Dear Ageless Traveler,

Hooray! You’ve spoken, and I’ve heard you loud and clear. Thank you for your questions and suggestions at fanlist.com/agelesstraveler — connecting directly with each of you is always fantastic. Keep your questions and comments coming.

This week, you can meet me online! On May 22nd at 4 pm Pacific, 7 pm Eastern Time, I join Journeywoman’s Carolyn Ray and other experts to share essential tips to make your journey safe, fun, and to expand your circle of true friends.

It’s free on Zoom. Get your link at: https://journeywoman.kit.com/5d61b5d534.

I’m following up on a listener’s request to feature travel memoir writing on this week’s podcast of The Ageless Traveler. Whether you’re new to writing or a seasoned storyteller, there’s something in this podcast for everyone.

On this week’s blog, I feature an article by travel writer Fyllis Hockman on a trip down the Snake River with Lewis and Clark. Her breezy style and thorough coverage will delight you.

And if you want to hear from a veteran travel memoir writer, one of The Ageless Traveler’s first podcast interviews was with Judith Frizlen. Check out the interview here.

You also asked for more money-saving travel tips. In this issue, I reveal two of the best cost-cutters, People Like Us, a new home swapping site, and Cruises It, to save thousands of dollars on river and ocean cruises.

Finally, if you’re in LA, don’t miss “Mostly Midsummer!” A brilliant mash-up of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Romeo and Juliet” in a trendy Silver Lake outdoor theater. I don’t recommend shows lightly — this one’s worth watching.

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P.S. Our safari to Kenya and Tanzania is planned for Sept 14-27 through Collette Tours at an excellent price for luxury. But you only have until May 30 to let me know you are interested. Get the details on our podcast, YouTube, and on our website. ​

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P.P.S. Our newsletter is taking hold. I want everyone to have access to it. Please refer a friend, and if you are reading this on LinkedIn, subscribe HERE. Every subscriber gets my gift of effortless ways to plan a trip, even using AI if you are tech-challenged like me. ​

This Week’s Highlights

On Our Podcast How To Write a Travel Memoir

In this episode, I cover:

• What is a travel memoir?
• Defining your purpose in writing
• Diary vs. memoir
• Choosing a topic
• Your style
• Writing in the real world
• Discovering who you are: being the protagonist.
• Memory vs. research and accuracy
• Sharing with others

Why should you write a memoir of any kind relating to your experiences? The best reason I have ever heard of was provided by Marion Milner in ‘A Life of One’s Own,’ when she wrote:

“Not only did I find that trying to describe my experience enhanced the quality of it, but also this effort to describe had made me more observant of the small movements of the mind. So now I began to discover that there were a multitude of ways of perceiving, ways that were controllable by what I can only describe as an internal gesture of the mind. ,,, but to explain just how it is done to someone who has never felt it for himself is like trying to explain how to move one’s ears.”

Here’s instant inspiration for your travel memoir.

Yes, it is hard to explain to others how to write a memoir, but I try by giving you examples of my writing. And as a prompt to inspire you, check out my interview with Martie McCabe, who weaves stories and teaches you to do the same, like show-and-tell in kindergarten. Use a travel souvenir as an instant prompt to tell your story: When did you acquire it? Why did it attract you? Where were you when you bought it? Why is it still relevant to you?

Have fun writing. Remember, write, write. Bring your stories into the world; no holds are barred!

Listen on any podcast platform. If you don’t know how to find one…see our website and click the one of your choice, Apple, Spotify, iHeart, etc., and Don’t Forget to leave a review.

Last Weekend to See Mostly Midsummer Calling all LA locals! If you’re in the vicinity, you must catch “Mostly Midsummer.” It’s a delightful blend of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Romeo and Juliet,” set in a quirky outdoor theater in trendy Silver Lake.

Trust me on this one. I travel the world for performances, and this one blew me away. Tickets are only $35, and it’s worth every penny for an intellectually stimulating, laughter-filled night with talented performers who are sure to charm you with their wit and talent. Dates are May 22, 23, and 24