For Americans thinking about living abroad
Can you really retire abroad on a budget? We’re finding out.
We’re Sandra and Jeff. Since 2023, we’ve been living slowly across countries — tracking exactly what we spend so you can plan with real numbers, not estimates. No guesswork.
Our Take on the Biomuseo in Panama City
Our Visit to the Biomuseo – A Guide to Panama’s Natural History Museum On our trip to Panama City, we visited Panama City’s natural history museum, a Frank Gehry-designed marvel that’s become a city icon. We usually do some research beforehand but after our visit to the Punta Culebra Nature Center we just headed back up the Amador Causeway and ended up at the Biomuseo.…
We Wander around Panama City’s Old Town – Casco Viejo
Our first weekend in Panama we had a bit of a wander around Panama City’s Old Town, Casco Viejo, including drinks and a snack at a rooftop bar. Apparently it’s THE thing to do. Here’s what we discovered during our adventure—and why we think you’ll love it. Casco Viejo is Panama City’s “old town” and is home to a lot of tourist oriented shops and…
The retirement / vacation conundrum
Yesterday Sandra said “When you post the video of this trip to the beach you should probably also mention that we aren’t going out adventuring every day.” Hmmmm……. That makes a lot of sense, actually; I put together videos about our activities to share on YouTube and we post snapshots on the Book of Faces page and the ‘gram and that’s what people see. The…
Our Visit to the Punta Culebra Nature Center – Smithsonian Wildlife Experience in Panama City
We’ve always been avid travelers, but this year marks our first year as fulltime travels, living abroad and discovering new destinations. On a rainy Saturday Panama morning we headed off to the Punta Culebra Nature Center and we just had to share! Operated by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, this nature center delivers an affordable, interactive, and family-friendly exploration of Panama’s rich marine life and…
Our Tour of Panama Viejo
Our Tour of Panama Viejo As a couple exploring potential retirement destinations on a modest budget, Panama’s affordability factor was a major draw. We were also intrigued by Panama Viejo’s UNESCO World Heritage status and its rich history. So, we decided to kick off our multi-month-long exploration of Panama with a visit to this historical site. In this blog post, we’ll share our experience at…
Rain, Tacos, and Humidity: Our First Weeks in Panama City
Rain, Tacos, and Humidity: Our First Weeks in Panama City Follow our journey from Oregon to Panama City, Panama. This blog post shares insights into our experiences during the initial weeks of international nomadic living, covering everything from overpacking to exploring local eateries. Get a straightforward look at the challenges, surprises, and reflections that shaped our early travels. Join us in navigating the realities of…
Crater Lake National Park Travel Guide
As we approach the launch date of our new nomadic life we have been discussing all the things we haven’t seen/done in and around our hometown of Redmond, Oregon. I have very vague recollections of visiting Crater Lake National Park as a small child and Sandra thinks she may have seen it but wouldn’t swear to it. It likely would have been a side trip…
A day at the beach – Newport, OR
We took a quick visit out to the Oregon coast recently, it’s been unpleasantly hot here in the high desert of Oregon plus it had been ages since we’d been out to the ocean. It wasn’t a hard sell – I said “We should go to the coast soon” to which she opened her calendar and after a minute responded “I have Tuesday to Thursday…
Prineville Oregon, a hidden gem of a small town
Prineville Oregon is a fairly small town with a lot going on. Founded in 1880 and presently home to just over 11,000 residents, it is the county seat for Crook County, Oregon. Prineville developed primarily as an agricultural community and is within reasonable commuting distance from Bend, Redmond and Madras. The recent addition of Facebook and Apple data centers provided a boost in construction and…
Shoes, glorious shoes; trainers, loafers and sandals…..
(If you’ve seen ‘Oliver!’ you may have sung that line. Else you just think I’m an idiot. Both of these are valid reactions) Updated 1st September 2025 Since we’re going to be spending a lot more time walking once we get on the road this fall I thought I should follow my wife’s lead and try to buy some comfortable walking shoes and sandals that…
About Us
We’re Jeff and Sandra, two retired Americans, living abroad, on a budget, one country at at time. Most days, we’re just doing what we’ve always done— making ourselves a home, working on projects, cooking, and running errands, wherever home might be at the moment.
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