Choose Your Adventure

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This blog post is in response to Natalie’s 10 Day Freedom Plan Blog Challenge Day 8

Well, this is an easy one, since our life is generally one big adventure these days! Today, we pack up camp after nearly three weeks in Oaxaca. We say goodbye to new friends, and challenge ourselves and our limited Spanish by heading to Walmart to send a Moneygram to Guatemala!

Just making the drive is an adventure all it’s own, as we are finding Oaxaca to be one of our very least favorite towns to drive in. The road planners were surely smoking something with weaving lane changes and intersections with six or eight entry points. Arrogant bus drivers and aggressive collectivos nearly cut us off repeatedly. This will be a challenging adventure, but an adventure nonetheless.

Next up, we head to the hills at Hierve de Aqua, a remarkable set of mineral springs, set on a mountain ledge, with amazing views. The “camping” there is rustic, with merely a set of bathrooms available to use, but the site is powerful. Once the day users leave, we are hoping to have the place to ourselves, under a full moon.

We will not have internet, so I won’t be sharing on Instagram today… but look for photos to come soon! Now go out and enjoy your own adventure!

Guanajuato…not

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I had been anticipating our arrival in Guanajuato for what seemed like forever. The years spent preparing often meant hours, generally in my cubicle (shhh) poring over others trips. Hours reading of others adventures, beyond anxious for the time when I would be the one living out my dreams on the road.

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The Perfection of Imperfection

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This blog post is in response to Natalie’s 10 Day Freedom Plan Blog Challenge Day 7

Imperfection! What a wonderful thing to write about. It’s so much easier than trying to deal with perfection.

Today Natalie asked me to think about what one imperfect thing I can do each day to break the cycle of procrastination. While I don’t consider myself a perfectionist, I am certainly on the anal side of organization, and in the past have often found myself using the excuse of house cleaning, facebook, or reorganizing to procrastinate.

Going forward, I am going to focus on my imperfection on what serves me well; yoga.

In addition to incorporating the Pomodoro theory into my productivity plan, when faced with procrastination, I will spend five minutes focusing on my, very imperfect, yoga poses. I will focus on my breath, find my zen, and refresh my soul, all while perhaps tightening up my ass a bit more!

They say that it takes 15 days of consistent behavior to create a habit. This 10 days has given incentive to actively write each day. Going forward I am so excited to incorporate all of the tips garnered in this Freedom Plan Blog into each day well lived.

 

Finding My Tribe

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This blog post is in response to Natalie’s 10 Day Freedom Plan Blog Challenge Day 6

My Tribe. Day 6 of Natalie’s 10 Day Freedom Plan challenge is about something I consider essential. Not just to life on the freedom plan, but to life in general. Just consider the Zig Ziglar quote that  “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with”. Now imagine how incredibly important those five people are!

I must admit, the past year was extremely challenging for me when it came to my tribe. While many of our friends rallied around us, perhaps considering us a bit off our rockers, but nonetheless thrilled we were chasing our dreams. Sadly, a good number of others, including family members, remained unsupportive, making the challenges of selling it all and leaving behind what we loved that much more difficult.

Luckily, we got through that first bleak page, and are forging ahead, finding a new tribe. Oh, I am still loving my old tribe and email daily with many of them. Although I can no longer pop in for dinner, I feel as close as ever. They are true friends for life.

But recently, our greatest inspiration is coming from our new tribe; those other hearty souls out on the road, living a life less ordinary. In the end, it is always the people that are what is important; those we leave behind, and those we meet along the way. Connecting with new friends in person makes it all the sweeter.

In the next two weeks we will be reconnecting with several of our tribe that we last saw in Baja, SIX months ago already, and greeting some new faces. However, in order to truly embrace Natalie’s challenge for today, I need to look look outside my overlander community to think about who I truly consider mentors.

Those people who have been out there doing it, living the life nomadic, making a location independent lifestyle work. For one of my fondest dreams is to meet them somewhere along the road, and thank them for being such incredible inspirations to me.

First up, I would need to mention Simon & Erin from Never Ending Voyage. I have been following their blog for years, loving their style of blogging and the fact that they had been on the road for years, living all over the globe. They fund their travels in several ways, but most recently with their amazing Trail Wallet app that we have used for nine months. We love it for keeping us on track and budget, even when it yells at us for overspending!

Secondly, Amy & Andrew from Our Big Fat Travel Adventure. They, too, started out on an extended journey, and are now hell bent on making road life work longterm by using a variety of income streams. Although I believe they are a bit ahead of us in the game, they are probably the online friends closest to us in terms of where they are in making it work.

