I wasn’t always sitting here in the crisp, cool air of Anchorage, Alaska. Not long ago, I was in Las Vegas, and I don’t mean the “winning big at the craps table” kind of Vegas. I mean the 120-degree-heat, asphalt-melting, soul-crushing kind of Vegas.
In 2023, my world didn’t just change, it stopped. My wife, Lisa, passed away after a long, grueling illness. For months afterward, I wasn’t really living. I was a ghost in my own life. By day, I worked as a tour guide, showing visitors the majestic beauty of the Grand Canyon and the Valley of Fire. I’d point out the layers of time in the rocks, the resilience of the desert flora, and then I’d go home to an empty house, lie down, and stare at the ceiling.
The silence in that house was louder than any casino floor. Between the crushing loneliness, the depression, and the relentless desert heat, I realized I was at a crossroads. I could stay there and slowly fade away, or I could do something radical.
I chose the latter.
The Lessons Lisa Left Behind
Lisa and I weren’t the “sit on the porch” kind of couple. We had spent years traveling the world together. We taught in Ecuador, we went scuba diving in the vibrant waters of Mexico and Colombia. We had always built our life around experiences rather than “stuff.”
But toward the end, when the hospital bed became her whole world, she said something to me that I’ll never forget:
“I was a woman who always did what I wanted… went where I wanted… and now all I can do is lay in this hospital bed.”
After she was gone, I realized I was doing exactly what she hated. I was staying still. I was stuck. And I knew, with every fiber of my being, that she wouldn’t have wanted that for me. She would have been the first one to pack my bags and push me out the door.
So, I decided to live the way she lived. I decided to experience the world again, even if I had to do it alone. This was the birth of my new mission: finding the perfect solo travel for seniors strategy that didn’t involve spending a fortune or following a tour bus around with a numbered paddle.
The Great Reset: From Vegas to Anchorage
They say you can’t run away from your problems, but you can certainly move them to a cooler climate. I left Las Vegas and headed north, way north, to Anchorage, Alaska. I needed a clean slate, a place where the air was thin and the light was different.
I gave myself one mission: get my life back in order.
That meant facing the “stuff.” You know the stuff I’m talking about. The garage full of “just in case” items, the drawers of old cables, the furniture that holds more memories than utility. I worked hard, I paid off my debts, and I simplified everything.
I didn’t just downsize; I underwent a life-audit. I cut everything down until my entire life fit into two suitcases.
Living out of two suitcases at 65 might sound like a nightmare to some, but to me, it felt like shedding a heavy winter coat in the middle of July. It was the ultimate freedom. If I didn’t need it to survive or to see the world, I didn’t need it at all. This radical minimalism is one of the best retirement travel ideas I can give anyone: the less you own, the more you can see.
Real Travel for Real People (On a Real Budget)
There’s a misconception that travel after 60 has to be luxury cruises and five-star hotels. Don’t get me wrong, I like a nice thread count as much as the next guy, but that’s not what I’m about. I’m not an “influencer” trying to look perfect in a linen suit. I’m a guy who knows how to find a deal and isn’t afraid of a budget airline.
I travel on the cheap. I work when I need to, and I travel when I can. My goal is to show you that you don’t need a massive inheritance to see the world. By 2027, I plan to be semi-retired and “slow traveling” the globe.
What does that look like?
- Practicality over Prestige: Using points and miles strategies to fly for nearly nothing.
- Affordability: Finding destinations where your dollar (or your pension) goes three times as far.
- Strategy: Learning how to navigate the world as a solo senior without feeling isolated or overwhelmed.
According to research from groups like AARP, more seniors than ever are looking for “grief travel” or “transformative travel” experiences. We are realizing that we aren’t just “aging”, we are evolving. Solo travel for seniors isn’t just about seeing the Eiffel Tower; it’s about proving to yourself that you are still capable, still curious, and still very much alive.
Is It Ever Too Late?
I get asked this all the time. “Richard, aren’t you a bit old to be starting over?”
My response is usually a wry smile and a question of my own: “Compared to what?”
If the alternative is sitting in a 120-degree living room staring at the ceiling, then no, 65 is the perfect age to start over. In fact, it might be the best age. We have the perspective that younger travelers lack. We know that time is the only currency that really matters. We’ve spent decades solving problems for others; it’s time we solve the problem of how to live our own best lives.
You don’t have to be rich to do this. You don’t have to be a marathon runner. But you do need a plan. And that’s why I’m here. I’m building a roadmap for the rest of us: the ones who want the “impossible” balance of great experiences and smart finances.
Join Me on the Journey
This blog post is just the beginning. I’m taking this mission to YouTube to show you exactly how I’m doing it: the wins, the fails, and the occasional lost suitcase.
Mark your calendars for April 28th. That’s when I’m dropping my first official travel vlog: “I Sold Everything to Travel the World at 65.”
I’ll be diving deep into the logistics of how I downsized, the emotional hurdles of leaving my old life behind, and why I’m more excited for the future now than I’ve been in years.
If you’ve been thinking about traveling more, retiring earlier, or just living a little bit differently, you’re in the right place. We aren’t just “older”: we’re just getting started.
See you on the road (or at least in the next post).
Richard Evans
PARADISE Tour Guy
Want more retirement travel ideas? Subscribe to the PARADISE Tour Guy YouTube Channel and stay tuned for our next update on May 1st, where we answer the big question: “Can You Really Travel the World on $1,500 a Month?”
The Vagabond Horizon 