty warm.  Each guide has a group of about 10 to 12 sleds and, although they operate along the same route, they operate fairly independently as far as timing and stopping.

We left the base in West Yellowstone about 8:45 a.m. and returned around 3:30 p.m.  It’s about a 60-mile round trip to Old Faithful and return.  We probably spent about 3 full hours riding and the rest of the time stopping to take pictures, look at the scenery, watch Old Faithful, eat lunch and even did a couple of walks out on the snowy boardwalks to get a closer look at some of the thermal features.  We saw bald eagles, tons of bison, two coyotes and a lot of spectacular scenery.

For those who might not be into zooming along on a snowmobile, they do have snow coaches, some of which resemble ‘monster trucks’, that you can sit inside all toasty and warm and watch the scenery as they drive around.  For me, however, a snowmobile is the way to go.  It’s like riding my Harley – it just adds to the experience.

I think if you get 6 to 9 sleds (12 to 18 people assuming every sled has two people) you can get your own guide and have your own group. I know that snowmobile and accommodation reservations sell out well in advance.  We’ll see.  In any case, here are a few of the pictures I took on the trip. Enjoy!

Today I’m driving down to West Yellowstone ( about 90 miles) for my snowmobile trip into the park tomorrow.  After many days of dry roads and little snow, it is now snowing so it should make for an interesting drive down there this afternoon!  That said, it should make the park really beautiful tomorrow when we hop on our snowmobiles.   I have no idea what to expect but a snowmobile excursion into the park has been on the ‘bucket list’ for a long time so, hopefully, I will get to check the box. 

Yellowstone had a record attendance in 2021 – 4.86 million people.  That is a staggering number.  It’s also the reason that I try to stay away from the park in the summer months – the traffic jams can rival anything seen in LA.  I don’t think we’ll have too many traffic jams tomorrow.   Unless we have to stop for a herd of bison to cross the road!  I’m hoping to see (and get some pictures) of some of the Yellowstone critters tomorrow – as long as it’s not of a bison charging the sled!!

Just for fun, I have included a few ‘Yellowstone Facts’ for your amusement.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK FACTS

Established as the world’s first national park in 1872 and spanning over 2.2 million acres, there is an endless supply of Yellowstone-related information to understand and unravel. A great place to start is with just the facts. From a basic understanding of the park’s geologic features and wildlife, to its equally vast cultural and historical resources, this Yellowstone Facts page will give you an overview of all that encompasses Yellowstone National Park.

HISTORY

• Yellowstone National Park was established on March 1, 1872.
• Yellowstone is the world’s first national park.

GEOGRAPHY

No area figures have been scientifically verified. Efforts to confirm the park’s total area continue.

• 3,472 square miles (8,991 km2)
• 2,221,766 acres or 899,116 hectares
• 63 air miles north to south (102 km)
• 54 air miles east to west (87 km)
• 96% in Wyoming, 3% in Montana, 1% in Idaho
• Highest Point: 11,358 feet (3,462 m; Eagle Peak)
• Lowest Point: 5,282 feet (1,610 m; Reese Creek)
• Larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined
• About 5% covered by water; 15% by grassland; and 80% by forests

PRECIPITATION

• Annual precipitation ranges from 10 inches (26 cm) at the north boundary to 80 inches (205 cm) in the southwest corner. Learn more about weather in Yellowstone.

TEMPERATURE

• Record High: 99ºF (37ºC), 2002 (Mammoth Hot Springs)
• Record Low: -66ºF (-54ºC), 1933 (West Entrance, Riverside Station)
• Average daily at Mammoth Hot Springs: January: 9ºF (-13ºC); July: 80ºF (27ºC)
• Learn more about weather in Yellowstone.

