1. You want to be a Friday night regular at your local taverna in Greece

2. You enjoy figuring new things out for yourself

3. You’re addicted to world history

4. You want to speak Portuguese like a native

5. You still have things to learn

6. You want life to be an adventure

7. You want to really understand other types of government

8. You’ve always wanted to run away to a Banana Republic, and write a novel about it

9. You’ve never felt that you truly belonged in the country in which you were born

10. You love to travel, but you want to experience another country as a local

11. You want to prove your belief that people everywhere are more alike than they are different

12. You want to learn how to make the perfect cup of tea in the UK

13. You want to become an expert on the Moscow subway system, especially the ornate architecture of its stations

14. You want to write a book on Barbaresco wine

15. You’ve longed to live the French way of life

16. You love cricket, and you’re an American

17. You want to live in beach hut, and own nothing but swimsuits and sarongs

18. You want to slow down

19. You want to speed up

20. You need a change

21. You want to study Buddhism in Kathmandu

22. You believe absence makes the heart grow fonder

23. You want to volunteer in a country that needs your expertise

24. You want to become an expert on authentic Thai cuisine

25. You want to take advantage of exchange rates to make your money stretch further

26. You want to study the Amazon rain forest

27. You want to be a gaucho on the Pampas

28. You want to be a chocolatier in Belgium

29. You believe working remotely must have more advantages than just working in your pajamas in your bedroom

30. You want to raise global children

31. You intend to write the seminal work on German beer

32. You believe we really are one world and one people

33. You want to prove to yourself that you can

34. Because job opportunities don’t match your skills in your country of birth

35. You’re certain you’ll be the next champion Samba dancer in Brazil

36. You’ve always known that you were meant to live in Barcelona

37. You’ve fallen in love with another country

38. You’ve fallen in love with someone who lives in another country

39. Because time stands still for you in Acqui Terme, Italy

40. You want to hike the Scottish Highlands, over and over again

41. You want to watch the South African wine industry evolve from a front row seat

42. You want to understand why Denmark has the happiest citizens in the world

43. You don’t believe your country of birth does everything best, and you’d like to learn what other countries do better

44. You’ve longed to know the tides off Australia’s coasts as only someone who surfs them everyday can

45. You want to be a shopping guide at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

46. You want to write a book of poetry in a cottage on the Irish Coast

47. You want to learn to paint with the glorious light in St Ives

48. You want to be a fisherman in a tiny Mexican village on the sea

49. You want the simple life

50. You’d like to watch the sunset every night in Barbados

51. You really love a challenge

52. One word…Provence.

53. You want a fresh perspective

54. You’d like to go to the Saturday morning market every weekend in Saumur, France

55. Because you can

56. Because change is good

57. You’ve run out of reasons not to

58. Because sometimes the grass is greener

59. Because you need to learn how to take life a bit less seriously

60. You’ve grown tired of knowing your life “like the back of your hand”

61. You want to appreciate what you have

62. You want to learn about all that you don’t have

63. You want to see the world through someone else’s eyes

64. You want to cross off number 5 on your “Top 10 Things I Want to Do in My Life” list

65. You want more sunshine

66. You want more snow

67. Because life is more fun when you take a risk or two

68. You want to live in the unspoiled natural beauty of Finland

69. You can’t imagine not living in the warmth of Costa Rica

70. You want to become a karaoke star in Tokyo

71. For the lower cost of living

72. For the higher quality of life

73. You want to study abroad

74. You want to bring what you’ve learned back home

75. You want to be able to say that you did

76. You want to make new friends

77. You want to find the love of your life

78. Because you’re a free spirit

79. You want to jump start your creativity

80. You want your retirement to be more than rocking chairs and “Wheel of Fortune”

81. You want greater economic opportunities

82. You want to be a dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet

83. Because your current plan is to runaway from home when the last kid goes away to college

84. You want to escape urban congestion and traffic

85. You want to make corporate life a distant memory

86. Because there’s a whole, big world out there to explore

87. You want to open up the world to your grandchildren

88. Because you know that you can change your mind and return to your own country if you’re homesick

89. Because you’re more likely to regret the things you don’t do

90. Because it will force you out of your comfort zone

91. Because you can afford to buy your first home in many other countries

92. Because people are friendlier, and take the time to know their neighbours in many other countries

93. Because you want to live in a country that cares about global issues, like New Zealand’s anti-nuclear stance

94. Because there are obvious places to live to pursue your hobbies (Belize for scuba diving, for example)

95. You enjoy the feeling of being so immersed in another culture that you’re almost disoriented

96. You’re looking for a way to get the children and grandchildren to visit more often

97. You can’t imagine a conventional life

98. You want to face your fears

99. You want to create lifelong memories and experiences

100. For reasons only you understand

In summer, the song sings itself. ~William Carlos Williams

There’s something magical about summer. The season lost some of its appeal once I was working and could no longer look forward to an expected 2 1/2 months vacation, but the unspoken special characteristics always kept it close to my heart. There are two things that I can always count on with summer: the wonderful weather will make me take pause and I will become one year older.

