The Reality of Downsizing: What They Don't Tell You About Moving to a Smaller Home
The Freedom of Less: Why Downsizing Might Be Your Best Retirement Decision
Before we retired, we made a decision that would shape everything that followed—we downsized to a bungalow. The house that had been perfect for raising our family now felt like too much—too many rooms to clean, too many stairs to climb, too much yard to maintain.
The decision wasn't easy. That house held every milestone, every memory we'd made as a family. But we realized it had become more burden than blessing, and if we were going to enjoy retirement, we needed to make the move while we still had the energy for it.
Six months into our new bungalow, I can honestly say: this was one of the smartest decisions we ever made. Our monthly expenses dropped significantly, and we've discovered that freedom doesn't come from square footage—it comes from having exactly what you need and nothing you don't.
If you're considering downsizing before retirement, you're not alone. You're making space for what comes next...
We planned it for years. Once the kids were gone and we retired, we'd downsize. Simple, right? We'd be those zen minimalists sipping wine in our clutter-free haven, congratulating ourselves on our brilliant life choices.
Well, three years into our "smaller" home, I'm here to tell you the truth about downsizing—and it's messier, funnier, and way more complicated than those smug lifestyle blogs admit. Spoiler alert: I'm typing this while staring at unpacked boxes from 2021..
The House We Left Behind
Our family home wasn't a mansion by any stretch. Just under 2,400 square feet with five bedrooms (okay, four real bedrooms and one small room we generously called an office). Two ensuite bathrooms, a main bathroom, and a powder room on the main floor. During COVID, that little office became my fortress of solitude—a place where I could close the door and everyone knew "Mom's working, don't bother her unless someone's bleeding."
My kids were angels about respecting that boundary. Probably because they were terrified of me on conference calls.
But here's what we didn't have for 16 years: a basement bathroom.
Yes, you read that right. We finally installed one just as we were preparing to sell. It was beautiful. I barely got to use it. Such is life.
The Never-Ending Renovation Cycle (AKA My Personal Hell)
We bought our house when it was only two years old. "Oh, you're so lucky!" people would gush. "A new house—nothing to do!"
Laughs in perpetual renovation
Here's my superpower: I have an uncanny ability to buy houses from older women whose decorating tastes peaked somewhere between the Y2K panic and the first iPhone. This means even a "new" house comes pre-vintage. We spent 16 years updating that place, one exhausting, expensive project at a time.
The grand finale? Just before listing the house, we had to:
Rip up the entire kitchen floor (nothing says "fun" like shattered tile at 7 AM)
Move all our cabinets into the living room (ever tried cooking dinner with your kitchen in three rooms? Don't.)
Retile everything while living in chaos
Paint the cabinets (finally, goodbye golden oak!)
Install new stone countertops
Oh, and install that mythical basement bathroom I mentioned
The irony? The house finally looked exactly the way I'd always dreamed—right when we handed the keys to someone else. They probably repainted everything beige within a month.
Buying High, Selling High, and Learning Nothing Apparently
We bought and sold during that insane market when prices were stratospheric but just starting their descent. Yes, we overpaid. Massively. But we also sold high, so it balanced out... kind of... if you don't think about it too hard.
And guess what brilliant move we made next? We bought another new house from another older woman. Her taste? Frozen solid in 1999. I'm talking light oak cabinets - again, and laminate countertops that probably remember Seinfeld's final episode.
Those kitchen cabinets are screaming for paint. Nearly four years in, they're still waiting, sporting their original honey oak finish like a time capsule nobody asked for. But when you're juggling a fence installation, a basement finish, and a new patio, there's only so much time and money to go around.
The cabinets can wait. They've already waited 25 years. What's a few more months? (This is what I tell myself at 2 AM when I can't sleep because those cabinets are haunting me.)
The Three Stages of Purging (And Why You'll Never Actually Finish)
Downsizing means getting rid of stuff. Mountains of stuff. Everests of stuff you forgot you owned. We went through three distinct purge phases:
Phase One: Pre-listing Panic
The frantic scramble to declutter before strangers judge your life choices. Donation bags multiplied like rabbits. I threw out things I'd sworn were "sentimental" just days before.
Phase Two: Moving Day Reckoning
The brutal "WHY DO WE STILL HAVE THIS?" fights with your spouse while knee-deep in packing tape and bubble wrap. More bags to charity. Still somehow ended up with 47 boxes labeled "miscellaneous."