YELLOWSTONE LAKE

• Elevation: 7,733 feet above sea level
• 131.7 square miles of surface area (341.1 km2)
• 141 miles of shoreline (227 km)
• 20 miles north to south (32 km)
• 14 miles east to west (22 km)
• Average depth: 138 feet (42 m)
• Maximum depth: 430 feet (131 m)
• Learn more about Yellowstone Lake

GEOLOGY

• The park sits on top of an active volcano.
• One of the world’s largest calderas at 45 x 30 miles (72 x 48 km)
• 1,000–3,000 earthquakes annually
• More than 10,000 hydrothermal features
• More than 500 active geysers (more than half the world’s geysers)
• About 290 waterfalls
• Tallest waterfall near a road: Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River at 308 feet (94 m)

WILDLIFE

• 67 species of mammals, including seven species of native ungulates and two species of bear
• 285 species of birds (150 nesting)
• 16 species of fish (five nonnative)
• More than seven aquatic invasive species (three having significant detrimental effect)
• Five species of amphibians
• Six species of reptiles
• Two threatened species: Canada lynx, grizzly bears

VEGETATION

• Nine species of conifers (more than 80% of forest is lodgepole pine)
• 1,000+ species of native flowering species (3 endemic)
• 225 species of invasive plants
• 186 species of lichens

CULTURAL RESOURCES

• 26 associated Native American tribes
• More than 1,800 known archeological sites
• More than 300 ethnographic resources (animals, plants, sites)
• 25 sites, landmarks, and districts on the National Register of Historic Places; many more eligible for listing
• One National Historic Trail (Nez Perce)
• More than 900 historic buildings
• More than 720,000 museum items, including 30 historic vehicles
• Millions of archived documents
• More than 20,000 books (many rare), manuscripts, periodicals

FACILITIES

• Eleven visitor centers, museums, and contact stations
• Nine hotels/lodges (2,000+ hotel rooms/cabins)
• Seven NPS-operated campgrounds (450+ sites)
• Five concession-operated campgrounds (1,700+ sites)
• More than 1,500 buildings
• 52 picnic areas and one marina

ROADS & TRAILS

• Five park entrances
• 466 miles (750 km) of road (310 miles [499 km] paved)
• More than 15 miles (24 km) of boardwalk, including 13 self-guiding trails
• Approximately 1,000 miles (1,609 km) of backcountry hiking trails
• 92 trailheads
• 301 backcountry campsites

Happy Valentine’s Day!  So where did this tradition come from?  It turns out it appears to have come from the birds!  No, really!  My innate curiosity got the best of me so I was curious as to how a guy who got beheaded got associated with romance! The following account is from the Catholic Education Organization¹

“In the early martyrologies, three different St. Valentines are mentioned, all sharing Feb. 14 for a feast day. Unfortunately, the historical record is sparse. The first St. Valentine was a priest and physician in Rome. He along with St. Marius and his family comforted the martyrs during the persecution of Emperor Claudius II, the Goth. Eventually, St. Valentine was also arrested, condemned to death for his faith, beaten with clubs, and finally beheaded on Feb. 14, AD 270. He was buried on the Flaminian Way. Later, Pope Julius I (333-356) built a basilica at the site which preserved St. Valentine’s tomb. Archeological digs in the 1500s and 1800s have found evidence of the tomb of St. Valentine. However, in the thirteenth century, his relics were transferred to the Church of Saint Praxedes near the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where they remain today. Also, a small church was built near the Flaminian Gate of Rome which is now known as the Porta del Popolo but was called in the 12th century “the Gate of St. Valentine,” as noted by the early British historian William Somerset (also known as William of Malmesbury, d. 1143), who ranks after St. Bede in authority.

The second St. Valentine was the Bishop of Interamna (now Terni, located about 60 miles from Rome). Under the orders of Prefect Placidus, he too was arrested, scourged, and decapitated, again suffering persecution during the time of Emperor Claudius II.

The third St. Valentine suffered martyrdom in Africa with several companions. However, nothing further is known about this saint. In all, these men, each named St. Valentine, showed heroic love for the Lord and His Church.

The popular customs of showing love and affection on St. Valentine’s Day is almost a coincidence with the feast day of the saint: During the Medieval Age, a common belief in England and France was that birds began to pair on Feb.14, “half-way through the second month of the year.” Chaucer wrote in his “Parliament of Foules” (in Old English): “For this was on Seynt Valentyne’s day, When every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.” For this reason, the day was dedicated to “lovers” and prompted the sending of letters, gifts, or other signs of affection.

Another literary example of St. Valentine’s Day remembrances is found in Dame Elizabeth Brews “Paston Letters” (1477), where she writes to the suitor, John Paston, of her daughter, Margery: “And, cousin mine, upon Monday is St. Valentine’s day and every bird chooseth himself a mate, and if it like you to come on Thursday night, and make provision that you may abide till then, I trust to God that ye shall speak to my husband and I shall pray that we may bring the matter to a conclusion.” In turn, Margery wrote to John: “Unto my right well beloved Valentine John Paston, Squyer, be this bill delivered. Right reverend and worshipful and my right well beloved Valentine, I recommend me unto you, full heartily desiring to hear of your welfare, which I beseech Almighty God long for to preserve until His pleasure and your heart’s desire.” While speaking of the amorous flavor of Valentine’s Day, no mention is made of the saint.

