Wednesday 28 July 2010

2 days to go!

2 days to go until The Escape.

Yesterday I booked one way tickets for DH and I to Mallorca for early September. A one way ticket, imagine that. I have never booked a one way ticket before.

I cant wait to Escape the concrete jungle.

Suddenly I am starting to feel free. I hope that DH and I have the same expectations in relation to frugal living in early retirement. I think we do. Its just that DH sometimes fancies the finer things in life and I would really rather do without them. I prefer the simpler life.

Thats all for now.

Friday 16 July 2010

Countdown

Well less than 2 weeks to go now until the escape.

I have been sorting out the bank accounts and putting money aside into an easy access account. I have thrown a lot of stuff out.

Today I made enquiries with an estate agent about the possibility of a 6 month apartment rental in north west Mallorca. If we could get it at the right price I think we may go for it. Browsing on the internet this morning it just caught my eye. Bang on the sea front with beautiful vistas in a quiet residential area, adults only. The sea at the front and the pine woods and mountains at the back. The trouble is that I don't really want to commit to 6 months. I really would prefer 3 months but I think that a short term agreement would cost me a lot more. Anyway lets just see how it goes. I've put the feeler out and its no big deal if they don't go for it. We still plan on going to Mallorca in September for at least a few months irrespective of whether we enter into a long term rental agreement.

After being land locked in a gritty urban area in the North West for so long I am desperate to be live near the coast for a while. Being near the ocean makes me feel different, calmer more zen.

The beauty about planning to go to Mallorca is that I dont need a visa, I can stay as along as I want, I can buy a one way flight (which is what I plan to do) and they wont throw me out if I overstay. I can just turn up and go with the flow. We also plan to spend some time in Menorca and Ibiza.

I just want to go NOW.

Saturday 3 July 2010

But you cant LIVE anywhere in the world....

I read a lot of travelling blogs or lifestyle design blogs that scream out that you can go anywhere in the world.

Yes I know I can go anywhere in the world, and now I am at a point where I really CAN go anywhere in the world. But I cant LIVE anywhere in the world. There is a huge difference.

The trouble is, I don't just want to go anywhere and everywhere, I have specific places that I want to go and see but I am not into travel just for the sake of it. I am more interested in finding a sustainable living solution. If you are a long time reader of this blog you will know that if I could LIVE anywhere I would live in North Amercia. But, as I have discussed many times on this blog there are no viable visa options. And no I am not about to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a "business (fools) visa" like a lot of expat brits have done and have got into hot water.

And that's the problem. The V word. You cant LIVE anywhere in the world because you need a VISA. I do not want to play hide and seek with the border authorities. I want to be free to come and go as I please.

I have spent a long time living temporarily in places because I have to be there for work to earn money to live etc etc. Now I want find a sustainable living solution.
Just my random thoughts for today.