Part of adulting, whether we like it or not, is estate planning. We last created an estate plan about 20 years ago. This was long before our son was born, and at a time when we owned a home and were considering a vacation home. Needless to say, a lot has changed, and it would be important to update our estate plan regardless. Yet, as we head off for slow travel, our situation is vastly different than that of most Americans, and thus, so is the...
No estate plan is complete without communicating information about what to do when you pass. Providing details on burial or cremation, how to announce your passing, any service desired, and more.This was actually the most difficult part of the process, emotionally anyway, as I really don’t plan to die anytime soon. It helped me to think about this in terms of making things easy on loved ones when it eventually happens.Thankfully, GoodTrust...
While we are United States citizens, we expect to have a slow travel lifestyle for many years to come. We don’t yet know how long. A lot will depend on how well we maintain our health, if we still enjoy the travel, where our son chooses to live/work, and if grandchildren enter the picture. At this point, we are planning as if we may never return to the US. We may even choose to ultimately go into an assisted care or nursing home overseas. We...
When I think about estate planning (health proxy aside - covered elsewhere), the primary thing that comes to mind is a will or a trust. However, there are a number of ancillary legal documents that may be necessary too, depending on your particular situation. We are not lawyers and have very limited experience drafting legal documents ourselves. However, we have a strong preference for research, discussion, and making our own decisions. For...
You may know about executors, either from your own estate plans or perhaps because you have been named an executor on the will of another. However, a digital executor is a separate entity, of increasing importance in modern society. At the very least, this is due to having a social media presence of some kind. However, as we increasingly have more and more electronic assets, like financial accounts and cloud storage, designating a digital...
It’s essential to have access to money, move it around, and pay bills as long term travelers. If something goes wrong it’s not as easy as simply running down to the bank to get it resolved. In our case we have our IRA’s with two different major companies as well an account with a local Florida bank. Aside from the Financial Power of Attorney (covered elsewhere) we spent time thinking about the tactical, day to day, aspects of getting cash,...
As part of our estate planning, I noted that I’m not particularly happy with two-factor authentication (2FA) via text message. I’m displeased with options provided by banks, and dubious of claims by any company, especially those not in the security business, claiming to protect my sensitive information - most recently protecting information meant for a Digital Executor. However, I should probably add a bit more context about why and my...
Our plan for the next phase of life is all about slow travel around the world, probably beginning in Southeast Asia. However, this means living like a local, not living in hotels. At the moment, it seems the best option for travel is Airbnb. It gives us a sense of security for the financial transaction, fixing problems with renters in a foreign country, and dealing with the language barriers. Airbnb also provides an option for a kitchen so we...
Yes, you can fly from Panama City to David and then take a taxi to Boquete. But, where is the fun in that? More to the point, if you are looking to try slow travel, this is a great way to learn to do it. In summary:$15.25 per person and 8 hrs to David. Tickets purchased at Albrook station.$2 per person and 45 minutes from David to Boquete. Payment when you get off the bus.An amazing way to view the real Panama.The return trip to Panama City is...
This summer (2023) we are planning our next trial run in preparation for the next phase of life. We plan to radically downsize once our son heads off to college. At that point I'll retire from technology sales, we will sell, donate, or get rid of virtually everything (save a few items put into storage) and spend several years, perhaps even decades, traveling around the world. At least, that's the plan. It's an early, retirement reimagined.In...