Phase Three: The Eternal Unpacking
Over three years later, we're still opening boxes and experiencing a mix of confusion and horror. "We packed twelve serving platters? For what occasion—the Second Coming?" There are still plenty to go through. I'm convinced those boxes are secretly reproducing in the storage room when we're not looking.
The Plot Twist: Two Houses (Because We're Gluttons for Punishment)
Part of our master plan involved building a summer house on the east coast where I'm from. Because clearly, what we needed while downsizing one house was to manage two properties simultaneously. Genius move, really.
This "simplified" our downsizing strategy in absolutely zero ways:
Shipping "extra" and older furniture to the summer house (translation: the stuff too ugly for the new main house but too guilt-inducing to donate)
Buying new pieces for the main house (there goes the downsizing budget)
Playing a never-ending game of "Which House Does This Belong In?"
Having the slow, dawning realization that we hadn't downsized—we'd just distributed our clutter across two postal codes
Brilliant. Just brilliant.
The Time Crunch No One Warns You About (Thanks for Nothing, HGTV)
Here's what those glossy downsizing blogs conveniently forget to mention: going back to work changes everything. When we planned this downsizing adventure, we envisioned leisurely Saturday mornings organizing closets, thoughtfully curating our belongings while sipping artisanal coffee and discussing which throw pillows spark joy.
Reality? Work resumed. Life got busy. Weekends disappeared into errands and exhaustion. Those boxes? Still sitting there, judging me every time I walk past. The house projects? Happening at the speed of continental drift.
Turns out Marie Kondo doesn't make house calls, and nobody warned me that downsizing with a full-time job is basically a part-time job you're not getting paid for.
Practical Tips They Don't Put in the Pinterest Guides
Alright, enough therapy. Here's what actually helps when you're drowning in boxes and outdated cabinetry:
1. The One-Year Rule is a Lie
You know that advice: "If you haven't used it in a year, donate it"? Adorable. Here's the truth: you'll open a box three years later, find your grandmother's casserole dish, and cry because you thought you'd donated it. Give yourself permission to keep some stuff "just because." We're downsizing, not entering a monastery.
2. Take Before Photos (For Your Sanity)
Document your old house before you renovate it to perfection and then leave. Why? Because in your new place, when you're staring at those 1999 cabinets at 11 PM, you can look back and remember: "Oh right, we survived worse." It's oddly comforting.
3. The Box Labeling System Everyone Ignores
Label boxes by room AND by priority. "Kitchen—Daily Use" vs. "Kitchen—Serve-ware for That Dinner Party We'll Never Host." Three years later, you'll know exactly which boxes can stay sealed forever. (It's the second category. It's always the second category.)
4. Budget 50% More Than You Think
Whatever you think renovations will cost, multiply by 1.5. Minimum. Those kitchen cabinets you thought you'd paint for $200? Try $800 once you factor in primer, good paint, hardware, your time, and the inevitable second coat because the first one looked "blotchy."
5. Make Friends with Your Local Donation Center
You'll be there weekly. Monthly if you're lazy like me. The workers will know your name. Embrace it. You're keeping someone employed with your clutter.
6. Don't Renovate Everything Before You Sell
This one hurts, but it's true. We installed that beautiful basement bathroom right before we left. The new owners probably think we're idiots (they're right). Save the big projects for YOUR house, not the next person's.
7. Give Yourself Five Years, Not Two
Everyone says downsizing takes two years to "settle in." They're lying. Give yourself five. Maybe seven. The boxes will still be there. The cabinets will still need painting. That's just life now.
8. The Storage Unit is Not a Solution
It's a very expensive way to avoid making decisions. If you're paying monthly to store things you haven't thought about in a year, just donate them. Rip the bandaid off. Your bank account will thank you.
9. One Project at a Time (Even If It Kills You)
Trying to do the fence, the basement, AND the patio simultaneously will end in tears and marital strife. Pick one. Finish it. Then start the next. Revolutionary concept, I know.
10. Lower Your Standards (Just a Little)
That Instagram-perfect home? Not happening while you're working full-time and still unpacking. And that's okay. A lived-in house beats a perfect house every single time. Those honey oak cabinets can wait another six months. Or a year. Who's counting?
