Wherever We May Roam - Travels With Jim and Rita

Jim Santos, travel writer and his wife, Rita
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Places & Travel
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Not all travel is created equal. Some people take a two-week vacation and call it an adventure. Others disappear for months—or years—without ever really “coming home.”  We discuss the challenges, rewards, and drawbacks of travel both domestically and overseas. Information for the would-be expat, digital nomad, roving retiree, or just plain traveler. We can help you find the travel style that is right for you. But this isn’t just theory. Drawing on over 16 years of real-world experience, Jim and Rita Santos share practical, honest advice on what it actually takes to travel longer, smarter, and with fewer surprises. Host Jim Santos is a published travel writer with over 200 articles and eight books (jimsantos.net). He and his wife Rita lived in Ecuador for 6 years, and have tried every style of travel - including selling their home at one point to travel full-time. They and are currently enjoying the roving retirement lifestyle, taking trips of 2-3 months and returning to their home base to visit family and friends.

  1. 8h ago

    A Road Trip Turns Into A Revolution In Nicaragua

    Send us Fan Mail Your trip can change in a single afternoon. One minute you’re chasing the freedom of the open road, and the next you’re staring at a roadblock run by strangers with bandanas and homemade weapons, trying to decide what “safe” even means. We sit down with Matt Savino, author of "Land Without a Continent", to hear how his Pan-American Highway drive from Los Angeles to Panama got derailed by the 2018 Nicaragua uprising and what he learned while finding a way forward. Matt calls himself a “modern dabbler,” and his story proves why: physics student with a creative writing streak, stand-up comedian, software developer, even a stint as a professional poker player. That mix shows up in how he travels and writes, blending practical problem-solving with sharp observation. We dig into real-world overlanding details like vehicle prep, border paperwork, Mexico’s TIP permit, the value and risk of border “helpers,” and what it’s like to navigate with limited Spanish when the stakes suddenly rise. Along the route, we talk about the moments that make Central America unforgettable: Baja’s wild beauty, Puebla and Oaxaca food obsessions, lingering in Antigua, Guatemala as a potential expat home, and why “Don’t Skip El Salvador” is more than a hashtag. Matt also challenges the default narrative that the region is only crime and danger, sharing story after story of honesty, warmth, and the kind of everyday kindness you remember for years. If you’re planning a Central America road trip, dreaming about the Pan-American Highway, or just trying to travel with more courage and common sense, press play and come along. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a nudge to go, and leave us a quick review. Land Without A Continent Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DB6K7FX3/ Matt's Website: https://mattsavino.com/ "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" is available on audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and other audiobook outlets! Subscribe to our Mailing List https://www.buzzsprout.com/2292506/supporters/new http://jimsantos.net https://www.instagram.com/jimsantosblog https://www.youtube.com/@jimsantos508 jim@jimsantosbooks.com "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" - On Amazon

  2. Oct 28

    The Horse Made It To Panama - Then The Ground Moved

    Send us Fan Mail A dream move can feel settled and shaky at the same time. Julie Tallman and Roy McGinnis finally return to Pedasí, Panama and move into their newly built home near the Pacific, only to face a massive 7.7 earthquake eight days later. That contrast turns a “fresh start abroad” story into something more honest and more useful: what it looks like to commit to expat life when the unexpected shows up immediately. We dig into the real logistics of moving overseas the right way, including selling a farm and rental properties in North Carolina, choosing not to keep a “lifeline” home in the US, and learning to live well with less. Julie and Roy share why they skipped shipping most household items, leaned on local craftsmanship for furniture, and tried to be present where their feet are. If you’re researching moving to Panama, retirement abroad, or a long-term travel lifestyle, their choices offer a practical blueprint for simplifying the leap. Then we unpack the earthquake itself: aftershocks, damaged roads, and the hardest-hit nearby communities where older generational homes weren’t built to earthquake standards. We also talk disaster recovery and how to help in a way that truly reaches locals, including the work of Hombres de Acción, a community group supporting rebuilding efforts and ongoing needs like potable water in Panama’s “arco seca” (dry arc). If this story sparked something in you, subscribe for more conversations about living abroad and finding your travel style, share the episode with a friend, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find the show. To help with relief efforts: https://hombresdeaccion.org/donate-now/ For YouTube video showing "Hombres de Accion" at work: https://youtu.be/3TEcopgEq1g "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" is available on audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and other audiobook outlets! Subscribe to our Mailing List https://www.buzzsprout.com/2292506/supporters/new http://jimsantos.net https://www.instagram.com/jimsantosblog https://www.youtube.com/@jimsantos508 jim@jimsantosbooks.com "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" - On Amazon