Third, Tony & Steph of 20YearsHence. We have also been in contact with them for years. After their round the world journey, they came back for their pups and hit the road to Mexico. Now living in Playa del Carmen, they have been endless sources of information and inspiration, and we can not wait to meet them when we are in Playa the end of the year!

When I finally meet these three, inspiring, couples, I will first simply thank them for having the courage to leave their tribe at home, to find a new tribe out in the world. Then, if I had but one question to ask them, I would ask something I believe I already know the answer to; Do you think it was worth it? If they had to do it all over again, would they toss societies constraints aside and create a life less ordinary? Well, that is two questions, isn’t it?

Having been in contact with all of them over the last few years. I am sure they would proclaim loudly that YES, it is all worth it. Worth the stress, the challenges, the loss of an original tribe. All in pursuit of a life lived on their terms.

The Productivity Plan

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This blog post is in response to Natalie’s 10 Day Freedom Plan Blog Challenge Day 5

Today our blogging challenge is to simply list how our day would look if we are in our most productive state.

The main point I really want to embrace, is an idea Natalie talks about in her video, the art of Pomodoro productivity.

In the next few days we will finally be leaving Oaxaca, Mexico to follow the road south, into Guatemala, as it were. We are renting two different cottages on Lake Attilan and spending a good couple of months embracing the climate, and focusing a lot of work to some pretty major changes we will be making on our business.

We had planned to go in, much as we did in Puerto Vallarta, with a relatively set schedule~ really following my perfect day description from day 3 of the challenge.

What I learned about from Natalie today sounds fantastically more productive, and not nearly so intimidating!

The art of Pomodoro involves making a list of your top 2-3 things you need to work on that day. You set your timer for 25 minutes, and focus solely on the first goal for 25 minutes. At the end of that time, you get up, stretch, and pet the dog, anything else for a couple of minutes. Then you set your timer for 25 minutes again, and off you go. This continues for either your set amount of work day or, of course, until you accomplish the work for the day.

I am excited and inspired. I can’t wait to get started. I am so incredibly focused on our plan for this next couple of months, all while looking forward to admiring the astonishing vistas of the area, I simply can’t sleep through the night anymore. This is what my focus day looks like…

  • Waken with our natural internal clock and head out for a good walk with Aspen, coffee traveler in hand.
  • Yoga… an essential to stretch out AND to get that Zen in place.
  • Breakfast admiring the views from our lakefront patio.
  • Rather than block out the 9am-1pm timeframe, we are absolutely going to put the principles of Pomodoro in place.
  • Lunch break. Play with Aspen. Enjoy lunch with a view.
  • I suspect most days, work will, once again, take over our afternoons. Generally 4pm is our quitting hour and productivity fades. I’m excited to see how the new way of working increases the time spent at the laptop.
  • Walk into town to enjoy happy hour, pick up something for dinner at the market, and get Aspen some more sniff time.
  • Dinner and a typical evening. Cards, movies, reading. We are SUPER excited that several overlander friends will be in the village at the same time as we are so our social life is about ready to jump into top gear!

I believe ALL of the principles already discussed in this 10 Day Freedom Plan Blog Challenge come into play. Without the plan and the why worked out, how can anyone expect to be willing to put in the work required? A productivity work plan seems like just the thing

My Superpowers

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This blog post is in response to Natalie’s 10 Day Freedom Plan Blog Challenge Day 4

Doesn’t everyone wish they had a superpower? I know, I do. Today, my fondest desire would have been the ability to make the internet magically work during the 4-5 hours it was down!

Alas, it doesn’t work quite like that.

Today, Natalie challenged us to think about our superpowers. Not in the manner of comic book superheroes, but in our real world. Those things that not only are we good at, perhaps even that come naturally, but those which we also enjoy. As she pointed out, there are plenty of rich people out there doing jobs they don’t enjoy, but that bring them a lot of money. That is NOT what the Freedom Plan is all about. True freedom requires you also enjoy the work that brings you the reward.

She suggested we not only consider what we consider our superpowers, but to ask those closest to us what they think. Her thoughts being that we may be obtuse to our best powers. Alas, due to the extended internet break ;( and the late hour of the day… I only asked myself and Jim.

Not surprisingly… we came up with a nearly identical list!

My, really our, goals moving forward to a location independent life, were put into stark relief recently when we had an inspiring, and eye-opening hour-long skype call with Alp Turan. He was a master at asking where we wanted to get and what was important to us, and then clarifying for us what our future looked like. Although we both indicated the same end game, because we expressed them differently we didn’t even realize how meshed our ideals had become.

