Countdown: All Dressed Up and No Place to Go

Countdown to expat moving day

Tomorrow is February 1, the day we had planned to move to Panama. But we’re not going. Why? Still no tenants for our Florida house. Everything else is poised and ready. Once we get the go-ahead — in the form of a signed lease agreement — we’re ready to whip into our last-minute action. Until [...]

Countdown! Uncertainty Rules

Countdown to expat moving day

As we approach our planned exit date, uncertainty has taken over. No, not uncertainty about whether we should go, uncertainty about the timing. Until we have a signed lease agreement for our house, we’re not buying tickets or going anywhere. Our rental agent had been very sanguine about finding tenants in the allotted time, but [...]

Countdown! Less than 30 Days to Panama

Countdown to expat moving day

Wow, the time is really flying by as we get closer to our move to Panama. It seems just last week When I started this weekly recount of all the preparation steps we’d taken toward our upcoming Panama move. But actually, it was two months ago! Now we’re within 30 days of our projected move [...]

Countdown: Why Did I Ever Think Moving Right After Christmas was a Good Idea?

Countdown to expat moving day

Last week we skipped the Countdown post because we were doing the 12 Days of Christmas guide to expat gift-giving, so we’ll combine weeks 6 & 7 this week. In this installment we’ll review the steps we took over the last two weeks toward getting ourselves moved from Orlando to Panama. At this point, I’m [...]

Twelve Prep the Move Tools

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas

Here’s the last in our 12 Days of Christmas series of gift-giving ideas for expats. Everything recommended in Days 1-12 will help you or someone near and dear to you plan and execute their overseas move. Now on the final day, we’re focusing on books and products that will help you prepare for this momentous [...]

Countdown! Week 5 Already!

Countdown to expat moving day

Wow, I can’t believe this is the fifth week of Countdown! posts. When we got within the 90-day window for our move to Panama, I started this weekly recount of all the preparation steps we’d taken during the week. Any move is a big undertaking, but the first overseas move is ginormous, so I thought [...]

Countdown! Sleepless Nights

Countdown to expat moving day

I think this week’s countdown can be described as “sleep-deprived zombieland.” The end of our fourth countdown week saw us taking away our dogs’ big wire crate where they’ve happily slept at night for several years, and putting them in their spacious travel kennels to sleep. It wasn’t a happy experience, for them or for [...]

Countdown! Spinning in Circles

Countdown to expat moving day

This week has been characterized by some nice relaxing-with-friends time, and spinning in circles. We’ve just completed the third week in our countdown toward our Panama move, and the week was a pretty mixed bag of getting stuff done, relaxing, and frustration. You can see previous Countdown! posts here. I hope that sharing what we’re [...]

From Africa to Central America: 12 Expat Blogs Worth Watching

It’s been a while since I shared some of the expat-related blogs and websites I’ve been reading. Time for another roundup of interesting blogs by and about expats! Here are an even dozen for your enjoyment. Africa Africa Expat Wives, a UK citizen moves to Africa two days after her marriage, and raises a family [...]

Hopes, Plans and Dreams

Life can turn upside down in a heartbeat — or in a lack of a heartbeat. Last year I told you about my father’s passing after a long, difficult illness. At the time I wrote, “My father’s death has reminded me — viciously and viscerally — just how short life is. If you delay your [...]

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