And just like that, our nomad life begins. 

Essentially, 180 days on the road, hanging our hats in homes and hotels and habitats not our own, and experiencing a whole lot of life in places unfamiliar to both of us.

We couldn’t be more excited - and a tad bit nervous - to see how it all plays out.

The last week or so has been our usual closing-down-the-casa whirlwind of bringing all outdoor furniture inside, in anticipation of summer temps in the 90F°s and the early autumn hurricane storm season. Clothes get tubbed away to ward off bugs and humidity, and everything stacked into center-room piles, cloaked in anti-dust plastic drop cloths. 

Our outstanding housecleaner Elisa will stop by every two weeks to sweep and vacuum and mop and dust and hose the inevitable birdshi* off the patios. And since we’re leaving the RAV4 in the carport this year, she’ll fire that up and drive a few laps around our community’s gravel drive to keep the fluids fluid and the tires spinning.

And cin cin to you, Claudio, for the fabulous charcuterie board!

So, our 180 days on the road begins today. And with it our record of those travels. Here’s what you can expect over the next six months:

• As we’ve mentioned elsewhere on this website, numerous friends and family members have expressed interest in knowing How goes the travel?  And our hope and intention is to answer that question with earnest, but uncertain regularity. (I’m thinking a couple of posts a week. Ish.) But as several have cautioned us: Don’t you dare let typing on your laptop interfere with embracing the life. Well, I assure you, my friends, that won’t be a problem. 
• You’re not going to find any pop-up ads or solicitations on the site. We’re not monetizing Nomad Life 180. That’s not what this is all about. Though I will hot-link our mentions of places we support: lodging, restaurants, activities. And you’ll find separate site-pages set up with summary info and links to our favorite experiences. Enjoy those if you choose.
• We’ll spend our first 5 weeks in Kirkland, Washington, with regular drives out to Cle Elum for grandkid sports and birthday celebrations. And making the rounds of our familiar haunts of 30 years. (Might as well take advantage of those lifetime Blockhead membership discounts at Big Block Brewing!)

• And there’s still a lot to get organized for our 3 weeks in the Eastern U.S. and 12 weeks in Europe. Like what clothes to pack! There’ll be a near 20 degree temperature difference between Ireland/Scotland vs. Italy. How’s that gonna work?!
• As for the big travel - the much anticipated nomad adventure - well, that all begins on June 30 with our flight to Charleston, South Carolina.

Okay, time to put a bow on our season in Baja Sur and await our driver Angel, who’ll deliver us to the San Jose airport. Little did we know our favorite server at the excellent Jazamango Cafe also has a family rental car and transport company. So glad we mentioned our travels to him at breakfast the other morning.  

We’ll be in touch.