  3. Oct 21

    How A Cross-Country Bike Ride Rebuilt Self-Worth

    Send us Fan Mail A tandem bike ride can look like a quirky travel story from the outside, until you realize it can also be a moving, three-month workshop in courage. We sit down with author and podcaster Teri M. Brown, who went from not riding a bicycle in decades to pedaling a tandem from Astoria, Oregon to Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2020. Along the way, she and her husband Bruce camped through COVID closures, climbed real mountains that flatland training cannot prepare you for, and learned the hard truth about packing light: you do not discover what you need at your kitchen table, you discover it on the road. We talk about the practical side of planning a cross-country bike trip, including why rigid day-by-day itineraries fall apart fast, how to choose flexible stopping points, and what happens when the wind turns, the terrain changes, or the tires go flat. Teri shares the moment in Montana when everything felt broken, and the rule that carried her forward: don’t quit on a bad day. That idea lands far beyond travel, especially when you are hungry, tired, angry, or scared and tempted to make a permanent decision in a temporary state. This conversation also goes deeper than cycling. Teri opens up about leaving an abusive relationship, rebuilding self-worth through doing something wildly outside her comfort zone, and turning that new confidence into a writing life that includes award-winning novels, a memoir, a children’s book, and multiple podcasts. We also dig into another purpose behind the ride: raising over $35,000 for Toys for Tots to help more kids receive bicycles, proving that adventure travel and service can belong in the same story. If you like stories about resilient travel, minimalist packing, healing, and bold reinvention, you’ll want this one in your queue. Follow the podcast, share the episode with a friend who needs a push, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find us. Teri's Website: http://www.terimbrown.com/ The Teri and Edith Show Podcast: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7458726 Online For Authors Podcast: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/6718184 "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" is available on audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and other audiobook outlets! Subscribe to our Mailing List https://www.buzzsprout.com/2292506/supporters/new http://jimsantos.net https://www.instagram.com/jimsantosblog https://www.youtube.com/@jimsantos508 jim@jimsantosbooks.com "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" - On Amazon

  4. Oct 14

    Across Africa In A Volkswagen Bus

    Send us Fan Mail Driving the full length of Africa sounds like a fantasy until you picture it the way Barry Maughan lived it: a Volkswagen Kombi bus, paper maps, no cell phones, no GPS, and a world where borders can close overnight. Barry spent decades as an international broadcast journalist focused on the African continent, and his memoir "Beneath the African Sun" captures the wild mix of history, work, and everyday survival that shaped him. We talk through the chain of “happy accidents” that turned a simple roaming plan into a continent-spanning overland journey from Egypt toward South Africa, including the moment a Libya coup rewrote the route entirely. Barry shares what it was like to experience war-time Egypt, then stumble into an almost unbelievable Cairo welcome that unlocked once-in-a-lifetime access to culture, food, and the city itself. From there, it’s trains, boats, and improvisation to reach Ethiopia, where another stroke of timing lands him behind a microphone broadcasting news across Africa. The practical side is just as gripping: crawling through mud where roads barely exist, carrying tools and fuel, and learning fast that “tomorrow” doesn’t always mean what you think it means. But the heart of the conversation is people, including a wordless moment between two mothers and two babies that says more than any translation app ever could. We also wrap with a real-world travel planning update on beating airline pricing with points and creative routing from Iceland back to Knoxville. Subscribe, share this with a friend who dreams big trips, and leave a quick review so more travelers can find us. What’s the most ambitious journey you’d actually attempt? Beneath The African Sun on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F32VZZ52 "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" is available on audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and other audiobook outlets! Subscribe to our Mailing List https://www.buzzsprout.com/2292506/supporters/new http://jimsantos.net https://www.instagram.com/jimsantosblog https://www.youtube.com/@jimsantos508 jim@jimsantosbooks.com "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" - On Amazon

