Help With My Fantasy....

[Kristl Walek]

For as long as I can remember, I have had the same "retirement fantasy."

With my future so uncertain, the fantasy is floating around inside my brain with more and more frequency.

So here it is: Instead of settling anywhere permanently, I'd rather be a "floater"---spending the remainder of my time in beautiful natural places in the world; perhaps seasonally (warmer places in the winter, etc). Renting accomodations for a month/season/a year/depending on location. Exploring that area botanically (and otherwise), and then moving on to a new spot.

My major interests are plants in the wild, travel, eating simply but well. Art, culture, music. literature are good, but not essential. And cities and what they offer is entirely unessential. And I am female, and unattached (which may eliminate some spots). And I can't be somewhere where the cost of living/accomodation greatly outweighs the benefits of being there.

Many of you have been to some fascinating areas of the world---and you have said to yourself "I would surely return here in the blink of an eye"...or have seen places where you could see yourself settling, even temporarily. Or fabulous vacation spots where the flora has been terrific/quality of life wonderful.

Can you help me make a list?

[David Nicholson]

From the quality of life point of view it would have to be Italy and from a personal view anywhere South of Milan. BUT since the demise of the Lire and the coming of the Euro Italy has become very expensive.

[TC]

If the weather is good, then I would go no further than Scotland.  However, my next choice would be Fiji.  From the picture attached you can see why !!

[Carlo]

Tom,

Long sleeves and long pants in Fiji!!!!! I think you're really lounging in the banana belt of Ireland, where it doesn't get quite as warm...

[Carlo]

Kristl,

If you're really going to float, ideas and lists are the last thing you need. Start anywhere. Stay until you're ready to go, then go somewhere else. There are SO many places to see. If you've got or can cobble together the $$$ to make it happen (even odd jobs on-location can keep you going), there's no end to where you could wind up.

[Lesley Cox]

Not for me thanks. Too sybaritic for my tastes (but then, I was brought up a good Scots Presbytarian), and no garden! I love to go places but love to get home again; a permanent home.

[Lesley Cox]

And Tom, nowadays Fiji is as politicaly unstable as Iraq or Afghanistan. Coups happening at regular intervals and a state police force which is loyal to its dictator and vicious with it. No way would I go there at present.

[Kristl Walek]

Not for me thanks. Too sybaritic for my tastes (but then, I was brought up a good Scots Presbytarian), and no garden! I love to go places but love to get home again; a permanent home.

Must be my Slovakian blood....Although I love being at home, I have always had wanderlust, and when I think about anything I might regret, it is not seeing more of this amazing planet.

So far my own list:

American desert
USA (Utah/Montana)
South Africa
Patagonia
Scotland/Ireland
Slovenia
Greece/Olympic Mountains
Spain/Portugal (Pyrenees)

And Carlo, of course you are right---because that would be exactly what I would do. It's the first place that is hardest.

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Kristl,
Until 20 years ago I would've said that you could live quite cheaply in Australia and do some great botanising, but prices for transport and fuel make it a bit difficult now. And overstaying your visa could land you in a detention centre!
Still, if you make it to Australia ther are a lot of good places to look at unusual plants, especially in the West.
cheers
fermi

[Katherine J]

Croatia - not the seaside full of tourists, but the Velebit mountains. I think it's quite cheep (yet). Very kind, simple people, beautiful landscapes and interesting plants.

Added later:
And excellent climate for arthritis, really!! (my own experience! )

[art600]

Kristl
Can you cycle?  Do a Steffan

Apart from having to wear clothes not appropriate for cycling, Iran would be a marvellous destination.  It has wonderful plants, friendly people and is really inexpensive.  

[Anthony Darby]

We are going to Istria in Croatia this summer on holiday. Shorts and t-shirts and not much luxury, except that we are staying in a villa with a pool. It annoyed me last summer when customers ignored the dress code for the restaurants (which you had to book, and had the code clearly written on the booking slip) and turned up in t-shirts, shorts and flipflops, in our resort in Mexico. I see it everywhere. One dimentional people who seem to have started at the bottom and gone down in the world.

I loved Bali. The people are lovely and deserve better than being part of Indonesia. As with Mexico, no British (nor Americans come to that) in our hotel, which was a bonus. Very inexpensive.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

You shouldn't forget to add Norway to your list Kristl !!
Fabulous nature ! 
Lovely people ! 
Verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry expensive though... 

[Thomas Huber]

Kristl, I second David N's thought: Italy is such a great country (http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1628.0)
and if you travel South of the Po-plain and avoid Roma and Napoli you don't need much money.

[Anthony Darby]

I agree with David and Thomas. I wasn't looking forward to going to Italy in 2006 but the people were very friendly and the food was better than France. The Tuscans know what a fillet (pronounced fill-it) steak is and how to cook it. Our local pub restaurant served fillet steaks in a white truffle sauce, medium rare (i.e. cooked 'normal'). Fantastic! The holiday was superb.