While it seems that the exchange of “valentines” is more the result of secular custom rather than the memory of St. Valentine, and that the celebration has been further paganized with cupids and the like, there is a Christian message that should be remembered. The love of our Lord, depicted beautifully in the image of His most Sacred Heart, is a sacrificial, self-less, and unconditional love. Such is the love that each Christian is called to express in his own life, for God and neighbor. Clearly, St. Valentine no matter which one showed such a love, bearing witness to the faith in his dedication as a priest and in the offering of his own life in martyrdom. On this Valentine’s day, looking to the example of this great saint, each person should offer again his love to the Lord, for only by doing so can he properly love those who are entrusted to his care and any other neighbor. Each person should again pledge his love to those loved ones, praying for their intentions, promising fidelity to them, and thanking them for their love in return. Never forget Jesus said, “This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:12-13). St. Valentine fulfilled this command, and may we do the same.”

And that, my friends, is how we got to the place where Americans spend around $20 BILLION dollars on Valentine’s Day every single year!  Happy Valentine’s Day!

1. History of St. Valentine (catholiceducation.org)

It was a beautiful morning and, although I usually don’t head up to Bridger Bowl on the weekends, I thought I’d give it a shot this morning.  Fortunately, I am an early riser by nature so I zipped up there early and was able to park close.  (I really don’t like having to schlep my skis and walk in ski boots any great distance!).  I got all geared up and was in the lift line when they started loading.  I was probably in the first 20 people to head up the mountain.  I was concerned about the snow (or lack thereof!) but it really wasn’t too bad.  There were a few icy spots on some of the runs and you definitely had to keep your eye open for the occasional soil poking through the snow but overall, it was not bad.  It really didn’t get that crowded either.  I rarely had to wait more than a minute in any lift line I got in.  I got in a dozen nice runs this morning and all limbs (and joints, real and artificial) are intact!  The snow started to get a bit soft and heavy around noon so I decided to call it a day. I heard that there’s a big foot ball game today so I thought I’d go home and get ready for that. 

We definitely need more snow.  I think it’s supposed to snow Tuesday and Wednesday – it figures.  Tuesday I’m driving down to West Yellowstone and on Wednesday I will be spending the better part of the day on a snowmobile in Yellowstone Park! 

Enjoy the pics of Bridger Bowl.  The weather was spectacular!  Go Rams!

It is difficult to get a definitive count of how many Americans are ‘expats’ and living outside the United States.  However, most articles I’ve read seem to converge on a figure of about 9 million.   That is equivalent to the entire population of New York City or, in terms closer to home, about 9 times the population of Montana.  It is like the entire populations of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado moving out of the country. 

These people are scattered across well over 100 different countries.  The largest American expat population is in Mexico.  Again, definitive figures are hard to come by, but the figure seems to be around 1.5 million Americans who have chosen to make Mexico their home.  They are scattered throughout the country but there are robust expat populations in a number of Mexican cities including Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende, and Monterey to name a few. 

People move overseas for multiple reasons.  Given the globalization of the economy, many people work for international companies and are assigned to overseas offices or projects.  I was living in Kuwait because the engineering consulting company I worked for won a contract with the Kuwaiti government to do a detailed study of Kuwait Bay prior to the construction of a large desalinization plant.  Kuwait Bay has a large shrimping industry and the government wanted to ensure they were not going to adversely impact this industry by discharging effluent from the desalinization plant into the bay.   We had a staff of 15 to 20 people who lived in Kuwait for a year and a half while we did this study.

When I was managing programs associated with the U-2 surveillance aircraft, I had people scattered all over the world wherever U-2s were operating.  Some of those were relatively short-term assignments, but in some cases, such as in Korea, we had people stationed there for years. 

The other big contingent of American expats are those that choose to retire overseas, often times, driven by financial concerns.  There are many places in the world where retirees, who are often on a relatively fixed income, can live a very nice life including having access to high quality healthcare for far less than an equivalent life style would cost them in the United States. 