  5. Oct 7

    Selling Everything To Sail On

    Send us Fan Mail They sold the farm, let go of the stuff, and pushed off the dock lines with a shared promise: sail around the world together. From their boat in French Polynesia, award-winning author and lifelong sailor Alison Gieschen joins us with her husband Dan to tell the full story behind their liveaboard sailing life on their 43-foot sailboat, Equus, including what it takes to keep moving when the dream gets expensive, exhausting, and genuinely scary. We dig into the turning points that make a circumnavigation real: how Alison’s horsewoman roots and an early “out of nowhere” sailing vision turned into skills, how they met during a sailboat race, and why they decided to sell everything and commit. Then we go straight into the hard part, including their worst storm experience in the Gulf Stream, the damage that forced a turnaround, and the PTSD that lingered long after the repairs. Alison also shares the moment a trusted mentor helped reframe the fear, and why that single conversation kept them out there for eight years and counting. We also talk about the quieter day-to-day realities that rarely make the highlight reels: staying close to kids and grandkids from far away, how minimalism changes your priorities, and how life at sea can create the focus to write books across memoir, children’s literature, and adult fiction. We wrap with their current route plans across the South Pacific, favorite stops like the Azores, and a practical travel-planning lesson from our own Europe prep about booking early when thousands of travelers hit the same ports and airports. Subscribe for more conversations about long-term travel and real-world ways to make it happen, and if you found value here, share the episode and leave a quick review so more travelers can find us. Alison's Website: https://alisongieschen.com/ Also check out: https://sailmates.org/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sailingequus "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" is available on audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and other audiobook outlets! Subscribe to our Mailing List https://www.buzzsprout.com/2292506/supporters/new http://jimsantos.net https://www.instagram.com/jimsantosblog https://www.youtube.com/@jimsantos508 jim@jimsantosbooks.com "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" - On Amazon

  6. Sep 30

    Storytelling And Travel As A Path To Healing

    Send us Fan Mail Life doesn’t follow a map, and neither do the journeys that shape us. We’re joined by Shannon Lamkin, author, speaker, and host of the internationally listened to podcast Travel Time Stories with Shannon, for a conversation that starts with travel and quickly gets more honest. Shannon shares how a show built around destinations evolved into a space where people tell the stories that changed them, and why one good conversation can be the first step toward healing. We talk about what it means to rebuild yourself after trauma, including surviving abusive relationships and learning the hard truth that leaving isn’t the same as being healed. Shannon opens up about anxiety and panic attacks, and how a first solo trip to New Orleans became a surprising milestone in confidence and self-trust. We also get into parenting through serious mental illness, the lifelong ripple effects of childhood experiences, and Shannon’s adoption story and search for birth family long before DNA kits and social media made it easier. Caregiving and identity come up in a big way as Shannon describes supporting a spouse through chronic illness, kidney failure, and dialysis, plus the pressure of holding everything together without losing yourself. From there, we shift back to the power of travel as reinvention, including cruising as a way to explore and a Scotland road trip that raised the bar for what felt possible. Shannon also shares what she’s writing now, including her memoir "Map Back to Me" and her novel "Wrong Turns, Right People", built around the idea that detours can bring the right people into your life. If you’re drawn to travel, midlife reinvention, storytelling, mental health, and finding your own travel style in the real world, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find us. Shannon's Website: https://www.traveltimestories.com/ Shannon's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/travel-time-stories-with-shannon-real-journeys-real/id1821032644 "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" is available on audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and other audiobook outlets! Subscribe to our Mailing List https://www.buzzsprout.com/2292506/supporters/new http://jimsantos.net https://www.instagram.com/jimsantosblog https://www.youtube.com/@jimsantos508 jim@jimsantosbooks.com "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" - On Amazon