Without further ado….

Superpower # 1: Travel Knowledge. I worked in the travel industry for over 25 years. I have worked for travel agencies, tour operators, and wholesale tour companies, spanning the globe. I have traveled extensively; at last count 43 countries on five continents. I have overlanded the United State, New Zealand, Australia, and East-South Africa. While I won’t claim to know everything… I know quite a bit. In addition, travel is my life. This current, epic, road trip down the PanAmerican highway is currently in it’s ninth month and we’ve only made it as far as Oaxaca, Mexico. I am relishing slow travel, and truly getting to know the places I am spending my time.

Superpower # 2: Food. It’s pretty obvious if you follow us, that I am a total foodie. At breakfast, I am already considering dinner. By lunch, thinking of the next day. I thrive on huge variety (easier to come by in Oregon than here in Mexico) and at any given time will throw International Week into the mix and make daily menus from countries as diverse as Lebanese to South African to Thai. I love to cook. Love to Eat. And love to share food with those around me. If you happen to be in the area let me know and I’ll cook you up a mean Dutch-oven dinner!

Superpower # 3: Inspiring others to Travel Often~ Eat Well, the byline of our blog. The downside of a nomadic life is those you leave behind. Our readers have become a big part of our lives, our tribe. I thrive on getting a random email from a new reader, saying that my description of a town or even has inspired them to visit for themselves. I eagerly search our social media for the comments regarding a particular food picture or destination I’ve pictured, and wanting more information. I believe any time you feel passionate about a subject, and are willing to wholeheartedly share that passion, amazing connections happen.

And with that, it’s time to whip up some dinner (Mexican Spaghetti!) and cuddle in with my family for movie night. Eager to head off to tour the ruins of Monte Alban tomorrow morning to feed this passion I feel to the very depths of my soul.

A Perfect Day

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This blog post is in response to Natalie’s 10 Day Freedom Plan Blog Challenge Day 3

As I listened to Natalie describe today’s challenge, I felt a surge of excitement. I, too, have often spent time focusing on my perfect day. Even more exciting is the fact that, in large part, these last nine months have been pretty darn close to perfect!

It’s no new news to any of our consistent readers to hear my perfect day always begins by waking up seeing Jim’s smiling face, and Aspen’s even bigger smile, as she anticipates the day ahead. While my sweet husband is by no means a morning person, my enthusiastic labrador is, and I have often remarked that we should all face each day with her level of joy.

Next up, a long walk, coffee travelers in hand. My coffee has a touch of kahlua and cream or baileys. Jim sticks to mere sugar. Aspen, in no need of any stimulant, has had to do with mere kibble and rice or veggies for breakfast. This perfect morning walk is always near water. The beach is my number one spot, although a walk along a serene lake or pristine stream will do in a pinch.

We meander along, Aspen sniffing and marking, Jim and I discussing the day ahead, and simply enjoying the birds chirping as the day comes alive around us.

What else could be next but yoga? Although I have dabbled in the practice off and on for years, only in the last five months have I become a full-on convert. I am thrilled that Jim has joined me these last two months, gaining strength and flexibility. Regardless of the mood, a morning dose of yoga puts me in the right frame of mind to face any challenges the day may bring.

Breakfast. Essential for the day. My perfect breakfast is a fantasy, the dream that I could, every day, be transported to La Palapa restaurant on the beach in Puerto Vallarta. There I would indulge in their daily rotation of smoothies, their  freshly baked pastries, their stunning eggs benedict or jaw droppingly good chilaquiles verde. When not indulging in this fantasy land, breakfast is, in reality, most likely yogurt and fruit or an occasional bacon sandwich. My tastebuds are in overdrive, and my mouth is watering just typing out these delightful options.

Properly primed, it’s time for work. Three to four hours of good, concentrated work. This may entail a writing assignment, pitching new editors, or even documenting our days on our travel blog. Perhaps working with Jim on a new campaign for our Amazon products, or a new opt-in offer. The creative juices flow as we discuss our brand; what is going right, what can be improved upon, but all focused towards our business goals for a life nomadic.

By this time, Aspen is needing attention. A bit of fetch is HER perfect day, and then an alfresco lunch is enjoyed by all. Generally easy; a bit of leftovers or a simple sandwich, this break is a necessary spoke in the wheel, giving me the energy to face the afternoon with gusto.

