Busy Month - January

As I mentioned before, I have a major To-Do List. Each month contains tasks I either must or should complete. There were about twenty items on it for January. I actually accomplished about half of them. I'm not freaked out, however, as several tasks from future months were also checked off my list.

Staying flexible helps maintain my sanity and keep anxiety at bay, at least for now. I saw two of the doctors on my long list. I had a check-up and told them about moving. They were more than willing to help me with a treatment plan for the future. My optometrist told me he'll be sad to see me go. We've become friends over the last fifteen years, chatting at each appointment.

He loved my plan and asked for details. He was very interested when I told him that in my new state and on the ship, I wouldn't have to do most of the daily tasks that I have to do now. I want to eat, just tired of cooking. I enjoy a clean house, but cleaning is not fun. All the planning, shopping, checking on things, gone. They're someone else's responsibility. 

I'm taking one of these emergency lights with me when I leave California. I like it very much. It operates at the touch of a finger, is rechargeable and pleasant in appearance. Check it out, CLICK HERE  #ad.

He asked for contact details for the ship, and information about the state I have selected as my home base. I was happy to provide them. Heck, maybe he and his wife will join me. That would be fun. Nice guy.

I found and made reservations for an apart-hotel in my new state. What's an apart-hotel? Think apartment building with furnished rooms. Consider also, how a hotel operates, cleaning, changing linens, including sheets. Take the best of each type of property and put them together. That's an apart-hotel. It is so much less expensive than California. Life will be even better there. 

I also did something unexpected. When I made the reservations for my ride to the ship, the owner of the company asked me if I was selling my furniture. It seems he loves going to estate sales, and finding treasures. Yup. I promised I'd give him the dates and times once those are finalized. He then asked about my car. It seems someone he knows wanted a car for their seventeen year old son. 

So that issue, a biggie, is solved. This is about four months before I had planned to do something with it. No problem, however, I need to get comfortable using Uber, since that is how I intend to get around from now on... no car. I'm done. 

I then did something I find unpleasant, set up a new credit card and new bank account. Neither was difficult, I just do not enjoy the process. My email account is full of messages from both, telling me various things I need to do, once my cards arrive. Oh, goodie. More tasks. 

But one thing I did in January was lots of fun. I had new luggage tags made. I took the photo you see in the banner of this blog, my one and only "selfie", and had it made into tags. The flip side of the tag includes my name and contact details. I ordered four of them to fit my luggage. They will come in handy when flying to my new state, and whenever I'm on the cruise ship. 

Here's one of the pieces of luggage that will be sporting a brand new, super cute luggage tag real soon. Check it out for yourself, CLICK HERE #ad. 

Most of the January items I have yet to complete, have to do with the new bank account and credit card. Both have been approved, and my cards are "in the mail". Let's hope so, I have to move lots of charges from my old ones to the new. Then I'll close the California bank account, and the credit card I have been using here. Yes, I know this will have an impact on my credit score, but I really don't care. It's high enough, it won't matter.

The cards should arrive some time this week. I'll be able to catch up on the actions I had to skip last month once they do. In the meantime I'm canceling my California library cards, transferring my California Teachers Association membership to my new state, and figuring out how to handle my phone both in my new home, and while traveling internationally on a cruise ship. 

More to come. In the meantime, feel free to check out my YouTube page, Elizabeth Endorses, CLICK HERE #ad, where I do reviews of my favorite Amazon products that simplify my life.  They could simplify yours too.

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Planning Ahead to Avoid Future Issues - December

Once I decided to move to a safer location in the Mid-West, and to buy a cabin on a residential cruise ship, finding insurance was next most important step. That was made much easier by the cruise line setting up a relationship with a company, and Congress finally rescinding the much hated WEP. I was able to find and fund an insurance policy to cover my needs when out of the country. Medicare will continue to cover me when I'm in my Home Base in the Mid-West.

The next major hurtle was to find a company to hold an estate sale and sell most of my belongings. This was surprisingly simple, since a good friend knew of such a company. She highly recommended I contact the owner, which I have done. It looks great. She handles just about everything. I don't even need to sort anything, or rearrange my belongings. Her crew is used to selling from a home where the owner has died, so no help is necessary. Simple.

