In this week’s newsletter, I express my heartfelt wish for you in 2026: May you get out of your comfort zone! A guest post by Ryan Berman, author of Headamentals, sent to me by Chip Conelly, founder of the Modern Elder Academy, inspired this wish.
Ryan wrote:
“…According to the National Science Foundation, the average person has roughly 48,000 negative thoughts every 24 hours.”
What really got me was this: “…Studies also revealed that up to 90% of those debilitating thoughts are repetitive.” We don’t even try to do the things the little voice says we can’t do. And that includes traveling. Do you think to yourself: I can’t go, I’m too old to bungee jump, I can’t afford it, What if I get sick on the road?
In this week’s Podcast Anyone Can be An Adventurer, and in this week’s newsletter, I help you get that voice out of your head and make travel an adventure again.
Our usual sections reflect MY 2026 WISH FOR YOU:
Ask Adriane: I noticed I am braver on vacation than in my home life. Why is that?
News You Can Use: How to buy property abroad, if, like me, you have been hesitating for years.
Culture Vulturing: How to choose an exotic location to visit for your next adventure.
Luxury Travel for Less: How to pack to save the cost of airline luggage fees and still look great. My tips will eliminate the luggage hassle and get you traveling.
Don’t miss our free eBooks, exclusive discounts, and new AI-for-Travel Guide. Visit AgelessTraveler.com and subscribe to stay updated. When you use our affiliate links for Booking.com, GetYourGuide, Hotels.com, or CruisesIt, you’ll get the best deals while helping us keep travel age-friendly and inspiring.
This Week’s Highlights
On Our Podcast
In this week’s Podcast, I cover great adventures you can enjoy.
We look at studies and examples of how you can increase your adventurous spirit and recharge your love of travel. Doing so increases your self-confidence and makes you more independent.
And we look at some of the adventures I have experienced that I never thought I could manage. Just a few include chasing icebergs in Greenland, Iguazu Falls in Argentina, and trekking in Uganda. Get your travel hat on and adventure with me.
If getting out of your comfort zone and seeking the exotic is on your radar for 2026, here are the ten places I would consider: Uzbekistan, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, Warsaw, Poland, the beaches of Brazil, Uganda, Marrakech, Morocco, The Dry Tortugas, USA, The South China Sea, Malacca, Malaysia, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Now you choose your own adventure. Here’s how:
Step 1: What adventure books did you read, especially as a kid? What setting really gets you? Is it Downton Abbey or Life on the Mississippi?
Step 2: After you have jotted down what locations turn you on in literature and/or the movies, picture yourself in a few of those places. What is the weather? Yes, when it comes to the exotic weather, it is a key factor…do you love the cold, the heat, or the tropics? Choose a location with weather that is most comfortable for you.
Step 3: Ask yourself why you are fascinated with the North Pole, the jungle, the open sea, or whatever came up for you…and with that answer and a bit of googling, you can see whether the locations of your choice deliver those experiences. Or: Ask Adriane. Give me your parameters, and I will make suggestions for 2026 that fit.
It is time to get out of your comfort zone and pack differently. I have discovered that even veteran travelers pack too much…MUCH too much.
Here is an effortless way to pack right.
For trips under two weeks, use an oversized purse or tote bag for men and a carry-on. Over two weeks, take a regular-sized suitcase. Over a month, take a super-size bag (just one)
Always use packing cubes. I have a lovely set from Tripped and got us a discount.
Pack a monochrome wardrobe. It’s no use being flashy, but you can be sleek and fashionable forward.
Take travel-sized items, from shampoo to snacks. And if you are going to a hotel or a ship, there is no need for lotions or shampoo, they are in your room.
Pack shoes you can walk in and that also look classy.
Done. Oh yes… do not forget one bathing suit wherever you are going… You never know.
Friends Meeting Friends
Here’s A Fresh Perspective on Midlife and Aging
The Late Bloomer Living Podcast inspires you to find joy, embrace change, and live playfully at ANY age. Whether you’re navigating midlife, moving beyond it, launching a new career, or simply looking for more fun and fulfillment, this show will empower you to take bold steps toward the life you truly want.
Redefining What’s Possible at Midlife & Beyond
Every Wednesday, join host Yvonne Marchese on latebloomerliving.com as she interviews inspiring guests who’ve dared to reinvent themselves after 40 and experts who provide valuable guidance on navigating the unique challenges of midlife and beyond.
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