About - Still En Route

Hi, I’m Mary – and yes, that’s me above, wandering around a centuries-old mountain fortress in Bulgaria and apparently still making questionable decisions involving steep stone staircases.

Still En Route began strictly as a travel blog, but over time, I realized it was really about something much bigger: like what happens when the traditional script for aging, retirement, and “slowing down” no longer feels like the right fit.

Because for many of us, it doesn’t.

If that resonates with you, you’ve found your people.

We go places here – both on the map & off it 🙂

Designing Life Intentionally

A lot of people assume that after a certain age, life naturally starts getting smaller:
less curiosity, fewer risks, fewer adventures, fewer new ideas.

I’m not so sure about that.

For me, this stage of life has become much more about intentional reinvention – creating a life with more freedom, flexibility, curiosity, and possibility built into it.

Well over a decade ago, I made the decision to simplify life a bit and created a lifestyle that allows me to spend at least 3 months in Europe each year while continuing to work, learn, travel, and build projects I genuinely enjoy.

I haven’t retired from life. Just intentionally redesigned it a bit.

That’s really what Still En Route is about.

What You’ll Find Here

Yes, there’s travel here – plenty of it.

I’ve had a 40+ year career in the travel industry creating custom itineraries for travelers who wanted something more thoughtful than rushed, cookie-cutter vacations. Travel remains one of the ways I stay mentally engaged and connected to the world.

But this site also explores much more.

Reinvention after 50
Designing a meaningful second act
Flexible income ideas and online projects
Staying mentally engaged and open to new things
Long-stay travel and intentional living
Creating more freedom and fewer limitations
The good, bad, and occasionally ridiculous parts of figuring all this out

Because this chapter isn’t really about “retirement” for me.

It’s about continuing to build a life that still feels interesting, flexible, and fully your own.

“Age is no barrier. It’s just an excuse.”

Why I Talk About Flexible Income

One thing I’ve realized over time is that freedom and flexibility rarely happen by accident.

For many people, traditional retirement no longer fully works – financially, mentally, or emotionally. And honestly, I think more people feel that way than publicly admit it.

That doesn’t mean life has to become smaller. It may simply mean we create something different instead.

Here, I share honest reflections on flexible income ideas, online business experiments, blogging, modern technology, and practical ways people continue building freedom and possibility into their second act – without the hype, hustle culture, or promises of becoming internet millionaires by next Tuesday.

(Frankly, that sounds exhausting.)

And because no good About Me page is complete without a few quirky tidbits…

Funny Facts (About Me)

I would usually rather shop for new blog themes than clothes.
I only found my inner geek late in life – now I’m all in!
I’m a lifelong reader and unapologetic romance novel fan. The romance book industry doesn’t make billions of dollars by accident, people.
Since I love to read, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I have a book blog.
I’ve loved cooked spinach (even the canned stuff) since I was a little kid.
I remain deeply committed to comfortable shoes, realistic expectations (this doesn’t always work out), and snacks.

Mostly, though, I’m someone who still believes curiosity matters.

That life can continue evolving long after we’re supposedly meant to have everything figured out.

And that the second act might actually end up being the most interesting part.

So pull up a chair, pour yourself a coffee (or wine), and stay awhile.

We go places here – both on the map and off it.

Until the next stop (preferably with snacks)
~ Mary