After a nice long break, the afternoon can vary. Some days, more work is on the agenda. However, the afternoon might involve a long hike in the mountains, other days a foot massage on the beach while enjoying a bucket of beer. Maybe climbing some ancient ruins. These choices are, in itself, exactly the point. The entire freedom plan is about creating days that may be extremely diverse from the last, and yet all perfect in their own way.

Late afternoon reverts back to a norm. Another long walk with Aspen, a sundowner- these days most often a gin & tonic, and dinner discussion. Yes, it is widely apparent that food is a driving force in my perfect day!

Evenings are most often our time. I am not big on parties, late nights, or loud music. One perfect evening is cards by lamplight, while drinking rum. Or an evening spent cuddling on the camper sofa, Aspen snoring softly beside me, as we drink wine and watch a movie. Perhaps time spent simply sitting under the stars and standing in awe of mother nature and the night skies.

A bit of reading, a bit more rum. perhaps some chocolate thrown in. My perfect day is obvious. It involves my husband, my labrador, and time spent in the outdoors. It is about good food and good drink and good times with friends and family around a campfire.

Day 3 of this freedom plan challenge is about the ability to visualize the life you WANT. I sit here, feeling incredibly blessed, to be well on my way to having that visualization be the life I already LIVE.

Urban or Country, Seattle is for You

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written in cooperation with Hipmunks Boutique Hotels Campaign.

Washington State is one of the prettiest areas of the US. Blessed with mountain ranges, dramatic coastlines, and amazing food and wine, this paradise will charm even the most traveled guests. Seattle, otherwise known as the Emerald City, shines over Puget Sound, offering big-city entertainment with Pacific Northwest charm. Further afield, Spokane and the Washington countryside offer up their own rewards.

Urban Charm

If you’re heading to the city to attend a game at the University of Washington, or simply looking to be near downtown, check out the Watertown Hotel- A Piece of Pineapple Hospitality. This chain of hotel prides itself on impeccable service (hence the Pineapple Hospitality moniker). All guest rooms include a fridge, microwave, and Tommy Bahama amenities to complete the feel of heading to the islands. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi, free parking, and complimentary bikes, and pets are allowed, making it a family-friendly vacation.

image via Flickr by bgreenlee

Inn at the Market has long been considered one of THE places to stay for a splurge trip to Seattle. Located directly across the street from Pike Place Market, the Inn at the Market offers an ideal location, amazing views of the Sound, and shopping and dining options galore. Rooms are deluxe, featuring custom linens, designer toiletries, and luxurious robes, all coupled with beautiful bay and city views. There’s simply no better location in Seattle to be close to the action.

image via Flickr by tiffany 98101

Perhaps you seek lodging that is convenient to all that Seattle has to offer, but with a romantic country setting. If so, look no further than Cedarbrook Lodge. Although situated near the SeaTac airport, Cedarbrook oozes country charm–all while being close to downtown. Set in 18 acres of wetlands, the lodge offers free Wi-Fi and free parking, and even your furry friends can join you. Rooms feature down comforters and fine toiletries, and a fitness center and spa services are available.

image via Flickr by tiffany 98101

Searching for Views

One of the most popular areas in the entire Pacific Northwest is the Columbia Gorge. Stretching the full length of the border between Oregon and Washington, this scenic waterway has been a means of transport since the days of Lewis & Clark. The Skamania Lodge- Destination Hotels & Resorts is just that: a destination all on its own. The lovely rooms feature free Wi-Fi, daily newspapers, and comfortable accommodations, but the true draw of this property are the amenities. For the active traveler, there’s zip-lining, hiking, tennis, basketball, volleyball, and pools. For anyone looking for more leisurely pursuits, the lodge offers an extensive library, sauna, board games, and on-site spa services. In addition, there are three restaurants and golf at the property.

image via Flickr by ya_resendez

Heading East

On the East side of the state, Spokane offers a rich array of cultural and outdoor activities, all with small-city friendliness. The Doubletree Hotel by Hilton Spokane City Center offers  a prime location, while the comfortable rooms feature free Wi-Fi, premium cable, and coffee and tea service. Located at the Spokane riverfront, guests can enjoy virtually anything in the nearby neighborhoods or stay in and take advantage of the hotel pool, fitness center, and restaurants.

image via Flickr by mtigas

No matter what part of Washington attracts you, Hipmunk will help you find the best accommodations for all of your needs.

 

The Why?

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“This blog post is in response to Natalie’s 10 Day Freedom Plan Blog Challenge Day 2 http://suitcaseentrepreneur.com/10DBC-Day-2]”

The Why? In the end, in the search for a better way, a better plan, a better LIFE. Isn’t the why a necessary question? It is simple to say I want more money, or I want more time, or I want more stuff. But until you determine why it is impossible to determine the best path to take to achieve those goals.

