Discussing the challenges, rewards, and drawbacks of living overseas. Follow our decision to sell our home and live abroad until the housing market adjusts. Information for the would-be expat, digital nomad, roving retiree, or just plain traveler. Host Jim Santos is a published travel writer with over 200 articles and seven books (jimsantos.net). He and his wife Rita lived in Ecuador for 6 years, and are currently test-driving the roving retirement lifestyle. Jim is also the host of the popu ...
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Send us a text What happens when a retired Army veteran channels her passion for exploration into a thriving luxury travel business? Meet Jenifer Breaux, owner of JB Travel Pros, who shares her incredible journey from her roots in northeastern Ohio to becoming an expert in crafting unforgettable travel experiences. Inspired by family trips and a li…
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Send us a text Ever wondered how a childhood passion can blossom into a prolific career? Join us as we chat with Julie Diebolt Price, a seasoned travel writer and photographer who transformed her early love for snapping photos with a Brownie camera into a life filled with published works and global adventures. Julie shares her unexpected journey, o…
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Send us a text Can one transformative trip change your entire life? Neo Johnson's story suggests it can. Starting from a dark period in 2019, Neo recounts how a tragic loss prompted his journey towards a life filled with travel, personal growth, and unexpected discoveries. Listen as Neo details his experience of visiting 72 countries, from his firs…
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Send us a text What does it take to leave a stable career in Corporate America and become a globetrotting travel writer? Join us as we journey with Amy Piper, who did just that! Amy's transition is nothing short of inspiring, and she brings us along on her adventures from a thrilling photo safari in Tanzania to an eagerly anticipated culinary exped…
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Send us a text Ever wondered if a shared love for travel could reignite the spark in a long-term marriage? Meet Zeke and Terri Mead, who were on the verge of divorce after 25 years together until the COVID-19 lockdown forced them into close quarters. Discover how daily intimacy, vulnerability, and therapy, combined with their mutual but diverse int…
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Send us a text What happens when a young couple swaps their wedding vows for an epic global adventure? Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Seth and Sarah, who did just that—and came back with more than souvenirs. This episode unveils their incredible journey from backpacking across continents to the unexpected joy of parenthood, all while …
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Send us a text Imagine going from the daily grind of dairy farming and city commuting to embracing the freedom of life on the road. Meet Mandy and Tui Travers, native New Zealanders who, after a life-altering accident at 60, decided to sell their home and embark on an adventurous journey in a caravan. In our latest episode, they share their incredi…
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Send us a text Can eSIM technology transform your travel experience for good? In the 26th episode of "Travels with Jim and Rita," we celebrate a significant milestone by sharing the tech and travel hacks that have shaped our journey over the past six months. From the game-changing convenience of eSIMs and Global Entry passes to the luxury of airpor…
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Send us a text Have you ever wondered how to travel the world on a tight budget while experiencing life-changing adventures? Join us as we chat with Laura Lisensky, a high school biology teacher and host of the "Travel Along with Laura" podcast, who shares her incredible journey from studying in Scotland to serving in the Peace Corps in Benin, West…
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Send us a text Ever wondered how to balance life's responsibilities while nurturing a passion for exploring the world solo? Join us in our latest episode featuring Clarice Pereira, an intrepid solo traveler from Singapore. Clarice shares her incredible journey of caring for her family while pursuing her love for travel, offering invaluable insights…
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Send us a Text Message. Can language transform the way we experience the world? On this episode of "Travels with Jim and Rita," we explore our summer adventures, from cat-sitting in Carmel, Indiana to preparing for an epic European journey. We discuss the surprising joys and challenges of spending summer in the US, and the invaluable gift of reconn…
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Send us a text What happens when you combine adventurous spirits with a keen eye on budgeting? Join us as we recount our memorable journey through Panama City and Playa Coronado, where we faced both triumphs and challenges. From the affordable Airbnb stays and vibrant local markets in Panama City to the higher costs and limited amenities in Playa C…
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Send us a text Ever wondered how relocating to a new country could transform your life and open up new horizons for your family? Join us as we recount our chaotic yet exhilarating journey from Mexico to Knoxville, marred by flight delays and lost luggage but enriched by an illuminating interview with Michelle Wedderburn from San Miguel de Allende. …
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Send us a text What if you could leave everything behind and start anew in a vibrant, culturally rich city? Join us as we wrap up our incredible journey in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. This week, we reminisce about our adventures at the bustling Tuesday Market. Our special guest, Phyllis Gordon, provides an inspiring narrative about her spontaneo…
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Send us a Text Message. Embark with Rita and myself on an enthralling exploration of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico—where a curtain of darkness from a city-wide blackout veiled our path, yet opened our eyes to the profound lessons of safety and vulnerability encountered while traveling. We're then joined by an extraordinary guest, Colleen O'Neill Mu…
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Send us a text Nestled in the vibrant heart of San Miguel de Allende, Rita and I have found a rhythm to life that pulses with the local flair—and yes, even an encounter with Montezuma's revenge. But it's the stories that we're really excited to share with you, particularly those from Jennifer M. Sparks, who swapped her rocket scientist badge for a …