As with many in my age group, those over 65, I have been assigned a covey of doctors by my medical group. Unfortunately they are needed. Happily though, they are excellent at their jobs, and have helped me stay upright. I made a list of my doctors in December, and spent several days lining up appointments so I can be seen by each of them. Since some are specialists, it's not easy getting an appointment.

This is why I started the process in December. I want them all complete by mid-April. A few need lab tests to be completed two weeks before seeing the doctor. Timing is everything, especially with CT scans and the like. I was able to set up all the appointments I need, except for two of the specialists. I have to call back in January, when their calendars open up for the time frame I need.

This is an important part of moving. When establishing relationships with new doctors in new states, or when seeing a doctor onboard a ship or while visiting another country, documentation and a treatment plan are quite helpful. This way, doctors are not working in the dark. This is why, although I have not asked for a paper copy of my after visit reports in the past (I usually read them online), I am now. I intend to have a file with paper copies of all my visits, a plan for each specialty going forward, and test results.

I'm also going to request copies of CT scans, as I have a couple of ongoing issues. One is my lungs. They were damaged by working in a school where admin didn't take enough care to ensure the health and safety of those on campus. The other is my bones. Small boned women should have many important tests completed routinely on an annual basis going forward from thirty, but this was not done. I didn't know to ask, and no one bothered to tell me. Therefore, I was low in Vitamin D, Calcium and Magnesium for years, resulting in osteoporosis.

All of my medical issues are under control, and I follow the protocols established by my doctors to make sure they stay that way. Anyone who intends to move or travel, and may need to see new doctors, should visit their old ones before moving. Ask for an assessment for each chronic condition and a plan for future treatment. They will come in handy.

More to come. In the meantime, feel free to check out my YouTube page, Elizabeth Endorses, CLICK HERE #ad, where I do reviews of my favorite Amazon products that simplify my life.  They could simplify yours too.

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Getting Started - November

November was the month my friend who lives in Texas sent me the article about the cruise ship "skipping the next four years". She thought it was funny. I thought it was a clever marketing tool, since they created it before the election. Some people were offended, but then, some folks look for ways to be offended.

Personally, I recognized way too much of the article to treat it casually. It took just a few moments to realize this was the people I knew from the round-the-world cruise I signed up for in 2023. This time, they had far more control over the process, so there were more options.

I thought at first about renting, but quickly realized it would save money in the long run if I bought. Plus it gave me more flexibility. I can live on the ship until I get bored, and live in an apartment in the Mid-West, when the weather is nice. I like having the option of renting mt cabin to others. I can do this on my own, or they will do it for me, if I chose to go that route. If they do the work (don't you love it?), then they take half the rental fee. Not bad as long as it covers the monthly maintenance costs. Even better if there's a profit, which there no doubt would be, since prices go up all the time.

Since I didn't know about this happening months earlier, I didn't "get in on the ground floor". That cost me lots, but I wasn't really ready earlier. I was still bruised from the disappointment of the previous cruise not happening. I'm fully healed now, so the timing worked for me.

Once I decided to buy, I had to determine when I wanted to embark. This time, unlike last time, we are on our own in getting our "stuff" to the ship. If I was renting, and only staying a short period of time, I wouldn't have much to take with me. However, owning is different. Making it feel homey is up to me. They provide very nice furniture, TV, linens and the like, but decor items (which are super important to me) are up to us. I'm embarking in the summer, when the ship is visiting the U.S. 

While I was doing all the legal things necessary to buy my cabin, I assigned my subconscious the task of deciding what I will take with me, and what will be sold in an estate sale before I leave California. I decided to only take things I absolutely love and those which would be hard to replace for some reason. An example, I love a gorgeous aqua glass bowl I bought in Cape Town, South Africa, so I'm taking it with me. I have problem feet, small, wide, with very high arches. I've ordered shoes and am having new orthotics made to fit. Better do it now, before moving to the Mid-West or getting on a cruise ship.

The second most important item was a real deal breaker. I needed medical insurance since Medicare doesn't cover us when we leave the country (although we still must pay for it). The last time I tried finding health insurance for a long cruise, it was a fiasco. Everyone on the ship had to figure it out for themselves. Very difficult for my age group. Happily, however, the ship's management team did what I had hoped. They made arrangements with an international insurance company to give us good rates. 