I think in the years before the kids were school-age, summer unfortunately came and went without much tribute. It just felt like there were a few months when it was especially warm and nothing else changed. I didn’t enjoy the hot nights when the stars shined especially bright or the days when the only thing to do was lie around and be. This is one of the few things that I find universal amongst cultures. I knew that whether I was in the States or in Haiti, summer was when things happened.

Thankfully with the kids, I can’t help but notice summer. It’s when school is out along with schedules and homework. It’s when we get up whenever we feel like it, eat breakfast without a stopwatch and decide on whim what we’ll do for the day. Going away to discover somewhere new isn’t an if but a must. Whatever it is you’re doing, you know it feels different because it’s summer.

As with every year, the season feels too short and it is already drawing to a close. Here, I noticed that the daily rhythms changed and every day you could see more people taking advantage of recreation and fewer on the daily grind. We planned our getaway closer to the end this time around and leaving the beautiful beaches only reminded me of why summer is and will always be my favorite season of the year.

How do you feel about the summer?

N.B. Can anyone guess from which song the title of this post is?

Don’t wait. The time will never be just right. - Napoleon Hill

How many times have you wanted to do something, but you felt the timing wasn’t right? There’s always the something or several things that need to fall into place before you can act on what you really want, right?

I’ve never had a problem taking my time, planning things out, getting my ducks lined up, blah, blah, blah. I’m actually one of those people who plan to play it by ear What comes difficult for me plunging head first into something unknown. Because of my moves abroad and such, people assume that I’m adventurous, but those moves were not made without at at least one year of thinking, of waiting, and thinking some more. So in essence, I have a hard time living by mantra, but I think it has its merits. For instance, it confuses me to hear young women say that they are not ready to settle down because they have to get their careers going. I never understood why committing yourself to the right person negated that. I always ask them if they would you keep your partner from reaching his career goals? The answer is always yes; therefore, why not expect them same from him.

Also, now that I’m once again labeled an expat, I hear from others who “wish” they can move to their dream location or are waiting for the “right” time to do it. What I say to that is most of the things that you are waiting to happen before moving/travelling abroad won’t matter once you’re there. It’s amazing to see how many people just up and left their lives behind to pursue their dreams of living/travelling abroad and they make it just fine. Of course there are tough times, but don’t we have those at home, too?

I will always be a fan of planning and organizing, but adding some reckless abandon to the mix is what keeps life interesting. Over the past six months, I have gotten much better at spontaneity and I think it has inadvertently taught me to deal with the unexpected with a lot more calm.What are some of the things you’re waiting to do? What’s keeping you from doing them now?

Let’s start by getting what has always been wrong with the series out of the way:

• Lack of diversity among the characters
• Unhealthy portrayal of romantic relationships (Carrie and Big, Carrie and Aidan, Samantha and Tom, Dick and Harry…)
• Sometimes unrealistic portrayal of friendships

But let’s face it, all the above makes good TV.

With the exception of a couple episodes, I really liked the witty banter amongst the characters and the excitement they brought out about living in NY. Like many, I felt as though it ended prematurely and was salivating by the time the first movie was released. I have since seen it several times and thought it was nice to get a little more depth from each of the ladies.

Enter the announcement of the sequel. I was apprehensive because I thought that they might be beating a dead horse at this point. But then again, there are so many aspects to relationships I was hoping that they would be able to create some interesting storylines. WRONG!

The story line was basically Carrie getting tired of being married to Big after two years and Charlotte stressed out by her children and they take the show on the road to Abu Dhabi. Other than that, nothing happens. Not only is the plot lacking, the writing is terrible. I laughed maybe 3 times during the two hours (I was get 4 times that during a 30 minute episode). I just don’t know what happened. Aside from the actors, they must have changed all the writers, directors, and producers or downsized because of the economy. No way they same group of people could have created something so awful different.

The upside (because there always is one) to this experience was I found out that the movie theatre offers a 50% ticket discount on Mondays. So, I only paid 12.50 BsF instead of 25 BsF. Nothing to do with the movie, but at this point I’ll take what I can get.

Photo courtesy of Aceshowbiz

Well, no one warned me that walking around Caracas can be like watching an “R” rated movie. Now, I am usually oblivious to public displays of affection, but you can’t miss these. I mean, it’s quite common for us to see couples much more heated than this picture here – in the morning in a public park.

Thus, this has created a dilemma for talking to my daughter about the who, where and why. It doesn’t seem like she pays much attention, but I know she sees/hears everything. I was thinking of waiting for her to ask a question, but I’m wondering if she may be feeling awkward and afraid to ask. The plan is next time we come across a scene – which I’m sure will be the next time we step out of the house – to casually bring it and see what she says.

I may have been caught off guard with this phenomenon, but consider yourselves forewarned