What I've Learned So Far (Besides Humility)
Three-plus years into downsizing, here's my brutally honest takeaway:
Downsizing isn't a one-time event—it's a lifestyle you didn't ask for
Your timeline will expand—double it, then add six months for good measure
Renovations follow you—like a really persistent ex, they never truly leave
Perfect timing doesn't exist—we still haven't painted those damn cabinets
It's worth it anyway—even imperfect, incomplete, and slightly chaotic
Our house isn't magazine-ready. We're still opening boxes marked "2021" (I'm afraid to know what's in them). The kitchen cabinets are still sporting their Y2K aesthetic. There's a fence that needs staining, a basement that's half-finished, and approximately 47 throw pillows that I swear I purged but somehow reappeared.
But you know what? We're building our life here, one unfinished project at a time, one mysterious box at a time, one "we'll get to it eventually" at a time.
And someday—probably right before we sell again and move into an even smaller place with even more outdated fixtures—those cabinets will finally get painted.
I'm giving it another two years. Maybe three. Definitely by 2030.
"Still Got It" - over 50 work comeback
There’s a strange myth that lingers around work and age—that opportunity has an expiration date. That once you reach a certain point, the door quietly closes and you’re expected to be grateful for whatever’s left. But lived experience tells a very different story. Starting new job opportunities later in life isn’t about proving anything; it’s about finally knowing what you bring to the table.
Older workers carry something no résumé bullet point can fully capture: judgment shaped by experience, calm under pressure, and the confidence to solve problems without drama. We’ve learned what matters, what doesn’t, and how to work with people—not just processes. In a world obsessed with speed, there is real value in steadiness, perspective, and the ability to see the bigger picture. This isn’t the end of the road professionally—it’s a recalibration, and for many of us, a surprisingly powerful one.
Still Got It
Because "Retired" Doesn't Mean "Retired from Being Awesome"
Let's get one thing straight: Retirement? Sure, I did that. Being done? Hell no. I've got over 35 years of experience in public and human services, and spoiler alert—I still have a LOT to give to the workplace. Not because I need the validation (been there, done that, got the t-shirt), but because experience is the superpower nobody wants to admit they're desperate for.
The Superpowers Nobody Talks About
1. We Read People Like Yesterday's News
After decades in the workforce, you develop this magical ability to spot personalities from a mile away. You know who'll actually show up and do the work versus who'll happily let you carry the load while they collect the credit. You can identify the ego-driven players versus the genuine hearts. And here's the kicker—I've learned to work with ALL of them.
Years ago, would I have stroked someone's fragile ego just to get a project done? Absolutely not. Maybe I needed mine stroked too—who knows. But now? If ego-stroking is what moves the needle, hand me the metaphorical brush. I'll paint that ego Sistine Chapel-level beautiful if it means the work gets done. That's not selling out; that's strategic brilliance.
2. We've Seen This Movie Before
Change management? Please. We've navigated more transitions than a GPS on a road trip. When I point out pitfalls, people think I'm being resistant to change. I can literally HEAR the eyeballs rolling. But guess what happens six months later? Exactly what I said would happen.
It's not because I'm the smartest person in the room—not by a long shot. It's because I've lived through it before. The new vocabulary might be different, but the problems? Same old tune, just a different remix.
The Government Transformation Paradox
Let me tell you about my favorite workplace comedy: government "transformation." Governments LOVE this word. They live for it. But here's the thing—with administration cycles lasting 4-8 years, they're basically professional wheel-reinventors.
They genuinely believe something is "new" and "groundbreaking." In reality? We did this in 1997, called it something else, and it didn't work then either. True transformation requires RISK. But public service? Risk-averse doesn't even begin to cover it. There's only so much risk that's tolerable, so what you get is calculated reinvention of previous ways of doing things.
Maybe this happens in other industries too, but in public service, it's practically an art form. And here's the kicker—North Americans think we're this "new world" open to fresh ideas, but mostly we just copy what European countries did twenty years ago. Because guess what? Older countries have that experience too.
Government professional at work
What We Bring to the Table (Besides Sass)
Institutional Memory: We remember why certain decisions were made and what happened last time someone tried that "innovative" approach.
Emotional Intelligence: We've made all the interpersonal mistakes already, so you don't have to.