I signed up for it. The damage to my budget? The same figure I was paying for extra coverage for my current U.S. HMO plan. I was stunned. I had figured it would be five times as much. This was a huge relief. Medicare (covered by my Social Security) and the extra policy I will buy for Part D will cost me an extra $40 per month. The international plan, which includes flying me somewhere should I need specialized medical treatment, will cost me only $200 per month. 

What makes this all okay, is that I'll cancel what I have now, so the net increase is only $40 per month. Additionally, I will start receiving my entire Social Security benefits each month, thanks to WEP being repealed. On top of this, housing in my new state is about $1,000 less per month than I pay now. So cool. 

I did the math, (people who know me are laughing now). Over the next fifteen years, I will pay about $100,000 less than if I stayed in California. This is only for housing. It's an even bigger savings when you take notice of what I no longer will have to buy in my new state or on the ship, like food, cleaning services, linens, electricity, etc. 

Then, of course, there's the travel, built into the plan. I'll either be in my new state, exploring new places, or I'll be in one of over 400 new locations in the world. 

Like my T-shirts say... Life Is Good. By the way, taking lots of my Life is Good shirts with me when I move, CLICK HERE  #ad to check out more styles. 

More to come. In the meantime, feel free to check out my YouTube page, Elizabeth Endorses, CLICK HERE #ad, where I do reviews of my favorite Amazon products that simplify my life.  They could simplify yours too.

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Have K-12 kids? Then you'll want my book, Free College, to show you how to help your kids earn lots of college scholarships, CLICK HERE #ad. 

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Where Have I Been?

If you've been reading this blog, you may have wondered where I've been the last several months. Truth is, I've been researching my housing issue. I've always wanted to live in several places in retirement, staying in each when the weather is to my liking. That is a problem, as the climate has changed.

It's no longer "perfect" in Southern California, as it was in my childhood. Instead of a few days of temperatures over 100 degrees in the summer, it's now weeks. Instead of Santa Ana Winds for a few times in the fall, they now show up year round. I remember wildflowers growing in cracks in the pavement as a child, but now, there is rarely enough rain for them to survive, even in the mountains.

The worst parts of these changes for me, have been the overcast skies. When in school, I remember June Gloom. We didn't see our blue skies for the whole month. It was a tradition. Came in handy as it subdued the behavior of students just as the school year was ending. Then the gray skies expanded, and the phrase May Gray was invented. Next came Graypril, and lately July Why. I hate it.

Everything is more expensive in California mostly because of our glorious weather. Since we no longer have it, why haven't prices come down? Sounds like a joke, but it isn't very funny. We put up with high prices because we live in paradise. Paradise, however, was destroyed by wind, drought and fire a couple of years ago. Then came Lahaina in Hawaii. Last month it was Pacific Palisades and Alta Dena in Los Angeles County. 

It's no long paradise. It's not even safe. So, with this as a backdrop, did I finally find a way to live in three places? Will they be in Europe, Asia, South Africa, Canada, Mexico? Thanks to a friend who sent me an article about a residential cruise ship actually cruising the world right now, it will be all of them, and more.

If you remember the 3-year round-the-world cruise I signed up for in 2023, you won't be too surprised that I loved the idea. As I read the article, I realized this was the same people in the management team from the first, canceled cruise. I respected their integrity, when they sent us back our deposit money, and told us they could no longer trust their partners, so they pulled out of the venture.

This time, they found the funding, and bought a ship. It's on a maiden voyage of sorts now. I say "of sorts" because it's an older ship which has been renovated. Some may not like that idea, but I love it. Why? It's my kind of ship, much smaller than modern cruise ships, traditional in style and holds far fewer people. It's like living in a medium sized condo complex, but at sea.

There are many options if someone wants to cruise on this ship. I chose to buy my cabin. This way, I can stay in it when I like, and rent it out if I ever become bored. Where will I stay, if I'm not on the ship? I spent the last few months figuring that out. I wanted a location with very few natural disasters. If you've read The Big Ones by Dr. Lucy Jones, Click here to check it out on Amazon #ad, you'll understand what I mean.

