Typically, in Late November, I start reflecting on where I am, where I am going, and what I have accomplished to establish my goals for the upcoming year. This ritual began in my twenties when my superior asked where I was going and what I wanted to achieve, and I realized I had no idea.

We were defined by what we did and what we had.

Fast-forward forty years, and when I performed that same ritual, I concluded that I had no life other than my work. I wrote at the time, reflecting on why I work: I have to, like to, feel satisfied, accomplished, and rewarded. That's all there was: my work. So, I set a goal to travel to Europe that year. A favored nephew in Europe set up a tour based on my desire to see the outsides of buildings in Germany, Portugal, and Paris. I wanted to be on the streets seeing the people. It was a great trip with my sister and nephew. I recorded Realtor names and numbers, thinking I could live here; I want to live here. Two months later, I had a heart attack in the Widowmaker!

A change that resulted was diet and exercise. Three years later, fundamental changes started to occur when, during a physical, my Doctor said, in so many words, Jeff, you are physically okay, and speaking like you are my father, I want you to retire! My response was the same litany: I have to, like to, feel satisfied, accomplished, rewarded, and he responded, quit. He pressured me to commit, so I rose to the occasion and said I'd put it into action by the end of the day.

It was a change from. I set the task to be like everything I'd done with diligence. Seven months later, I lived lakeside in a small home, snowbirding in Florida. Two years later, I was mentally retired. My Doctor had asked me to give up my job, my identity, and my only meaningful relationship. Change is never easy!

I'd changed everything but my heart in this revised existence, retired and living where retired people live.

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It took another few years and a medical issue, this time structural, not severe but painful, lending time to reflect when I realized I hadn't changed to my heart's desire to live abroad.

By nature, I'm a procrastinator! Yet, realizing that time was not on my side, I purchased a flight abroad to a condo I'd selected in Costa Rica for two months. While I wouldn't say I like the taste of adrenaline, change doesn't scare me. A period of two months gave me a chance to determine if I was too late in my choice, what it felt like to live like a local, and was the destination I wanted. If I had regrets, falling back was still an option, yet within a couple of weeks after arrival, I sensed relief in my choice. Now, it was just a matter of making the change permanent.

I often see a lack of prior personal research when following other travel influencers. The seemingly daily YouTube title is Why I Left…, Country A vs. B, meaning their needs/perceptions are yours. I think not! Instead, I believe that when you realize you want to change, act on it with calculated precision. We have one life; make it the life you want!

The culture of society when I entered as an adult was one where change was frowned upon. Men often started and ended their careers with one firm. The women I knew worked as hard as their male counterparts only at home and as time progressed in the workplace, as well! Early in my career, I read a report that indicated three to four job changes yielded an income higher by two to three hundred thousand. Change was now acceptable, and with that, employers no longer held loyalty to their workforce, laying off at the drop of a hat. At one point, my brother and I work for the same international firm, albeit at different levels. One day, that firm reduced everyone's salary by ten percent, delaying further promotions for a year. He stayed and suffered a loss of income, While within a week, I was accepting an offer of forty percent over my old salary. The rapid change paid off!

Others will always judge; it's our nature. Others aren't living your life. I can't recall ever comparing myself to my peers, but I did compare myself to my father, who I deemed living a successful life at comparable ages. My first job was at a little over twelve, and I was blessed to be constantly employed until my retirement. That's not to say I didn't make a few changes along the way. For me, change is healthy and in my nature.