And then there are people like me who are thinking about moving overseas just for the hell of it – just for the adventure and the quality of life.  There are many places in the world where the ‘quality of life’ is far more important than the rat race mentality that seems to have taken over life in the US.  In the US, a ‘good life’ seems to be measured by how much money you can accumulate and how many possessions you have.  I know from my experience in Europe, a ‘good life’ there seems to revolve around how much time you can spend with family and friends and doing the things you enjoy.  I have heard that the same is true in places like Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama. 

Most Americans living abroad choose to retain their US citizenship.  However, a growing number of expats are looking to renounce their US citizenship or establish dual citizenship and get a second passport.  One of the big reasons some people are considering renouncing their US citizenship is because of the US tax laws.  The US is one of the few countries in the world which taxes your worldwide income.  For example, if I were to buy a condo/home in Portugal (or anywhere else) and rent it out during tourist season, even though that rent would get paid in Euros and deposited into an overseas bank, that income would have to be reported to the US IRS as income and, as such, would be subject to US taxes.  There are things like the Foreign Earned Income credit and other things to try to mitigate having to pay double taxes (in this case, Portugal and the US) but the reporting requirements and complications add a layer of bureaucracy that some people are not willing to deal with.  Their solution is to become a citizen of a new adopted country where the reporting requirements are not so onerous.

While I am not contemplating renouncing my US citizenship, I certainly wouldn’t mind having a second passport.  I kind of like that idea.  The fact is, during part of my career when I was traveling extensively, I actually had two valid US passports – it’s legal.  I was traveling so much that sometimes I would have to send my passport to a consulate/embassy to get a visa and I still needed a valid passport to travel on while that was happening.  So, I was able to have two valid US passports.  Although, having passports from two different countries seems more appealing these days for any one of a number of reasons.  But, alas, that will have to wait.  First, I have to find somewhere over the pond to park my butt for a while.  And right now, that could be just about anywhere – although North Korea is probably not on the short list!

February 10, 2022

Although I am planning to go ‘kick the tires’ on Portugal first, I have looked at other places – France, Costa Rica and Panama to name a few.  I know that my daughter, Jordan, is rooting for Europe but there are things about Costa Rica and Panama that probably make them worth a look.  I am not a big ‘hot and humid’ kind of guy so that gives me a bit of pause but I know that you can find places at higher elevations in each of those places that will mitigate that somewhat.  On the plus side, they are very easy to get to.  San Jose, Costa Rica is a 5-hour flight to JFK in New York.

Whatever happens and wherever I end up, I read something today from a lady who moved with her husband and two young sons to Costa Rica 4 ½ years ago that pretty much sums up my attitude going into this.  After stating that she always gets questions along the lines of, “Do you like it here?” and “Will you stay here?” from the tourists and others she encounters she wrote the following:

“I believe down to my toes that nothing is guaranteed and nowhere is perfect. But if this doesn’t end up being our forever home, I would prefer to be sitting with my husband on our front porch reminiscing about that amazing time we lived in Costa Rica, rather than never having dared this adventure at all.

Costa Rica is beautiful and a special kind of wonder. Life is slower here, and people are friendly, and when you live in a tourist town, everyone is having the time of their life. And isn’t that what life is for? To have the time of your life?

So, if you’re thinking about moving to Costa Rica, my advice is simple: Do it. Worst-case scenario, you’ll have the best vacation of your life. Best-case scenario, you’ll live in Costa Rica.”

For me, you could substitute “Country X” for Costa Rica and it would pretty much be applicable to the other places I am looking at.  As I have stated previously, the question for me is not “Why?”, it’s really “Why not?”

I have had a couple of people ask how I went about planning this trip to Portugal given that I’ve never been to Portugal and know zero Portuguese.  So, I’m just going to outline what I did.  I’m sure there are other ways to do this but this is the path that I followed.

When I first started thinking about this, I subscribed to International Living Magazine.  Reading about other people’s accounts of moving abroad to various countries lets you know that many others have done it and it is eminently doable.  The magazine provided access to resources that I found useful.  There is a whole series on ‘Portugal 101’ which provides information on all things Portugal including a number of videos discussing various parts of the country.  They even have sample itineraries for exploratory trips depending upon how much time you have.  I wanted to see much of the country so I am planning to be over there about 3 ½ weeks. 

