Welcome to our Travel Blog

For 2015, I am adding blogging to my list of new experiences since my retirement last year.  Retirement is a pretty cool thing if you have something to keep you busy. My wife Esther retired in 2013 and bought a CruiseOne travel franchise, and she has never been busier, but never happier.   

Here’s a partial list of my new experiences since retirement:

• Working for my wife – She generously made me a partner in the business, but that comes with expectations for me to pull my weight.   My performance reviews to date have not been very favorable.
• Setting the alarm to get up before the cleaning lady shows up once every two weeks.
• Going to the gym in the middle of the day.  (OK, full disclosure – going to the gym at all has been a new experience.)
• Taking 13 trips in one year!  

That last one is the primary reason we decided a blog would be a worthwhile endeavor – we have had so much fun and done so many different things that we want to share with our friends, family, and all interested travelers.  Our goal is to let readers know where we have been, where we are going, what we are doing, and what we like and dislike about our travels.  We hope we can present a fresh perspective as a husband and wife team – Esther’s concept was a “He Says, She Says” type of article which would let both genders hear from one of their own.   

Dinner in Paris

Our hope is that sharing what we learn and experience will both inspire you to travel and help you make more informed decisions.   If you decide we might be a good resource for planning and booking your next vacation, then that would be a bonus for us.  We have also found that one of the most enjoyable aspects of our travels has been meeting new people and making new friends, so if this blog helps that happen, that’s another bonus.

The blog title and taglines were purposefully chosen to have dual meanings – we love to travel in groups, and anticipate continuing that with those we have already gone with, and enlarging our circle of fellow explorers.  Or just travel vicariously with us through this blog.  Follow us here, or embark on your next adventure and come back and tell us about it.   You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/placestosea.

One thing we have learned as travel specialists – the choices of destinations, modes of travel, tour opportunities, resorts, adventures, and cost options are virtually unlimited.  With the infinite amount of information on the internet nowadays, many think travel agents are no longer useful – but the truth is, they have never been more valuable to help sift through the travel universe, and they don’t cost you a dime!  (Is my travel agent bias showing?)  Top Reasons to Use a Travel Agent is a future topic. 

We can’t think of a better way to spend our retirement than to see the world, and feel so fortunate to be able to do it at a relatively young age.  I just turned 58, and Esther is …….. much younger.   In future posts, we will talk about the places we have been, and where we plan to go.  We welcome all comments and look forward to a successful sharing of experiences!