On this, day 2 of Natalie’s Freedom Plan Blog Challenge, she asks us to answer a question that should, ideally, elicit a quick response. After all, if striving for something in particular, it seems as though the answer to why you are seeking that path should come easily.

However, I suspect this is not the reality for many. I, personally, know a great many people  who are dissatisfied; with their jobs, their cars, their houses, their spouse. You name it, they are always wanting something else, something more, convinced the grass is always greener. And, in some of these cases, it may be.

But in a consumer based society, so many of these wants don’t bring happiness and inner peace. That bigger house just means you’ll become accustomed to the size and feel you need something even larger. That tv, that you loved so much last week, will be replaced by something better. Expecting to find happiness from always wanting more, without answering the why, is ever elusive.

My answer to Natalie’s question today is this; I want to live the freedom lifestyle for just that- the freedom. I am not looking to follow an endless summer, or become a beach bum. In fact, I have worked more real hours since we hit the road full-time (and by this I mean not the endless, dragging hours spent pretending to work in my cubicle while sneaking looks at facebook or emailing my friends) than I have in years.

Today is a Sunday. I wrote two articles this morning, did some social networking, edited some pictures, and am now writing this response to the Freedom Plan challenge. Next I will pitch still more work. I did more yesterday. My weeks no longer consist of particular days of the week (just ask my BFF Ron who regularly receives emails from me saying “happy XXXX” while stating the wrong day of the week!) I no longer “live for the weekend” because I have no weekend.

But this freedom also means that this morning I spent an hour wandering a country road with my husband, my dog, and a good traveler of coffee. It means that on Wednesday we will leave camp to go and tour the 2000 year old ruins at Monte Alban, and on Thursday we will join in a multi-hour preparation of Chiles en Nogades with friends in celebration of Mexico’s Grito, or Independence day.

Freedom is choosing to leave Friday for points south. Or not. THIS is my why, The freedom to choose to live my days on my terms.

 

The Twin Cities and Beyond

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Written in cooperation with Hipmunk’s Boutique Hotels Campaign.

The Twin Cities is known for being the center of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes, but also for its shopping. Whether you are headed for the various outdoor activities or looking to shop till you drop at the enormous Mall of America, Minnesota is for you!

Let’s Go Shopping

While people may head to Bloomington, Minnesota, for many reasons, one BIG reason is for shopping and entertainment at the Mall of the America. If that is your plan, one great hotel option is the La Quinta Inn & Suites Minneapolis-Bloomington West. Floor-to-ceiling windows accent the view, while the comfortable rooms feature contemporary furniture, and modern amenities abound. La Quinta is pet-friendly and offers free Wi-Fi, free parking, and a delicious complimentary breakfast daily. With an indoor pool, spa and sauna, you can rest your tired muscles after a long day at the mall.

image via Flickr by cliff1066TM

For those interested in spending their dollars on shopping and not accommodations, Northwood Inn & Suites offers comfortable rooms, right in the heart of the action. In-room refrigerators and microwaves stretch your dollar even further to enable you to enjoy the Sea Life aquarium or National Wildlife Refuge. With free parking, free internet, and a business center, the Northwood makes for an affordable getaway.

Living Large in the City

If luxurious surroundings in the heart of the city is on the agenda, look no further than Loews Minneapolis Hotel. This hotel’s chic, modern rooms feature in-room Keurig coffee makers, complimentary daily newspapers, and fully stocked mini-bars. Limestone bathrooms offer designer toiletries, and pets are even welcome! The hotel offers three on-site restaurants and a full spa, and concierge services complete the feeling of total luxury. In addition, the ideal location, right in the heart of the city, puts dining and entertainment right at your doorstep.

image via Flickr by m01229

A Day at the Lake

Perhaps shopping isn’t your thing or you had your shot at the Mall and want to hit the water. Look no further than the Holiday Inn & Suites Duluth. Set right in downtown Duluth, access to Lake Superior is a breeze. Lake Superior Zoo, Canal Park, and Glensheen Mansion are all in close proximity. The hotel offers free parking, free Wi-Fi, two pools, and an on-site restaurant if you are tired at the end of a long day of sightseeing. Guest rooms have comfortable beds and complimentary toiletries, all in a lovely setting.

image via Flickr by Helena Jacoba

Whether shopping, city nightlife, or the lake is calling you, Hipmunk offers the right hotel choice.