Perspective: We know what's actually an emergency and what just feels like one because someone's PowerPoint deadline is looming.
Mentorship: We can actually explain the "why" behind processes, not just the "what."
Crisis Management: Nothing phases us anymore. Your "crisis" is our Tuesday.
Network Gold: Decades of professional relationships mean we know who to call to actually get things done.
“There are real advantages to hiring these employees. Studies have shown that older workers may lower time-keeping and absentee issues; they also tend to have higher levels of commitment to their jobs and loyalty to their employers…”
— Richard Branson
Hot Side Gig & Remote Work Ideas for the Over-50 Crowd
🎯 Consultant
Use your decades of experience to advise companies. They'll pay you what they should've been paying you all along.
✍️ Freelance Writer
Industry blogs, white papers, grant writing—someone needs your knowledge in words.
🎓 Online Instructor
Teach courses on platforms like Udemy, Coursera, or specialized training sites.
🤝 Executive Coach
Help younger leaders navigate the minefields you've already crossed.
📊 Project Manager
Remote PM roles are everywhere, and experience actually matters here.
💼 Virtual Assistant
High-level VA work for executives—scheduling, research, problem-solving.
📝 Grant Writer
Non-profits will love you forever. Great remote work with flexible hours.
🎤 Public Speaker
Virtual conferences need experts. You've got stories that need telling.
🔍 Evaluation Specialist
Companies need people who can assess programs and processes. Hello, that's us.
🌐 Nonprofit Board Member
Often paid positions, always influential, completely aligned with your values.
“Age is about as totally unrelated to job performance as any measure can be.”
— Schmidt and Hunter
“Older workers bring decades of experience and unique skills that can only be developed over many years.”
— Eileen Suazo
Resources to Get Your Comeback Started
Job Boards & Remote Work Sites
American-Specific Job Boards
FlexJobs (flexjobs.com)
Vetted remote, part-time, and flexible jobs. Worth the subscription.
RetiredBrains (retiredbrains.com)
Specifically for people over 50 looking for work. Finally, someone gets it.
Workforce50 (workforce50.com)
Job board focused on experienced professionals. No ageism here.
AARP Job Board (aarpworksearch.org)
Free resource with thousands of listings from age-friendly employers.
We Work Remotely (weworkremotely.com)
Massive remote job board across all industries.
Remote.co (remote.co)
Remote jobs plus articles on working from home successfully.
Canadian-Specific Job Boards
Job Bank (jobbank.gc.ca)
Government of Canada's official job site. Free and reliable.
Canada's Top 100 Employers - Over 40 (canadastop100.com/older_workers)
Annual list of Canadian employers with age-friendly policies. Research before you apply.
Workhoppers (workhoppers.com)
Canadian platform connecting experienced workers with flexible opportunities.
CanadaJobs (canadajobs.com)
Major Canadian job board with resources for mature workers.
Indeed Canada (ca.indeed.com)
Search "older worker" or "mature worker" for age-friendly postings.
Eluta (eluta.ca)
Canadian job site pulling directly from employer websites. Interface is ugly, but it works.
NoDesk (nodesk.co/remote-jobs/canada)
Curated remote Canadian jobs across all industries.
Working Nomads (workingnomads.com/remote-canada-jobs)
Remote jobs in Canada with email alerts. No nonsense.
Remotive (remotive.com/remote-canada-jobs)
Quality remote Canadian jobs, screened and curated.
Provincial Resources
ALIS - Alberta (alis.alberta.ca/tools-and-resources/resources-for-mature-workers)
Alberta's resource hub for workers over 45. Career planning tools and labour market stats.
The Working Centre - Ontario (theworkingcentre.org/workers-over-45)
Waterloo region support for workers 45+. Worth checking if you're in Ontario.
Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW) (canada.ca - search TIOW)
Federal program for unemployed workers 55-64. Check your provincial ministry for local projects.
Freelance & Consulting Platforms
American Freelance & Consulting Platforms
Upwork (upwork.com)
Massive freelance marketplace. Your experience will stand out here.
Catalant (gocatalant.com)
High-end consulting projects with major corporations.
Toptal (toptal.com)
Elite freelance network—selective but well-paid.
Business Talent Group (businesstalentgroup.com)
Connects experienced professionals with consulting opportunities.