Although she's a world renowned seismologist, she's an expert in natural disasters of all kinds. Since reading her book, I've been concerned about an atmospheric river becoming "stuck" over California as it did in 1861. It flooded the entire Central Valley and much of Southern California. If it happened again, it would be an epic disaster. I no longer want to live on the Pacific Coast in case it happens.

I also looked into hundred year rain events, tornadoes, and wildfires. I found an area in the northern part of the MidWest which hasn't had a natural disaster in many decades. Happily, the cost of living there is about half what it is where I live now. Housing is especially low. Plus, it's beautiful.

I'll be checking it out in person shortly, as I did when I decided to move to Cape Town, South Africa in 1997. But my decision is already made. I'm currently going through the arduous task of closing down my life in one state, setting up life in another, while planning to cruise some of the year. After I'm finished, life will be simpler. I'll live in my new state when the weather is to my liking and rent out my cabin on the residential cruise ship. When the weather isn't to my liking, I'll live on the ship, and see the world.

In both places, my life will be easy, as I will no longer have a car to worry about (Uber works almost everywhere). I won't have to do housework. I won't have to cook on the ship, or shop for food. I will stateside, but nothing in my little apart-hotel kitchen will be my responsibility to clean or repair. My linens will be provided and washed for me. Many day to day tasks will no longer be mine to do. Best of all, while living this way,  travel is part of the process, again, without my efforts.

More to come. In the meantime, feel free to check out my YouTube page, Elizabeth Endorses, CLICK HERE #ad, where I do reviews of my favorite Amazon products that simplify my life.  They could simplify yours too.

You’re reading from the blog, ElizabethAtSea.com. Sign up to be notified when I post something new. 

Have K-12 kids? Then you'll want my book, Free College, to show you how to help your kids earn lots of college scholarships, CLICK HERE. 

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How about South Africa?

 I'm still looking at English speaking countries for my escape if the November election goes cattywampus. Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland are on the only go for a month list, for various reasons. But I spent 1997-1999 in Cape Town, South Africa and loved it. Sure they have a winter much like that in SoCal where I'm from, but I would survive. Actually, for two years I did.

So would Cape Town be my logical choice or should I check out other places in South Africa? I know Durban is very humid, so that's a no go. I visited Johannesburg for a conference and didn't like the urban feel or the level of crime. A friend walked several of us to our cars, carrying a loaded pistol in plain sight to keep up safe. No, thanks.

I think I would prefer the familiarity of the Western Cape anyway. Going through my list of requirements, weather would be okay with me, not ideal, but fine. Language is a go, since they speak several there, the main one being English. They have a strong infrastructure, and everything works. The cost of living is much lower than in SoCal, and their health care is far superior to the U.S. They did the first heart transplant in Cape Town after all. The ease of life would be fine. One negative is Amazon does not deliver there, nor do they have any presence at all. Hmmm. Huge negative.

There is a vibrant ex-pat community in Cape Town, and I met some of the people in it while I was living there, but most of the friends I made were from bumping into strangers and making friends the old fashioned way. I wouldn't need an ex-pat organization to feel at home. It took less than 3-weeks for me to settle in the last time I was there.

No matter where I go, I'll take these with me, CLICK HERE #ad. 

Now, if I went, where would I settle? I LOVED the V & A Waterfront area. I spent every Friday there, window shopping, using the spa in the V & A Hotel, enjoying lunch and going to a movie. What a wonderful way to end the week. I tried to recreate this routine when I came back to SoCal, but we don't have movie theaters or spas near malls. That's too bad. It would be a hit.

Stellenbosch is the wine region outside of Cape Town. I spent a day there, and could live there happily. It's drop dead gorgeous. Plus the towns are cute, and the people friendly. It's full of college kids, which provides a welcoming vibe.

Simon's Town is right on the coast. It's a historic port city and over the top cute. I only spent a few hours there, but really want to go back to explore it. Maybe I should settle there?

Hermanus is a distance away from Cape Town, but also on a coast. Whales love the coastline there, and visit often. Many people come just to see them. The town itself is small, close knit and lovely. It was a little rowdy when I visited, as it was the finals of some sport I don't follow. Lots of noisy men, drinking and carrying on, but I think that was an isolated event, while the whale viewing is ongoing. 