Although you could probably get by using public transportation – busses, trains, etc. – I chose to reserve a car except when I am in Lisbon. Lisbon has good public transportation and a car, like in most large cities is more of a pain in the butt.  Once I leave Lisbon, I will be driving.  I’ve driven in a lot of different countries so I figure I can manage.  [If I can spend about 5 weeks driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road in New Zealand, I can hopefully manage Portugal].  However, one of the tips that I learned in my Portugal 101 package was that some rental companies will not rent to drivers over 70!  I am 70 so now on my ‘to do’ list it to call and make sure that I will have no issues when I pick up my car! 

Once I sketched out a rough itinerary based somewhat on the suggestions provided in the package, I got busy on Expedia looking for accommodations.  It’s possible to find relatively affordable places to stay.  I am staying at hotels everywhere except when I am down in the Algarve in the south of Portugal.  There I booked an Airbnb for 8 days in Lagos, which will be my base of operations in the Algarve.  I made sure all of my bookings are refundable just in case of another COVID lockup. 

As far as the airfare, I knew that I was going to be flying out of and into JFK so I found that it was less expensive for me to book a round trip ticket from JFK to London Heathrow (LHR) and then buy two one-way tickets on the Portuguese national airline, TAP, to and from Lisbon from London. 

I’m sure there are other people who would have done things differently, but that’s what I did and so, as of now, everything is booked, and the countdown clock is ticking.  If, for whatever reason, I find that Portugal isn’t for me – at least I’ll know, and then it’s on to the next adventure!

Continuing along with my post yesterday, I’m sure some people might wonder why I chose to attend a conference on international living as opposed to just getting on a plane and heading off to some exotic locale.  That is an excellent question, particularly since, as I’ve said before, I’ve lived overseas before.  There are really two answers.

First of all, as we all know, the world has been a bit shut down the last couple of years due to COVID so things that we might have once done have an added layer of complication now.  In addition, I thought it would be a good opportunity to talk to and hear from people who live in a number of different countries over the course of a weekend rather than buying many different plane tickets and heading off around the world.  Further, there are a lot of things to consider when thinking about moving full or part time overseas, especially when you are retired, and this conference provided an opportunity to hear from some people about all kinds of different things from banking overseas to how Medicare works (or not!) overseas and what the alternatives are.  All of that turned out to be true.

Secondly, and in some respects, this might be the more important motivation, it was like a first step.  This is something I’ve been thinking about for a while and by making the commitment to attend this conference, it was a step towards actually doing something.  It’s kind of like when I used to run and do triathlons.  I always found the best way to train was to sign up for some event.  When I sign up for long distance bicycle ride or a race, it provides the motivation to get out the door and put in the miles.  Once you take that first step of commitment, it helps to overcome the inertia. 

One of the things that had been of concern to me as I was contemplating some of these exploratory trips was health care while abroad.  I won’t have established residency anywhere yet and Medicare doesn’t work outside the United States, except in very rare circumstances.  I talked to an insurance professional at the conference who specializes in overseas medical policies and poof! – problem solved.  He provided me a quote for $265/year that will cover me while I am traveling out of the country for a period of up to 70 days multiple times a year.  Every time I come back to the US, the clock resets.  The policy would cover me in case of an accident or serious illness (including COVID) with a deductible of $200.  So, if I get hit by a bus while crossing a street in some little village in Portugal or anywhere else, the policy will pay to get me to the appropriate treatment facility and take care of me until I am able to be discharged. 

One of the other advantages of going to a conference like this was to just get a list of resources available to help and ask questions of.  Almost every country that has a robust America/Canadian expat community has user groups on Facebook, etc.  It is highly likely that whatever issue or question you have, there are multiple people who have already dealt with the issue and can give you some pointers.  I have the names of groups in France and Portugal that I will be tapping into as this little adventure unfolds.  There are lots of people out there who are willing to help if you just ask.

I will be the first to admit that ‘asking for help’ has never been my strong suit.  I am not an extrovert by nature and am probably one of the world’s worst minglers at social gatherings.  That said, I know it is something I need to work on and am making progress.  While in Las Vegas, I was walking around the Strip one night and decided it was time to jump back on the monorail and go back to my hotel.  I started walking around the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino trying to find my way back to the monorail stop and was not having great success.  I finally walked up an information booth and uttered words that in my prior life I would have never said.  I said, “I’m lost, where is the monorail?”  Two major milestones – admitting I was lost!!! And asking for help!!!  There is hope!