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Send us a Text Message. Ever wonder how the slow burn of travel can ignite a soulful transformation? Join us, Jim and Rita, as we recount the tales of San Miguel del Allende's sizzling May heat, where our quest for coolness led us to uncover the cultural gems of this historic Mexican town. We're spilling the beans on navigating local markets brimmi…
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Send us a Text Message. As Rita and I waved goodbye to our Knoxville abode, little did we know that the salty breeze of Playa del Carmen would become our new lullaby. Our latest episode is a tapestry of tales from our sun-kissed days at Sunset Fisherman's Spa and Resort, to the cultural weave of Cozumel where we rendezvoused with Bel Woodhouse, Int…
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Send us a text Embarking on a nomadic lifestyle isn't just a leap into the unknown; it's a dance with new horizons. Join us, Rita and Jim Santos, as we swap the familiarity of Knoxville for the sun-kissed beaches of Mexico and the rustic charm of mountain villages, all while debunking the myth that living abroad is an escape from American life. Our…
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Send us a Text Message. Picture this: you're surrounded by boxes, the remnants of a life you're packing up to explore the unknown. That's the scene Rita and I find ourselves in, and it's where our conversation with Corey Mortensen begins. He's a man who's mastered the ebb and flow of a life lived on the move, having ventured across the globe not ju…
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Send us a text join us, Jim and Rita Santos, as we unfold the map to a future unchained from the conventional moorings of a stationary home. Discover how we're securing our retirement savings by side-stepping the unpredictable real estate market and why High Yield Savings Accounts (HYSAs) have caught our eye. We're also unpacking the potential of b…
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Send us a text Embark on a voyage of discovery with the intrepid Maya and Dave, whose leap from the classroom to the vast world has led to a retirement brimming with purpose and adventure. As former educators, their tale is one of financial foresight and embracing a minimalist lifestyle to fuel a passion for exploration. In this episode, they take …
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Send us a text Embark with us, Jim and Rita Santos, on a reflective journey through our time on the sun-kissed shores of Salinas, Ecuador. Now, with suitcases almost packed, we're casting an eager gaze towards Mexico. We sit down with Kimberly Kagan-Campbell, our seasoned real estate guide from our Ecuadorian days, to delve into the shifting sands …
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Send us a text Escape with us to the tropical allure of Playa Coronado as Panama enthusiast Diane Maxwell shares the hidden gems and candid realities of expat life in this sun-kissed paradise. Diane, with her wealth of knowledge and decade plus of Panamanian adventures, reveals why this country's charm is more than just its postcard-perfect beaches…
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Send us a text Have you ever wondered what it takes to trade a stationary life for one of global exploration? Join us as we chat with Kevin and Bonita, a couple who've made the leap from the comfort of their US home to the exhilarating uncertainties of backpacking the world. Their story begins with heartfelt goodbyes to their possessions, a journey…
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Send us a text Join our escapade through the vibrant life of Panama as we, alongside seasoned expats Lesa Wollman, Stu Singleton, and their adventurous dog Ziggy, unveil the realities of forging a new path in the historic Casco Viejo. From the bustling streets of Panama City to the serene shores of Playa Coronado, we share the rhythm of everyday li…
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Send us a text Embarking on a life less ordinary, Rita and I, Jim Santos, peeled back the layers of traditional retirement to reveal a tapestry woven with adventure and discovery. Our tale begins with shared grief, leading to a partnership rooted in the love of exploration. When the familiar confines of the United States seemed too small, we chased…
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Send us a text Have you ever woken up one day and decided to flip your life upside down for an adventure abroad? Well, that's exactly what we, Jim and Rita Santos, did, and we're taking you along for the ride. Our journey from selling our home in Knoxville to budgeting in the sunny climes of Panama is no ordinary tale. We confront the unexpected—li…
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Send us a text Have you ever wondered if the expat life is as glamorous as it sounds or if it's just a series of unexpected trials? Rita and I are here to give you the unvarnished truth, sharing our latest escapades in Panama, where the beauty of Playa Coronado meets the frustration of a broken air conditioner. It's a tale of resilience, as we bala…
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Send us a text Embark with Rita and me on a remarkable expedition, as we reveal the secrets of stretching our retirement dollars in sun-kissed locales. Our latest podcast episode whisks you away to the coasts of Playa Coronado in Panama and then to the rich biodiversity of Costa Rica, where a new visitor policy could signal our next home. Special g…
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Send us a text As Rita and I wave goodbye to the high-rises and vibrant streets of Panama City, we're brimming with tales to share from our month-long exploration. The city's blend of bustling markets and serene Malicon walks left us with a mix of admiration and longing for what's next. Our latest podcast episode takes you through the sensory delig…
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Send us a text Embark on a remarkable odyssey with us, Rita and Jim Santos, as we chronicle the seismic shifts of trading a brick-and-mortar life for a boundless horizon of international retirement. Our hearts racing and our house on the market, we sit down with nomadic trailblazers Todd Hilton and Daman Morris—veterans of a seven-year, 28-country …
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Send us a text Ever fantasized about selling everything to explore the world? That's precisely what we, Jim and Rita, are doing as we turn our golden years into a globetrotting adventure. Buckle up for an episode that peels back the curtain on our daring decision to sell our home, dive into retirement travel, and live life to the fullest abroad. We…
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