Roaming in Retirement

Since my last update, I've stumbled upon a whole new set of unexpected adventures. As I write this, I'm on a flight back to Toronto after spending three weeks in Costa Rica. I must say, this journey was far from a simple "sipping cocktails by the beach" kind of vacation. Instead, it transformed into a profound lesson in emotional support, tropical surprises, and the undeniable excitement (and anxieties) of immersing myself in local culture. When your daughter reaches out to you, you respond—ants, strong currents, closed roads, lost car keys, and all the chaos in between. First, let’s talk about motherhood in an unfamiliar country. I managed to shake off my travel cough just in time to jump right into full mom-mode, supporting my daughter as she navigated significant life changes. While I won’t share every single detail (a mother never reveals everything), let’s say that history has a way of repeating itself. Guiding her through this experience reminded me of our share...

Following a snug seven-hour layover in Toronto (where the lounge staff likely began to think I had taken up residence), I boarded my flight to Costa Rica, eager for sunshine, excitement, and an endless supply of pineapples and bananas. Settling into my aisle seat, I prepared myself for the classic airplane gamble: Would the seat beside me remain delightfully vacant? For a brief moment, it appeared the travel deities were favouring me. But, unfortunately, they had other intentions. Just prior to takeoff, my new seatmate appeared—a delightful gentleman who had just arrived from a flight in Dubai. He possessed a charming personality and an equally pronounced cough that he generously distributed into our shared airspace.  Fast-forward two days into my stay in Costa Rica, and there I found myself: feverish, coughing up what felt like a significant portion of a lung, and questioning why I hadn’t packed a hazmat suit in my carry-on. Welcome to Costa Rica, for sure. Fortunately, my daughte...