Canadian Freelance & Consulting Platforms
Freel (freel.ca)
Exclusively for Canadian freelancers. Local gigs, Canadian clients. 700+ professionals already here.
Freelance.ca (freelance.ca)
Canadian platform connecting local talent with businesses. Browse projects or get contacted directly.
Workhoppers (workhoppers.com)
Canadian-based platform with AI matching. No commissions or recruiting fees. Pay by hour or project.
Canadian Virtual Gurus (canadianvirtualgurus.ca)
Alberta-based. All freelancers are Canadian. Virtual assistant and specialized services.
RPSAV (rpsav.ca)
Réseau des professionnelles en soutien administratif virtuel. French-speaking freelance assistants and secretaries.
Flexable (flexable.work)
Growing Canadian presence. Curated onboarding process. Focus on higher-value, long-term contracts.
LinkedIn Services Marketplace (linkedin.com)
Leverage your professional network. List services on your profile. Clients come to you. No platform fees.
Learning & Skill Development
LinkedIn Learning (linkedin.com/learning)
Brush up on skills or learn new ones. They'll never know you learned it last Tuesday.
Coursera (coursera.org)
University-level courses, many free. Because we're never too old to learn.
SCORE (score.org)
Free mentoring and resources if you're thinking about starting your own business.
Networking & Community
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
Update that profile. Connect with old colleagues. You know more people than you think.
Reenergize (reenergizeyourcareer.com)
Community and resources for professionals over 50.
Wahve (wahve.com)
Connects experienced insurance and accounting professionals with remote wor
Canadian Learning Platforms & Institutions
Athabasca University (athabascau.ca)
Canada's open university. 850+ online courses. Self-paced learning. Actual degrees and certificates.
University of Toronto - Coursera (coursera.org)
Free courses from U of T. Get certificates. Looks good on LinkedIn.
UBC Extended Learning (extendedlearning.ubc.ca)
Professional development, certificates, micro-credentials. British Columbia's top university.
BCIT Free Online Learning (bcit.ca/free-online-learning)
British Columbia Institute of Technology offers free short courses (6-14 hours). Career exploration, skills upgrading.
eCampusOntario (ecampusontario.ca)
Access to 200+ online courses from Ontario colleges. Many free options.
Centennial College Online (centennialcollege.ca/programs-courses/online-learning)
200+ online courses. Certificates, diplomas, graduate studies. Ontario-based.
Robertson College (robertsoncollege.com)
40+ online courses. Micro-courses (10 hours) to full diplomas (51 weeks). Flexible, industry-led.
Canada School of Public Service (csps-efpc.gc.ca)
For federal public servants but also has free courses open to all Canadians. Leadership, skills development.
Class Central (classcentral.com/country/canada)
Aggregator of free Canadian university courses. U of T, UBC, and more.
Government-Funded Training Programs for Older Workers
Better Jobs Ontario (ontario.ca/betterojobs)
For laid-off workers. Pays for training AND living expenses while you retrain. Open to all ages.
Ontario Job Creation Partnerships (ontario.ca)
For EI recipients. Develop employable skills, get work experience. Increases your chances of long-term employment.
Skills Training for Employment - Older Workers 55+ (B.C.)
Contact your local college or employment centre. B.C. invested $5 million annually for 733+ older workers. Provincial programs like "Encore Careers" at Douglas College.
Ontario Get SET Program (ontario.ca)
Improve reading, writing, math, computer skills. Free. Service provider creates personalized learning plan.
Canada-Alberta Job Grant (alberta.ca)
Employers can get funding to train you. Worth knowing about when negotiating with potential employers.
Your Provincial Employment Centre
Every province has employment services for older workers. Skills assessments, resume help, training referrals. Search "[your province] employment services older workers."
ALIS - Alberta Learning Information Service (alis.alberta.ca/tools-and-resources/resources-for-mature-workers)
Career planning tools, labour market info, resources for workers 45+. Alberta-specific but valuable even if you're elsewhere.
"They say experience is wasted on the old. I say opportunity is wasted on the young who don't know what they don't know."
The Bottom Line
We're not looking for handouts or sympathy hires. We're looking for organizations smart enough to recognize that experience isn't a liability—it's the competitive advantage they've been missing.
