Boy, does time fly. I’ve now been in Mexico for four months, and I have a number of new cities under my belt! After leaving Puerto Vallarta in early April, I went to La Mazanilla, Melaque, Mazamitla, Morelia, and Patzcuaro. I spent the long Easter weekend in San Miguel de Allende, a night in Querétaro, [...]
Category: Travel
Practical travel tips for the female solo traveler on a budget, plus personal experiences and philosophies.
My Experience Getting 180 Days in Mexico as a Tourist (In 2022)
“Were you worried about getting 180 days in Mexico on your tourist permit?” is a question I’ve received quite a bit since arriving in Mexico in January of 2022… so I’ve decided to go in-depth on my experience for all my readers! Read on...
How Solo Travel (In Mexico) Has Changed Me
I’m back in San Miguel de Allende for Easter. It's the first city I visited when I arrived in Mexico over 3 months ago, and the first city I’ve come back to… and I’m seeing it in a whole different light. Why? Because I was a different person back then; I didn't have the confidence and the know-how I have now.
My Mexico Road Trip: Where I’ve Been and What I Thought
"What’s been your favorite place in Mexico?” is a question I keep getting — and my answer is…
How Much I Spent in Month #3 in Mexico (Puerta Vallarta Edition)
Hola mis amigos, I am back with another spending recap for my THIRD month living in Mexico after quitting my job and taking an early (temporary) retirement to travel!! Damn, time flies! My January spending was just a bit inflated since I had some immigration and vehicle import costs and a 6-month policy for Mexican [...]
I’m a Nomad, But No, I Won’t Consider a Long-Distance Relationship (+ Caveat)
I’ve spent the past six years largely single. I’ve been on too many first dates to count. I’ve had a couple brief romantic attachments. I even thought I was falling in love once or twice — that there was serious long-term potential — ready to go all-in. I’ve been over-the-moon in rose-colored bliss, and I’ve [...]
The Three Mantras I Adopted That Inspired Me to Leave My Traditional Life Behind
Three-bedroom house and 2-car garage. Six-figure salary and company-sponsored health care. My family, friends, and country of origin. I had all the stability and security and comfort in the world, and I gave it all up. I wrestled with my decision for a really long time, and I ran through scenarios, numbers, and options. Sure, it didn't make logical sense. Who would throw away a money-making asset such as a house? Why leave a job that more than paid the bills, that allowed me to live nomadically and travel the U.S. while working remotely? Who would drive to Mexico and stay for 6 months, leaving her family, friends, language, and way of life behind? It didn't make sense, but I kept on dreaming. My longings for a life of adventure, of discovery, of escaping tradition and societal expectations — couldn't be silenced. And so I adopted these three mantras, which I hold dear to me and share with you now.
How Full-Time Travel Helped Cure My Eating Disorder
With all the beach, bikini, and food pics lately, it’s no surprise I’ve gotten quite a few derivatives of the question: “How do you not weigh 400 pounds?” or “How do you stay thin eating all that?” While well-meaning, these comments highlight an unhealthy (pun intended) way of thinking: that in order to look good and feel confident — one needs to eat restrictively. I used to buy into all into that. I developed anorexia, body dysmorphia, binge eating disorder. This is a tale of how the scale ruled my life, my self-image, and my emotional well-being... for half my life.
How Safe Do I Feel in Mexico… Really?
This week marked a few milestones on my epic 180-day Mexico road trip: my 9th week in Mexico (17 weeks to go!), 2,500 kilometers driven in Mexico, AND my 9th home base (Puerto Vallarta). So, now that I feel really very comfortable in Mexico — getting around, conversing, the ways of doing things — I feel much better suited to answer that persistent question: “How safe do you *really* feel in Mexico?”
My Spending Breakdown for Mexico, Month #2
Hola mis amigos, I am back with another spending recap for my second month living in Mexico. As you know, month one was just a bit inflated since I had some immigration and vehicle import costs and a 6-month policy for Mexican car insurance. So, how did I fare in my second month (segundo mes)? [...]
