It all began like this...

February 11, 2009

Last night, while watching "Addo's Elephants" on The Nature Channel, I had a revelation. With the plans I'm making to do a reverse mortgage on my home, I can not only do maintenance and make the repairs on the house I want to do, I can do something wonderful to celebrate my 75th birthday. I can travel around the world!

In conversation with Vicki Flier Hudson she suggests that I

Choose the first destination
Choose three destinations
Consider weather at time of year I plan to travel
How long do I want to be gone from home
What is my dream destination
Go to Lonely Planet to learn more

I resolved to:
Get all my affairs in order

Take:
Pack easy clothing, perhaps in just one carry-on bag
Pack all medications/vitamins necessary
No laptop, recorder only (take extra batteries)
Journal
Camera ( battery charger and international electricity plug)
An extra disk?

Learn about currency exchange - American Express Travelers Checks?

Learn additional language? Rosetta Stone

New Zealand
Malaysia
Africa/South Africa
Israel
China
The Amazon

Financial support from???

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February 13, 2009

Dear Friends,

At the end of June this year I’ll be celebrating seventy-five years of life. When I compare it to the lives of others, most of it has been pretty terrific. It’s about to get even better.

Long ago I promised myself that I’d see all (or at least as much as possible) of my home… Earth, before my life was over. I was never able to actually plan to do that, until now. Thanks to our country’s economic downturn and a scary reduction in my income, I began to look for alternatives. The subject of reverse mortgages came up and I did a little investigating in a couple of different places but the results left me reluctant to consider it. I was worried about my financial legacy for my children, I was taken aback by the costs, and I let it go. But it stayed in the back of my mind.

Income-related concerns grew worse and I once again began to consider the reverse mortgage. I contacted yet another bank and learned that although the closing costs would remain the same, the initial interest rate had gone down a little, I would have a reserve amount of funds to draw upon for whatever I chose to do and I’d never have to pay it back or make another mortgage payment for the rest of my life… no matter how long I live. This began to sound very compelling. I could make repairs to my home, pay off some other small debts, landscape my yard… even get a facelift if I chose to go that far.

A couple of nights ago I was watching the Nature channel, a documentary about Addo’s Elephants, and it hit me. I can go see them for myself, as a matter of fact, I can go anywhere I want to! That did it. On Tuesday morning I set everything in motion, and I’m going!

So why am I telling you all of this? I’m hoping you can help me. This morning as I showered* and thought about how different things will be as I travel… maybe I won’t have the luxury of hot water whenever I want it, etc., I also realized that rather than traveling alone, working on the story of my travels from the angle of a great grandmother setting off to see the world, I should consider two things:
A photographer companion (who can pay his or her own way),
Grant funds to help pay for both me and the other person.

It’s still all so new, but time flies quickly and I want to move ahead. I’ve joined Lonely Planet, I’m going to contact AARP, and via Google, check out numerous other possibilities, but perhaps you and your quick mind can help me both locate candidates to travel with me and places I might approach for grant funds.

That’s my news this day before Valentine’s Day.

Love,
Geri

*A Thankful Moment

In the shower,
hot water streaming over my tight shoulders
and down my back,
I am thankful.

I think about water
and how easy it has always been to have it,
how precious,
how necessary for life,
and how scarce it is for some.

Not only hot water for luxurious bathing
but any water for sustenance,
gained at great pains
perhaps only after a long walk
and a heavy load on shoulders and back.

Sparse water for a few meager crops
or the scrawny cattle…
How do they live, these slender children?
While I drink and bathe at will
and enjoy a garden of green things flourishing.

I am blessed.
I am thankful.

2/10/09

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February 15, 2009

The following emailed message was put out on the several Art Listserves to which I subscribe:

Some time at the end of June or very early in July I plan to leave on an extended journey, an adventure, really. I'm uncertain at this time as to how long the trip will be and so far I have only a few definite destinations (Africa, New Zealand, Malaysia, to name some). I want to keep my plans as flexible as possible. I'll be writing a book about the experiences from the point of view of a great grandmother off to see the world, its peoples, animals and plants (and to encourage understanding and peaceful co-existence for us all).

Though I had originally planned to travel alone, I believe that a photographic record will greatly enhance the project, therefore I'm seeking a photographer who has the time and inclination to join me and who can pay his or her own way if necessary. Your already completed work needs to demonstrate sufficient experience and talent to participate in the securing of a grant or other subsidy funding to help defray expenses. I'm going whether or not external funding is forthcoming. A mutually satisfactory agreement will be made regarding both publication credits and any financial success we will achieve.

Please contact me off list, then we can arrange to talk together and meet.

Others, please forward to friends and acquaintances you feel would be both suitable and interested.

I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! Watch this space as things develop.

Geri Taran

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April 15, 2009

Taxes are done, most of the maintenance on the house is completed, and I'm ready to turn my attention to my travels. As in most bright flashing ideas, my original plan to see the whole world has been reluctantly toned down. I came to understand that being away from home for months was impractical. (No one would care for my menagerie that long.) I researched various ways to plan my adventure and finally selected a Vantage Travel tour that would take me to most of Africa that I want to see. The fat folder labeled "The Trip" is open before me and my excitement is rising as I read up on all the things to consider, visas, shots, what to carry, what to leave home, etc. I'm ready to plan my schedule for what needs to be done over the next few months.

At the end of May I'll travel to Miami for a week to celebrate the 60th Year Reunion of my 1949 synagogue confirmation class graduation. Prior to that I have promised to put together a little book containing the "Then and Now" photos of all who'll participate and a brief bio of each of us. I haven't seen some of the women in all this time. There was only one male in the class and we have been unable to find him. Two have passed away that we know of, two have family obligations in the cities where they now live and one has declined to join us. I'm sorry to miss seeing those who won't be there but am happy that this reumion is taking place at all.

Besides that, I'll get to see a few dear old friends in Miami and visit the gravesites of my beloved ones.

So here I am making it real. On the Vantage Travel website under my account there's a little box that says: "99 days until you depart!" Please pay the $5,868 balance on your invoice plus the optional Travel Protection insurance fee of $539. I wonder about the travel protection insurance. Is it worth it, probably only if something went awry, otherwise it seems high.

But I'm diligently reading it all. Planning my wardrobe and resolving to keep it simple, I remember a great story a friend told me about an uncle of hers. He planned a similar trip and before leaving he went to Goodwill, bought enough clothes for the trip and when he had worn them rather than washing them, he gave them away. I love that idea and if I can find things I'd be comfortable wearing, I'll do the same thing.

I want to take a laptop to do my writing but am hesitant. I'd only want one that was extremely light, less than 3 lbs. If I found one to buy or borrow, it could get stolen. I think opting for a journal and perhaps a digital recorder is the best plan.
I'll take nothing with me that I can't bear to lose.

More later .

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January 6, 2010

May, June and the first part of July slipped right through my fingers. The 60th Year Reunion was fun and an eye-opener. Unfortunately I became ill so I might have had a little more fun if I'd felt better.

I spent a little time with Dena and saw Gene and Arlene and Pierre. Arlene told me about 35% (Food Grade) Hydrogen Peroxide and its use in treating arthritis. I began taking it. It works.

In early July I developed a severe pain in my right thigh. I thought I had pulled a muscle. I spent time in the hot tub, went for massages, saw my chiropractor... nothing worked.

On July 23rd I took my big red backpack, a suitcase that looked like it was covered in leopard skin (it wasn't) a cane and left for South Africa.

I'll add more to this story later, but for the moment suffice it to say that I loved every minute (except the pain part) of my time in South Africa.

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