There are all kinds of questions that I am going to have to wrestle with over the next few months.  Where do I want to go?  Should I sell my house in Bozeman or lease it out?  Do I want to live overseas full time or part time?  And right now, I don’t know the answer to any of those questions.   I could, after all, just stay in my house in Bozeman and not go anywhere.  The fact is, I heard one of the speakers make the statement that 30% of the people who move overseas come back to the US within 1 year.  I can believe that.  That could be me.  On the other hand, that means that 70% of the people who move overseas, stay overseas!  That could be me. 

What’s the worst thing that can happen?  I go rent an apartment or house somewhere for a few months and decide that living abroad just isn’t for me and I come back to the States.  In my mind, the more undesirable scenario is sitting on my deck in Bozeman five years from now wondering what might have been and uttering that dreaded phrase, “I wish I would have…”  Always living inside your comfort zone is called existence.  Stepping outside your comfort zone from time to time is called adventure.  I think I’m up for a little adventure!  Stay tuned.

In preparation for getting ready to go to Portugal in a couple of months I thought I would begin to resurrect this blog.  I’m back!

I just returned from a conference in Las Vegas sponsored by the International Living organization.  International Living is a monthly publication that was founded in 1979 and since that time has grown to an organization with writers spread all over the world.  In addition to the monthly publication, they sponsor conferences, meetings, publish area specific guides and have associated organizations and individuals who specialize in various specific areas such as real estate, offshore banking, and other topics of interest to those contemplating a life overseas.

The conference in Las Vegas had speakers from various countries ranging from Mexico, France, Portugal, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Panama and beyond.  All of these individuals are actually ex-pats living in these various places so they can talk with some authority about the pros and cons of moving to and living in various places.  Many of these individuals have lived in various countries before deciding to settle in their current locale.  As one individual put it, they viewed themselves as ‘serial relocators.’  The bottom line is that there are many options out there for someone looking to spend some time overseas whether that be to move permanently or just spend several months a year in a different place.

Many will ask the question, “Why would you move overseas?”  There are many different answers to that question.  Many people, often retirees, choose to move overseas because of economics.  They find that they can live much better and on less money than if they were to stay in the United States.  Housing in some of these markets is far more affordable than in the States whether you rent or buy.  Healthcare is another huge factor in many people’s decision.  Many of these countries have world class health care that is far more affordable than in the States once you establish residency.  And residency can often be established in a relatively short amount of time.

The woman who spoke about Spain related how she picked up and moved to Spain when she was 70 years old and that was five years ago.  She now lives in Madrid on a budget of $2,500 or so per month and is having the time of her life.  She said that one of her only regrets is that she didn’t do it sooner.   She feels perfectly safe walking around Madrid, has no car because the public transportation is so good and inexpensive, and has a very active life.  And, if you have ever been to Spain, you will know the food is outstanding.  What’s not to like?

For me, I have been fortunate enough to have lived overseas before – once in France and once in Kuwait.  And, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to a lot of different countries.  Each of those experiences have been enriching in some way.  Some of the places I’ve been have been better than others but I wouldn’t trade any of it.  The people, the cultures, the food, the experiences – it all just enriches one’s life in my humble opinion.

Many people ask about ‘safety’ in some of these countries.  While it is a given that it is always incumbent upon anyone to be aware of their surroundings, the fact is, many of these countries are far safer than the United States.  For example, Portugal is ranked the 4^th safest country in the world – the United States ranks 122!! 

Another thing that concerns people about moving overseas is being far away from friends and family.  My response to that is, “That is what airplanes are for.”  And in today’s world with Zoom being used regularly, a person can keep in touch quite easily.  Right now, my daughter is in Boston and it takes almost the same amount of time and effort for me to get from Bozeman to Boston and is does to get from Europe to Boston. 

Most of these countries have solid infrastructures and robust internet services.  You can operate from almost anywhere.  In fact, many of these countries actually have special visas for ‘digital nomads’ who choose to work remotely.

For me, the conference was a weekend well spent.  Yes, there was a lot of ‘fluff’ in the conference but I did learn some things that will be of value to me in the months and years ahead.  In addition, I have a lot of contacts that will be helpful.  I have the contact info for the correspondent from Portugal and will try to have lunch with she and her husband when I’m there in a couple of months so I can further pick their brains.