7-Day Itinerary for San Miguel de Allende with Photos (Plus Dog-Friendly Spots!)
As a nomad, I constantly find myself at odds with both wanting to stay in a community to immerse myself more fully, and wanting to keep moving to the next place. It’s kind of a dilemma! Case in point: in January and early February 2022, I decided to stay put longer than usual because I [...]
I Looked Before I Leapt: How I Spent The Last 4 1/2 Years Getting Ready to Quit My Job and Travel the World
Before you say, "I’m one of those people who will never get ahead, who will never be able to save, who will never be able to not work"... in 2017, I had no job, a car I owed on, a $1,350 house payment on a house full of stuff I never used, peanuts in my 401K, and only $1,500 in cash. That was my situation, and I made changes. You can too.
Dining Out, Hotels, Safety, Vet Care and Food: How Dog-Friendly is Mexico?
My 5-year-old, 26-pound miniature Australian shepherd Penny es mi vida y mi mejor amiga (my life and my best friend!). I have had her since she was a mere 7 weeks old, and ever since, I’ve never been away from her for longer than a month! In her five years on this earth, together, we’ve [...]
13 of My Favorite Street Art Murals in San Miguel de Allende
I'm a sucker for murals and wall art — I deliberately seek them out when I travel. Lucky for me, San Miguel de Allende is positively littered with them, as I discovered during my five weeks in the city. Here's a few of my favorite murals. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do, whether you're visiting SMA or living vicariously through my photos!
Spending Breakdown for My First Month Living in Mexico: I Spent $2,367
I’ve never believed in living a life of restriction and deferred enjoyment, of saving up your money for a luxurious retirement that may never come. It’s just not me, nor is it what this blog is about. I’m ok without designer purses, new cars, and brand name clothes. I don’t stay or eat at the [...]
I Get By… With a Little Help From My Favorite Apps and Tools
Over the last few years, through much research, trial, and error, I've found my must-have apps and favorite things for nomads and frequent travelers/expats... including an international no-fee ATM card, my favorite travel points credit card, health insurance for expats, renter's insurance, and where I get free audiobooks, to name a few. Since you guys often ask me, "What do you use for _____?"... here you go!
An American Woman Driving in Mexico: Prepping for my Mexico Road Trip from the U.S.
I embarked on my cross-Mexico road trip a few weeks ago. While I had driven in Mexico before, this time was different: one, I am a solo female. Two, I was going deep into the heart of Mexico. Three, I'll be driving around Mexico for six whole months! These are the preparations and precautions I took for the trip, plus some advice for getting gas and for solo women.
Privilege, Luck, or Choice: How I’m Able to Do What I’m Doing
How am I able to do what I’m doing — quit my job at age 36 to travel the world? Critics call it privilege, and I’m not denying certain benefits I’ve had, but I want to get real for a second. There’s privilege, there’s luck, and there’s choice, and the differences are distinct.
My 3 Rules For Finding Balance while Traveling, From a Full-Time Nomad
"Uh oh, I better maximize my vacation and have all the fun because the clock is ticking!" "Uh oh, my free time on vacation is finite so I better choose all the best activities and nothing better go wrong!" "Uh oh, sleeping in or just taking it easy while on vacation means I'm wasting my precious time!" See how the scarcity mindset sets you up to fail? I have since learned to think of time in abundance to find balance while traveling, and you should too.
My 2021 Budget Breakdown as a Solo Nomad in the U.S.
As you all know if you’re reading this blog, 2021 was my first full year of full-time nomadic living. And since there are a lot of you who tell me, “Julie, I wish I could do what you’re doing!” and cite cost as a factor, I want to bare my actual spending to you so you can: - See what I chose to spend money on and compare to your own spending - See where you could cut or make adjustments - See where you could share costs with a friend or partner and how that could significantly affect the numbers - See how I plan to cut in 2022, since as of mid-December 2021 I don’t have a job and will be in Mexico starting January. Read on...
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