Okay, so why will I not be settling in Cape Town or any of the stunning towns on my list? Crime. It was really bad when I was there, although I didn't experience any crime personally. A friend was held up at gun point, and his car stolen. I don't know anyone in SoCal to whom that has happened, but it's routine in South Africa. The murder rate was high as were both burglary and armed robbery. I was hoping things have improved in the last 25 years. Sadly, not much, if at all. When I checked recently, I discovered the same issues involving crime. Some efforts have been made to change things, but not enough to have resulted in much improvement.

Although I was able to deal with the high crime rate when I was in South Africa before, I'm to the point in my life where I don't want to deal with any negativity, let alone crime. So, sadly, I won't be spending any time there in the future. I sure am glad I lived there for two years, however. It was spectacular. The scenery, the beaches, the food, the people, the culture, all of it. 

I looked into other places where English is spoken, like in the Caribbean. To be honest, however, I didn't look long or very hard. I do not care for tropical weather. I don't mind rain, but humidity does not make my asthma any better. In fact, it makes it worse. So I won't be moving to any tropical paradise, since it isn't paradise for breathing. 

It looks like English speaking countries do not work for me, I'm off to check out countries where another languages I speak are the norm. My next target is France. Very popular for ex-pats. I won't even bother looking up north, as I am familiar enough with the country to know the climate there wouldn't work for me. So, it's the south of France for me. More to come... 

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Images: PicMonkey

Moving Down Under

The next two places I researched while looking to leave the country, are Australia and New Zealand. I put them together in my mind as they are geographically close to one another. I believed, therefore, the weather would be similar, but perhaps with a few differences depending upon location. Before going into too much detail on my search, I wanted to make sure it was even allowable for an American to retire there.

Australia has few requirements for an American retiree to settle there. I meet all of them except for one. Sadly, it's a biggie. You must have $750,000 cash in the bank. I'm sure if someone has a house to sell, especially in expensive places like Los Angeles or New York City, this wouldn't be a problem. But for a retired high school teacher without a house to sell, it's a disqualifier with no work around.

Next I checked New Zealand for the same information. Could a single American retiree settle in New Zealand? Oh, my! The requirements there are worse. You again need $750,000 in the bank, but in New Zealand, you have to invest that money in a business there. Nope. Not even if I had the cash. My goal is retirement, not work.

However, there is another way to enjoy either place in retirement. I could live in more than one location. If I did spend the "perfect weather window" in one place, and rotate to another spot on the globe when they have "perfect weather" I could enjoy living in several places, and not limit myself to just one. Legally I would be a tourist, although in my mind it would be my home for part of the year.

So, checking for Australia, no problem. As an American tourist I could stay from three to twelve months. I wouldn't stay a whole year, of course. That wouldn't be the plan. 

Next, I checked on New Zealand. An American can apply for a visitor's visa and stay for six months, if they do not plan on leaving the country during the six months. Since I would be staying put, probably during the winter months, this would be adequate for my Plan B, living in more than one country during a calendar year. 

The next step, was to check out the weather. I used Sydney as my location and found the weather from December through February to be to my liking. There's a little more rain than I would like, but it's not a deal breaker, since the number of days with clear sky is over 70%.

I did the same check for New Zealand. I looked at both Auckland and Wellington. The temperature in each is more to my liking than Australia. It in the high sixties Fahrenheit. They also have fewer days of rain, and less of it. So, this eliminates Australia for a December through February spot to stay, if I end up leaving the country after the election, and if I end up living in more than one location. So far, I haven't found anywhere with weather I would enjoy all twelve months of the year.

No matter where I end up going, if indeed I do leave the country, I'll be sure to take this with me, CLICK HERE #ad. They have served me well for more than twenty years. Love the convenience. 

My next part of the English-speaking world to check out is South Africa. Since I lived in Cape Town from 1997-1999, I know it fairly well. I'll do a deep dive and focus on the changes there in the last twenty-five years. It may be better, or not. I won't know until I do some digging. I do, however, remember it was a bit cold in winter. I'll need to dig deep to see if my memory serves me well. 

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 Have K-12 kids? Then you'll want my book, Free College, to show you how to help your kids earn lots of college scholarships, CLICK HERE. 

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Images: Pixabay

Beachside Promenade - Cannes