Have you ever wondered how it feels to dig up and then hold a piece of pottery in your hand that hasn’t been touched by another human in hundreds or thousands of years? I’ve had the privilege of doing just that! Taking a trowel in hand, plunking down in the hard hot dirt and carefully …more

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The experiences that come with being a retired expat mean that, very quickly, we are put in a position when we learn more about ourselves. Characteristics that we learn to associate with those from other nations are usually quickly dispelled and, hopefully, we begin to learn more about people of other faiths, cultures and those …more

I just read an interesting statistic. The average US household uses 46 squares of toilet paper per person per day. Now based on the fact that the current US population is 313.9 million persons, that comes to about 14 billion squares per person per day – after adjusting downward for those persons who either use …more

It’s funny how a holiday destination becomes the place you want to move to and spend your foreseeable future when you least expect it. Arriving in a new country and spending a vacation there can either blind you from the imperfections and struggles of daily life or make you want to grab them and call …more

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One Saturday night earlier this year I waited backstage muttering “l’allodola” under my breath, while a young jazz musician with a bright white satin tie covered in musical notation chatted to me, clearly trying to cheer me up. “I’m really English,” he said in Italian, “aren’t you impressed by my Italian?” Applause drifted back stage …more

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While saving enough money to pay for retirement is important, it’s also essential to plan what you’ll do with all that free time. Sure, at first you’ll be happy relaxing, watching movies, reading books, and gardening. However, now that we’re all living longer, these activities probably won’t keep you entertained for the next 20 to …more

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When I first moved to Paris, it was all rainbows and unicorns. Or maybe more specifically, red potted geraniums and French wrought iron balconies. My rose-tinted vision of the City of Light was hopelessly romantic, the stuff that dreams were made of. That was almost two years ago.   Sometimes that moment feels like a …more

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Now that I’m retired and have plenty of time on my hands, there’s no excuse to turn down my eighty-nine year old mother when she wants or needs to be driven somewhere. It isn’t that I don’t enjoy spending time with her (a lie) but what really annoys me is having to hear all about …more