  7. Sep 23

    Travel More For Less

    Send us Fan Mail You can’t “budget” your way to a better trip if you don’t know where the money leaks actually happen. We sit down with Australia-based author, travel writer, and travel coach Linda King to unpack a practical approach to budget travel that feels empowering, not restrictive: save with intention so you can travel more often and for longer stretches. We get tactical on the big pre-trip wins, including smarter research, price monitoring, and why paying upfront can sometimes unlock better rates and extras. Then we move into real-world daily strategies that keep your travel budget intact, like free activities, free walking tours, and the simple meal math that adds up fast: breakfast included, supermarket meal deals, and choosing when to splurge on restaurants. If you’ve ever come home to a painful post-trip bill, this conversation is built to prevent it. Next, we dive into points and miles and credit card rewards without the hype. Linda explains how to choose loyalty programs, learn partner options, and build a redemption strategy that fits your routes. We also talk about the non-negotiables that make travel hacking work: understand annual fees, use the card enough to justify it, and always pay in full so interest doesn’t erase your rewards. We even address those “point multiplier” offers and why doing your own research usually wins. Finally, we explore AI travel planning, solo travel confidence, and what mindful travel and sustainable travel look like in practice, from better prompts to “leave no trace” habits. Subscribe, share this with a travel buddy, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. Linda King's Website: https://www.thesmarttravelista.com/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thesmartravelista Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Thesmartravelista Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesmartravelista/ The Smart Travelista Guide Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5NHMYGQ Antics Abroad Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GRV1YT5F  "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" is available on audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and other audiobook outlets! Subscribe to our Mailing List https://www.buzzsprout.com/2292506/supporters/new http://jimsantos.net https://www.instagram.com/jimsantosblog https://www.youtube.com/@jimsantos508 jim@jimsantosbooks.com "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" - On Amazon

  8. Sep 16

    From Expat Parenting To Solo Travel Adventures

    Send us Fan Mail You can live overseas for years and still feel your stomach drop the first time you travel alone. That tension between “I want to go” and “what if I can’t handle it” drives our conversation with Paula Barnes, the travel creator and expat storyteller behind Truly Expat Travel, joining us from Sydney. Paula shares how a “six-month” move from Australia turned into nearly two decades across Asia, raising three kids in places like Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. We talk about the real-life logistics that shape confident travelers: language barriers before smartphones, how Google Translate changed everything, and why cultural context matters more than snap judgments. Along the way, we compare notes on how travel reshapes kids, families, and the meaning of home. Then we get practical for anyone considering solo travel, especially women over 45. Paula breaks down how to start small, when a tour can be the perfect bridge, and how to handle the surprisingly hard parts like eating alone at restaurants. We also dig into the tools that make modern travel smoother and safer, from WhatsApp communities to TripIt itineraries and using AI like ChatGPT and Claude without letting it overstuff your days. Plus, Paula gives guidance on planning Australia the right way and shouts out destinations that deserve more attention, including Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Subscribe for more thoughtful travel stories, share this with a friend who needs a nudge to book the trip, and leave a quick review so more travelers can find us. Paula's Website: https://trulyexpattravel.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trulyexpat Podcast: https://podcast.trulyexpattravel.com/ "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" is available on audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and other audiobook outlets! Subscribe to our Mailing List https://www.buzzsprout.com/2292506/supporters/new http://jimsantos.net https://www.instagram.com/jimsantosblog https://www.youtube.com/@jimsantos508 jim@jimsantosbooks.com "Wherever We May Roam: Finding Your Travel Style" - On Amazon

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Not all travel is created equal. Some people take a two-week vacation and call it an adventure. Others disappear for months—or years—without ever really “coming home.”  We discuss the challenges, rewards, and drawbacks of travel both domestically and overseas. Information for the would-be expat, digital nomad, roving retiree, or just plain traveler. We can help you find the travel style that is right for you. But this isn’t just theory. Drawing on over 16 years of real-world experience, Jim and Rita Santos share practical, honest advice on what it actually takes to travel longer, smarter, and with fewer surprises. Host Jim Santos is a published travel writer with over 200 articles and eight books (jimsantos.net). He and his wife Rita lived in Ecuador for 6 years, and have tried every style of travel - including selling their home at one point to travel full-time. They and are currently enjoying the roving retirement lifestyle, taking trips of 2-3 months and returning to their home base to visit family and friends.

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