There are many reasons that I am contemplating moving abroad but I just look as it as another adventure.  I don’t know if I will plant in one place or just become a nomad.   It’s a big world.  It’s like a buffet.  And, instead of asking the question, “Why?”, it seems to me the better question is, “Why not?”  Stay tuned.

I have decided to take a break from posting this blog for a while.  I don’t feel like I have anything new to add to what I’ve already written many times, i.e., Trump and his acolytes are a huge, ongoing danger to our democracy!  I feel like I keep repeating myself so I think it’s time to take a little breather.

Before I temporarily ride off into the sunset, however, I do have one final, non-Trump related thought to provide some food for thought.   It’s been all over the news the last few days that Aaron Rodgers, star quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, tested positive for COVID.  This was particularly news worthy after it came to light that he had essentially mislead (or lied) to people when he said he was ‘immunized’ when, in fact, he had not gotten one of the approved vaccines for COVID. 

Colin Kaepernick’s career was ruined after he had the audacity to take a knee during the National Anthem to protest against social injustice.  Let me remind you, regardless of your view on this, Kaepernick had the right to do this.  Just like the First Amendment protects the rights of people to burn the flag, Kaepernick had the absolute right to do what he did.  He broke no law and endangered no other people.  He was simply exercising his First Amendment rights.   You don’t have to agree with what he did, but he clearly had the right to do it.

What will happen to Aaron Rodgers?  He will likely get fined but that will be it.  His career will continue to flourish.   And yet, his dishonesty endangered people around him not to mention that people of his stature and with his platform could make a huge positive impact on getting people vaccinated if he were to use that voice.  Instead, the anti-vax crowd and Conservative media will no doubt jump to Rodgers defense under the guise of him simply exercising his rights.

Colin Kaepernick, a black man, was drummed out of the NFL for exercising his right, which endangered no one.  Aaron Rodgers, a white man, will likely get a slap on the wrist for exercising his right, which endangered the lives of countless others.  Think about it.

In addition to thinking my writing has become a bit stale, the holiday season is coming up and I will be busy.  I will be back in New York for a week during Thanksgiving and then my daughter, Jordan, and her mom will be out here for a couple of weeks for Christmas. 

In hopes that COVID can be kept somewhat at bay next year I’m filling up my calendar with more adventures and those will hopefully give me something new to write about.  Or maybe, when I have a fresh brain after the first of the year, I’ll begin posting again.  We’ll see.

I bought new skis and intend to spend some time this winter at Bridger Bowl, the local ski resort, and maybe even venture down to Big Sky once or twice.  The plan is to keep the knees healthy and myself out of the ER so we’ll see how that works out.

I just booked a snowmobile afternoon when Jordan is out here and hope to do a snowmobile trip into Yellowstone some time after the first of the year.  That has been on the bucket list for a while now so I figured there is no time like the present.

I am in the throes of rebooking my trip to Portugal which I am planning to take in April/May.  And when I return to New York from that excursion, it will be time for Jordan’s year-late graduation ceremony from NYU.  It was cancelled last year due to COVID but they are holding it this year in Yankee Stadium so that should be fun.  It will probably be the only time in my life I will make it to Yankee Stadium.

I am hoping to take another motorcycle trip next summer but the destination has yet to be determined.  I had a lot of fun last time so I think I might try it again.  Maybe I’ll get brave enough to head down to SoCal.  We’ll see.

And, I have already signed up for a bicycle trip around the Big Island of Hawaii next October.  It’s another self-contained trip, i.e., we carry all of our gear and we camp, but it’s only 10 days so I’m going to go for it.  How bad can it be to camp on beaches in Hawaii (unless of course there is tsunami and then all bets are off!)?  The daily mileage isn’t too onerous but there will be a lot of climbing so it will provide an incentive to get my ass in better shape. 

It’s shaping up to be an interesting and fun year.  I’ll re-engage at some point but only when I feel like I have something new to add or an adventure to report on.  In the meantime, I’m toying with spending my time at the keyboard writing something a bit more creative.  I did write one book a couple of years ago that was solely for my daughter, and although it was a challenging endeavor to write the 150 pages, I did enjoy it.  I’m thinking it might be time to try again, albeit in a different vein. 

I hope everyone has a great holiday season and I’ll be back down the road.  Stay safe and don’t let the crazies get you down.