August 13, 2012: Post 580 (2012 Day 226)

August 13, 2012

Daily Comment

When I mention my retirement plans to people, a surprising number of them express concern that I will grow bored if the place I live in is a) too rustic, so that I am cut off from the digitally connected world and don't have TV or internet to educate and/or distract me with what's going on in the US; or 2) too tranquil, as in living on a beach. Here's a quote: "After a few months, you get bored, even on the most beautiful beach in the world."

Second one first. I'd like to find out if that's true for myself.

But really, the answer to both is that they are thinking of what I'm doing as a vacation, something temporary, and even tentative. Something I will come back from, to live a more 'normal' life. No. Wherever I go, I will be living there. 

Initially, my goal will be to spend at least four to six months in a place to see how it fits. I will be living there as though it were my home, not a 'destination'. I will rent an apartment or a house, and participate in the local scene like a resident, not a tourist. 

Of course, in every place on my list, I will stand out and so will be easily identified by the locals as an outsider - although hopefully not as a tourist - and I will have that barrier to overcome, but it is my goal to work around that - not to be on permanent vacation, but to be having the adventure that goes along with relocating, along with the added spice of relocating as a participant (at any level of integration) in a new and different culture.

I have relocated to what were, to me, different cultures, but they were far, far less different from my known culture as any of the places on my short list, and never in a place where I stood out as being a member of another culture as starkly as will be the case in Southeast Asia or Latin America (all of the top spots I'm thinking of are in one of those areas). This is the disadvantage of being six foot four in a 5 foot 2 world.

As to the first concern, rustic isolation, I have not put any such areas on my list, although, just like in the US, rural, undeveloped areas are never far away. But one of my 'check-boxes' is good internet service, and I'm not really too interested/concerned about television. Every single place on my list is known as one of if not the main cultural centers of the country it is in. That should go a long way towards easing any sense of boredom.

A few more things: I am travelling light. There is no total commitment to any location, and I will be able to pick up and move on with ease if I change my mind about a place, whether I've been there for weeks or years. Which means, if that is what suits me, that I could become a permanent traveler, and spend my time living in different places. Flexibility is as good a solution as any to the (nonexistent, I think) problem of boredom.

Finally, I intend to spend at least a month, probably two, each year in the States. I have no intention of losing personal touch with friends and family. Also, this will offer me the chance to re-evaluate my situation and lifestyle on an annual basis.

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Food and Diet Section

Today's Weight:        206.2 lbs 
Yesterday's Weight:    210.0 lbs  
Day Net Loss/Gain:     - 3.8 lbs

Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011.

Diet Comment:

I chose my food very carefully today, after yesterday's successful all-day (36 hour) fast. Getting back on the horse, as my sister put it.

Food Log

Breakfast
A cocoa-kale protein shake (almond milk, whey protein (36g protein), kale, chia gel, an egg (organic, whole, raw), cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon, stevia-inulin blend).

Lunch
Skipped.

Dinner

Chili (beef, black beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, spices) with peas. Not shown: Cole slaw, and a salad with hard-boiled eggs, Spring Mix and balsamic vinaigrette.

Liquid Intake

    Coffee:    20 oz,   Water: 96+ oz

Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!