The Never Retire newsletter will be on the road a couple of times in the coming months.
We’ll spend most of next week camping in the Sequoia National Forest in inland Central California. Because we likely won’t have a signal, I’ll report back on that trip after the fact.
We’ll spend a week in June, staying at my daughter’s apartment in the heart of San Francisco. In addition to chronicling daily urban life there, we’re going to do the 16-mile crosstown trail that takes you across the entire city, including parts I don’t recall ever walking through in the seven years that I lived there.
I’m not sure about the rest of 2024. Probably some low key, local stuff.
Because (!)—
In the second half of this year, we focus on preparing for the move (e.g., getting rid of most of our stuff!) and assembling our visa paperwork and particulars. Of course, I will cover literally every aspect of the entire process—practical, theoretical, emotional.
In 2025, the newsletter will really be on the road.
You’ll get near-daily installments on how we’re settling into life in Spain—logistically, practically and culturally. And, once we settle in, play-by-play on all of our anticipated travels around Europe and the world.
It all starts in Valencia, Spain.
As I started to explain over the weekend, Valencia appears to be our dream city—from a city planning meets quality of life perspective.
When we travel we tend to avoid major tourist attractions or only casually pass through them. I’d rather spend all day cafe hopping—spending hours at the best ones—than standing among a herd of sheep at (insert over-Instagrammed tourist attraction here).
That said—
While we didn’t take the official tour, we got up close with the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It was such a surreal experience that it gave me chills. It even made me a little emotional. To stand in front of such a well-known and stunningly gorgeous landmark brought up all types of feelings.
Mainly—and as much as I hate to use this overused buzzword—gratefulness. My background as a kid did nothing to portend the future I ended up living and am living now. And grateful just to be with Melisse looking at this structure that was there, but didn’t feel like it was real.
It was surreal.
I’ll always remember that. I’ll be back. But, ultimately, it’s a one-off surreal experience.
We’re about to walk into an experience that’s likely to feel surreal on a daily basis when we move to Spain. And this brings up all sorts of feelings and questions.
I wonder if you have ever had—or are having—an extended surreal experience? Like a pinch yourself everyday to make sure this is all real type of existence?
If so, continue the conversation in the comments after you finish reading my conversation starter!
I realize the potential pitfalls of anticipating this. They're part of the feelings and questions that come up.