Travel style

I was "homeless" for about 4 years. I would stop in and visit my parents from time to time, but had no home. We sold everything in 2005....I mean everything. And traveled full time. We loved it. We tried to travel slow and loved spending a month or more in a particular country. We did a 10 week trip of China, including 10 days in an apartment in Shanghai and the same in Beijing. We really liked renting an apartment in a major city for a week at a time. Did that in Buenos Aires, Rome, Athens, Phuket, Patagonia, etc.

I use to have a backpack, but now only use a roller. I've traveled with it for years and have had no problems with the wheels. My wife's recently developed a wheel problem, but it is a 12 year old roller...so I guess it's time to replace it. My roller is a convertible with straps hidden in a compartment, but I've yet to use them. Even here in Asia...but I am a bit adverse to using scooter taxis if I don't have to!

We bought a home here in Thailand and I have to say, we are really happy! It is a beautiful pool villa, less than 500M to the sea. We still plan to travel, but at least now have a home base. Even though it is empty as we have no "stuff"!

But we do miss being "homeless". We talk about it all the time...as we sit in our pool with a cocktail and watch the sunset. We do plan to sell in 4-6 years and go on the road again for a few years.

I'm 56 years old. I started travelling independently around the world in 1976 alone doing the fabulous overlandroute to Australia using the first LP-guide. Met my wife and travelled again every year to and exotic destination including twice one year in 1985 and 1987 around Africa and Asia and the America's.
Got 3 kids and started trekking with the five of us every year for at least 2 months, including 3 times for an entire year in 1993, 1997 and 2007 in every continent of the globe.
Kids grow up fast but the youngest still likes to join us this year to South Africa and Tanzania.
I just want to say that I travel for 35 years by now, visited about 70 countries worldwide and I still love it. Age is of no importance.

I travel to see birds not to make friends, and I just look for the best deal. Nothing is off the table. I won't scorn a tour. A tour with a top guide is worth the money, and I think have taken 7 or 8 hawk-watching tours over the years, several with my husband, one with a close friend -- the guides in question were the tops in their field, not just as guides, but as ornithologists and hawk specialists. However, if I have a cheap or free air ticket and no one else is going that way, I can find a cheap hostel, a map, and make my own way. I won't get as many birds, but I'll get more than if I stayed home. :-) I travel backpacker style, staying in hostels, mostly when traveling alone. My husband likes ensuite hotels, but we still often travel independently, moving from place to place at our own speed. But there are times when the price for a package is just too good, and too efficient, to pass up. So I've done everything -- packages, tours, independent, backpacking, staying in a tent or in the back of a van. I'll do what it takes to get where I'm going. I'm not a snob about it.

I've even done cruises, when I got them for free, but I don't think they're a good deal if I was paying, because you get off the boat too late in the day for the best birds. It's all what you're looking for. Some people, from their posts, just seem to be looking to socialize and drink -- not the older travelers on this branch but we've all met these people so don't even pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. It's hard to figure why a cruise wouldn't be THEIR best option. Lots of people, lots of booze, it's perfect...for them.

As Stema said, age is of no importance. There are wimps of all ages. I met a young man who expressed shock that I had traveled to Kenya, and I met an old man who told me I would be killed by Al Qaeda if I traveled to Madagascar. It has nothing to do with age, it has to do with some people's comfort zone is smaller than other people's. I won't scorn comfort if it's there, but I won't give up a good trip because it isn't The Hotel.

My hard drive got corrupted a while back and I lost all of my bookmarks, so if anyone has read this far, who has a good travel agent or tour guide (especially for parrot tours) in Boliva, feel free to let me know!

I mainly stay in dorms at hostels or cheap guest houses. IF I had the money I think I would upgrade to fancier guest houses or B&Bs but hotels would just be too lonely as a lone traveler. I would miss all the travel tips I pick up from other budget travelers too. Anyways....I would rather travel and explore on a cheap budget for a few months than a couple of weeks of fancier places. I usually travel with a carry on size back pack or a cheap light weight wheelie also of carry on size. I use public transport and walk my legs off. I love the independence of travel by myself and besides.....hubby is ready to go home after a week. When we do trips together it is a road trip for a week on the mainland US or going to visit relatives. aloha

Peachfront, we are similar to you, keen birders especially parrots and we stay in nicer places usually from frequent flyer miles or hotel points. I tried to post links and the post got kicked out so if you go on Facebook and search for Feathered and Free (my group) and Bird Endowment (Bolivia-Blue-throated Macaw specialist) they can help you. Tell them Tara sent you.