So yeah, I'm "retired." I'm also available, capable, and carrying around 35+ years of wisdom that no amount of fresh graduate enthusiasm can replicate. The workplace needs what we've got, even if they don't know it yet.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some ego-stroking to do and a transformation initiative to politely predict the failure of. Again.
Planning Our First Mediterranean Cruise
Planning your first Mediterranean cruise is equal parts excitement and mild logistical panic. One minute you’re dreaming of coastal sunsets and fresh pasta, the next you’re trying to figure out how you’re supposed to see Rome, Florence, and Barcelona without sprinting through them. The key is balance—between sea days and port days, ambition and reality, planning and leaving room for wandering. Your first Mediterranean cruise won’t let you see everything, but with the right mindset (and very comfortable shoes), it can be the perfect introduction to Europe by sea.
There’s something deliciously ironic about planning a first anything at this stage of life. We’re seasoned now—well marinated in responsibility, careers, carpools, and college tuition—but there’s still plenty of youth left in the curiosity department. Enough, at least, to look at a map of the Mediterranean and think: Yes. That. Let’s finally do that.
This trip is our bucket-list celebration: a milestone birthday, a meaningful anniversary, and a long-imagined Mediterranean cruise—11 days at sea, bookended by time on land. Three days in Barcelona before the cruise to ease into the rhythm, and three days in Italy afterward to linger, wander, and decompress before heading home.
But dreaming is only half the fun. The other half? Research. Planning. Thinking ahead so the trip feels joyful, not rushed.
Here’s what I’m learning as we plan.
Why a Mediterranean Cruise (and Why Now)
A Mediterranean cruise is ideal for a “seasoned with youth” traveler. You unpack once, visit multiple countries, and still have the comfort of returning to the same cabin every night. For a first cruise, it’s especially appealing—structured but not rigid, adventurous without being exhausting. Well, it maybe exhausting as we want to see everything there is to see.
The Mediterranean also offers incredible variety: ancient history, coastal villages, world-class food, and landscapes that feel both cinematic and deeply human. It’s not one experience—it’s many.
And celebrating a big birthday and anniversary? That deserves something expansive.
Timing Is Everything: Booking 18 Months Ahead
Booking this far ahead gives us the luxury of time—time to research each port, figure out what’s actually worth seeing, and avoid the classic mistake of trying to “do Europe” in six hours and a panic. This isn’t a trip we take every other weekend, so we want to squeeze every possible ounce of value out of it. Booking early also comes with excursion credits, and you can be sure we intend to use every last one. Free money is still money.
Mostly, we want to explore at our own pace, on our own terms—without being herded around with a paddle and a flag. That said, we are very committed to making it back to the ship on time. Romantic sunsets are great. Missing the ship? Less so.
After far too much research (and a few late-night “just one more article” moments), one thing became very clear: booking 12–18 months in advance is often the sweet spot for popular itineraries like the Mediterranean.
Why?
You get first dibs on cabins—and yes, location matters more than I ever expected
Early-booking perks like onboard credit (aka justification for nicer wine)
Plenty of time to stalk airfare and hotel prices without breaking into a sweat
Far less stress—planning becomes part of the fun instead of a full-blown crisis
Cruise prices generally rise as ships fill, and while last-minute deals do exist, they’re a gamble—especially for milestone trips tied to specific dates. This is not the vacation to leave to fate, luck, or a flash sale at 2 a.m. Some trips deserve a plan.
Choosing the Right Itinerary (Not Just the Ship)
It’s very easy to fall in love with the ship—and yes, the amenities are lovely—but the itinerary is what really runs the show. A floating hotel is nice. Knowing where it’s actually taking you? That’s the point.
Things we’re paying close attention to:
Port balance:
Too many sea days can feel endless; too many ports and suddenly you’re speed-walking Europe with a map and mild panic. Let’s be honest—we want to see everything, so there will be some speed walking. Comfortable shoes aren’t a suggestion; they’re a survival tool.Port depth:
Longer port stays mean less “wave at the city from the bus window” tourism. Not all ports are close to the places you actually want to see. Trains, regional rail, and early morning alarms quickly become the norm—and once you accept that, it actually adds to the adventure.Embarkation and disembarkation cities:
These quietly shape your trip more than you might expect. Do you want to spend time exploring before boarding, or are you ready to jump straight into cruise mode? The same question applies at the end—rush to the airport or squeeze in one last coffee, walk, and moment of denial before heading home.Transit reality check:
Mediterranean ports often involve real logistics: tenders, traffic, train schedules, and the occasional “are we sure this is the right platform?” moment. Build in buffer time. Missing one attraction is far better than missing the ship.Energy budgeting:
Back-to-back port days look amazing when you’re planning. In real life, they can lead to museum overload and sitting in cafés purely to recover. Choose your must-sees, leave room to wander, and remember—sometimes the best part of the cruise is doing absolutely nothing on board.
