winifredcreamer

Into the New Year, 2021

There is a Christmas carol that will appeal to all travelers: ….bearing gifts, we traverse afar, field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star…. Whether it’s Kazakhstan or the entrance to the mall, we all have our star, somewhere we’d like to go in 2021. Though we still have no sense of when localContinue reading “Into the New Year, 2021”

Ft. Ord Public Lands: Dec. 29, 2020

I have one picture from today, a live oak tree with trailing Spanish moss. There are so many impressive trees in this area, we decided there could be a calendar “Live Oaks of Ft. Ord.” December weather doesn’t get much better than sunny and 60o.

Two Suitcases: A traveling retirement. Our new book is out!

Today is the launch of our new ebook, Two Suitcases: A Traveling Retirement. I’ve taken the first five years of this blog, distilled the most important travel-related advice and stories from it, and turned it into a book. Jonathan is my co-author, adding in the nuts and bolts of finding our homes via Airbnb orContinue reading “Two Suitcases: A traveling retirement. Our new book is out!”

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Set aside for a moment your wait for Covid vaccine, anxiety about the future, job security, and world peace, and let’s talk about the holidays. My vote for the best time of year are the two weeks leading up to Christmas. Especially this year, when we’ll be alone for our holiday feast, the festivities haveContinue reading “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”

We land in Pacific Grove, CA

After making our way across the US one month at a time, we’ve decided to settle for a while, waiting until it’s safer to travel. We’ve rented a furnished house in Pacific Grove, CA for six months. Thus far, we’re enjoying pushing around the furniture to our liking and being able to put things away.Continue reading “We land in Pacific Grove, CA”

Thanksgiving

I might have been disappointed that we only had a single guest for Thanksgiving dinner, but this is 2020, and having a guest was the Best Thing Ever. Lyra came to see us and brought Pandora, an endless source of fun. Jonathan sharpened his knives and made spatchcock turkey (remove backbone, lie flat to cook).Continue reading “Thanksgiving”

A Carmel reality check

I just completed a post that shows some of the delightfully quirky small houses of Carmel, CA. Before you pack your bags and jump in the car to move to a place where the temperature rarely drops below 60o during the day, the sun shines, and the beach is within walking distance, you might wantContinue reading “A Carmel reality check”

Carmel Style

We are staying in a lovely house here, and though that is the case with most of our Airbnb rentals, there is something distinctive about Carmel-by-the-Sea. Some of the local atmosphere comes from the people. As Lyra and I were walking down the street, a convertible passed us with the top down. The driver wasContinue reading “Carmel Style”

Discovering Pebble Beach

Pebble Beach is known around the world as a course used periodically for the US Open. We knew we wanted to see the area even though neither of us plays golf. We probably won’t be starting lessons–rounds at the Pebble Beach links start at $575 assuming you are already a guest at the resort (RoomsContinue reading “Discovering Pebble Beach”

Leaving the Emerald Triangle

Three northern counties of California produce more cannabis than anywhere else in the US, gaining the region the name “the Emerald Triangle”. The Wall Street Journal has been covering the cannabis industry here since the 1970s, long before it was legal. We’ve spent the month of October in this gorgeous area. We head south thisContinue reading “Leaving the Emerald Triangle”