Why I Started Still En Route (and Why Now)

ByMary Emmer
coffee cup for midlife travel blog

There comes a point in life when you realize you’re not prepared to start over – but you’re definitely not done yet, either.

That realization is what led me to create Still en Route, my midlife travel blog – a space to talk about travel, curiosity, and what it looks like to pack more life into your lifestyle, not just add more years to your calendar.

My Story

I’ve spent decades in the travel industry, helping people plan trips, explore new places, and see what’s possible beyond their everyday routines. Travel has never just been my job – it’s the lens through which I see life.

You can get a little more of my story here, but somewhere along the way, I realized I don’t relate to the idea that life eventually becomes about winding down or stepping aside.

If anything, I feel more interested in what’s next than ever.

Still en Route is my place to talk about what that actually looks like – not just the destinations, but the mindset behind them. The adjustments. The lessons. The occasional chaos. And the small moments that remind me why I keep doing this.

This isn’t a space for perfect itineraries or highlight reels. There may be some of those as well, but it’s really about staying engaged with life – wherever you happen to be.

What You’ll Find Here

You’ll find reflections from me while I’m traveling – the everyday moments that don’t always make it into travel guides but often say the most about a place.

There will be honest conversations about midlife reinvention – what it feels like to stay curious, to keep evolving, and to rethink what the next chapter can look like.

I’ll share the practical side of long-term travel too – not as a how-to manual, but as a real look at the rhythms, logistics, and little adjustments that make this lifestyle work.

And of course, there will always be room for the good, the messy, and the slightly ridiculous moments that remind me (and hopefully you) not to take any of this too seriously.

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page” ~St. Augustine

Conclusion

Still en Route isn’t about having everything figured out – it’s about paying attention to the journey as it unfolds.

It’s a reminder, to myself as much as anyone else, that curiosity doesn’t have an expiration date, and that life can stay expansive in ways both big and small.

If you’ve ever felt that pull to keep exploring – new places, new ideas, or simply new ways of looking at things, then you’ll feel right at home here.

I’m glad you’re along for the ride.

Until the next stop (preferably with snacks),
~Mary

With a travel career spanning four decades, Mary Emmer has seen enough of the world to know what’s worth the effort - and what isn’t. Through Still En Route, she shares real-life travel, thoughtful perspectives on staying mentally engaged after 60, and honest experiments in building flexible ways to keep learning, earning, and exploring - all with a sense of humor about the process.