We’re also looking beyond this trip. Once you start researching cruises, you realize they’re not just vacations—they’re gateways. This first one may very well set the tone for how (and where) we travel next.
We embark in Barcelona and disembark in Trieste, which means three days on either side of the cruise. That gives us time to properly explore Barcelona—its neighborhoods, its food, and its general joy of life—and then Venice and Rome, which feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience I’m already counting down to. I booked this cruise a year ago, and now it’s officially time to make sure we actually see what we want to see.
Then came hotels. And let’s be honest: hotel options range from “should I keep my shoes on?” to ultra-luxury where the pillows probably have a backstory. But how much time do I really want to spend in a hotel room? I just want it clean, safe, and close enough that I don’t need a spreadsheet to get around.
So we started by researching neighborhoods—because location matters more than thread count. Once we narrowed that down, we looked at hotels and landed on solid mid-range options: comfortable, well-located, and not requiring a second mortgage. Doing the research ourselves saved money, gave us better choices, and let us spend where it actually counts—on experiences, food, and getting lost on purpose.
Pre-Cruise: Three Days in Barcelona to Adjust and Absorb
Arriving three days before the cruise isn’t indulgent—it’s smart.
It allows time to:
Adjust to jet lag
Explore without a clock
Protect against travel delays
Start the trip grounded, not groggy
Make sure we are there in plenty of time to get to the ship
Hotel research matters here. We’re prioritizing:
Location: Walkable neighborhoods near key attractions or cruise ports
Feedback: Consistent reviews over flashy photos
Price vs. value: Comfort and convenience beat luxury at this stage
Being close to public transit or major landmarks saves energy—and energy is currency when you want to enjoy every moment.
Post-Cruise: One day in Venice and 2 in Rome (to absorb culture)
After 11 days of movement, schedules, and stimulation, ending the trip with three days in Italy feels very intentional. Rome is an invitation to linger, to breathe, to sit down and actually be in the city instead of racing through it like it’s a scavenger hunt.
Here’s what we’re looking for:
A well-located hotel (again—location is everything)
Space to wander without an agenda
Cafés, piazzas, and unplanned afternoons
Pasta and gelato (obviously)
Rome isn’t a checklist city. It’s a sit-down-and-look-around city. Ending the journey here gives the experience room to settle, allows the sights to sink in, and gives us a moment to celebrate having survived the past 11 days of organized chaos. Honestly, it’s also a perfect excuse to practice our “I’m pretending to know Italian” smiles while eating gelato for breakfast.
Research, Reviews, and the Very Serious Bathroom Plan
We used booking sites to look for hotels, but let’s be clear—photos mean nothing without reviews. I want to hear from real people who stayed there, walked the neighborhood, and survived the experience. Recent reviews are especially important. A hotel can look charming online and still be located somewhere that feels a little too adventurous after sunset. Reviews saved us time, money, and potential regret.
My husband does his research a different way—YouTube. Lots of YouTube. And as much as I hate to admit it, it’s incredibly useful. We’ve found a few favorite travel influencers who actually walk through neighborhoods, explain transportation, and show what things really look like without strategic camera angles. Try it. You might fall down the rabbit hole too—and come out oddly prepared.
Thanks to this deep dive, we’ve picked up some excellent tips. For example, using an eSIM in Europe so we can have data without selling a kidney to our phone provider. We’ve also started pinning locations on maps ahead of time—restaurants, landmarks, cafés—so we don’t end up standing in the middle of a plaza debating options while everyone else looks like they know exactly where they’re going.
And then there’s my contribution to the planning process. Being a woman over 50, I’ve asked him to pin public bathrooms—and yes, note whether they cost money. I do not want to be taken short in Europe, nor do I want to discover at a critical moment that I need exact change. This is not the kind of surprise I enjoy while traveling. Some people plan for museums. I plan for bladder management. It’s called experience. Priorities, people—priorities.
What I’m Thinking About (That I Didn’t Before)
Planning this trip has reminded me how travel priorities evolve—or maybe it’s just that over-50 brains work differently.
Comfort matters—but so does curiosity. You can’t fully appreciate a new city if your feet are staging a rebellion. Slower can be richer than faster. Those two extra hours wandering a piazza? Priceless. Paying a little more for location can save a lot of energy. Experiences matter more than souvenirs (though gelato is always an exception). And perhaps most importantly: anticipation is part of the gift. Researching, planning, imagining—it’s all a form of travel before the travel.
Ship Life
The ship itself is practically a floating city—and yes, it’s geared toward seniors, or at least that’s the reputation. We’ve booked the drink and specialty dining packages because a vacation without at least one glass of wine in hand feels irresponsible. Onboard, we’re thinking about what to enjoy: spa treatments, the quiet lounges, maybe a game of shuffleboard (or at least people-watching). Sea days are for lingering, reading, napping, and sampling the restaurants without the guilt of missing ports. Booking dining in advance ensures we get our preferred times and avoid the “hangry at sea” scenario.
Excursions and Ports
Then there’s the fun but slightly overwhelming part: planning what to see in each port. Excursion research has become a full-time hobby. Which sites matter most? How much walking is too much? Which small cafés and gelaterias are worth the detour? And timing is everything—if we miscalculate, we risk missing the ship, and I refuse to live through that kind of midlife panic.
Balancing structured excursions with wandering on our own gives us the best of both worlds. We’ve also started pinning everything on maps: sights, restaurants, bathrooms (always bathrooms), and hidden corners that only locals know. This way, each stop has flexibility without becoming chaotic.
Consideration: What to Wear in Europe
Ah, the eternal question: what does one actually wear for three weeks in Europe in September without turning into a walking laundry basket? This isn’t just fashion—it’s logistics, strategy, and survival.
We’re talking 3 weeks out of a suitcase, multiple cities, cruise life, and city exploration. Layers? Absolutely. Comfy walking shoes? Mandatory. A little flair for photos? Obviously. And don’t even get me started on deciding whether to pack for summer, fall, or “who knows, let’s just hope for sunny days.”
Enter the modern miracle: cruise laundry service. Wow. These ships think of everything. My plan: use laundry service the first few days on board, somewhere mid-cruise, and again just before disembarking. This should drastically reduce the amount of dirty laundry I lug home—and hopefully jet lag won’t involve a mountain of socks and underwear waiting for me.
Then there’s my husband’s YouTube friends’ latest advice: merino wool. Yes, apparently you can wear it for days on end without cleaning it. Not sure I’m brave enough to test that after hours of walking through cobblestone streets, but I’m willing to try it… cautiously. The selling point? It’s easy to wash, which I suspect will be my preferred method.
We each bought one merino item for Christmas so we can experiment before committing (and breaking the bank). I’m a little skeptical, but hey—this is part of the fun: testing, planning, and occasionally looking ridiculous in the name of comfort.
Packing for Europe at our age is part art, part science, and part negotiation with your suitcase. But thanks to a little strategy, a dash of curiosity, and a hint of merino wool, I think we can survive—and maybe even look cute doing it.
Looking Ahead
We still have eight months before this cruise, and plenty of planning ahead of us. This is my first cruise, which means I could either fall head-over-heels for the cruise life—or politely retire it in favour of other adventures that don’t involve putting my luggage in a tiny closet. Either way, it’s part of the fun: imagining, planning, and debating whether a shuffleboard tournament counts as a “must-do activity.”
This Mediterranean cruise isn’t just a celebration of years lived—it’s an investment in years to come. Proof that even with experience behind us, there’s still so much ahead worth discovering. New cities, new food, new gelato flavors, new people to laugh with, and yes, maybe even new ways to navigate Europe without losing coins for the bathroom.
Seasoned, yes. But still hungry for what’s next. And honestly? That might be the best part. The thrill isn’t just in being somewhere new—it’s in knowing that, after all these years, curiosity still wins over comfort (most of the time).
Eight months may seem like a long countdown, but it’s actually just the perfect amount of time to dream, research, plan, and overthink… and then finally go and live it.
