Tag Archives: sabbatical

Semi Sabbatical – Month 9

December 2022 was full of a lot of traveling across multiple time zones! From the Northeast, to heading a little more south along the Atlantic coast, to traveling to the West coast, then capping the year off in my home state of Hawaii… it’s been a great way to end the year!

Cape Cod, MA

We finished off our time in Boston by driving down to Cape Cod! Even though it’s too cold to go to the beach, I can totally see why it’s such a popular summer getaway! The beaches are pristine, and the sun was shining the entire time we were there. We enjoyed a beer at a local brewery right along the coast, so we could stay warm indoors and still get a killer view.

Portland, ME

A three hour drive outside of Boston, we took a day trip to Portland, Maine! The lobster rolls there were outstanding, and all the lighthouses in the town were cool to see. Even though it was raining, we didn’t let the weather stop us from enjoying the sights. Plus we got to see my husband’s cousin, which was an added bonus!

Scarsdale, NY

This quaint little suburb outside of NYC was a great place to relax before we prepared for the busy travel schedule we had ahead of us. The walking paths around the main Village area were perfect for a quick jog with a nature feel. We housesat for two chill Shitzus, in a stunning house just a quick walk away from their main Village area. This sleepy little town was perfect for us to wind down and enjoy the simple pleasures.

Pittsburgh, PA

The moment I had been waiting for…my first ever Steelers game, in Pittsburgh! And they were playing their rivals, the Ravens! I bought my first Terrible Towel, and we enjoyed being a part of the Pittsburgh culture of their love for the team. Unfortunately, our starting QB was on concussion protocol after the first few plays of the game, so we didn’t do as well as I would have liked. But we still enjoyed the experience regardless!

Virginia Beach, VA

We visited one of my best friends from childhood in Virginia Beach, which was so nice! Even though it was chilly, we still enjoying walking along the boardwalk and checking out the Atlantic Ocean views. Our dog even got to meet her dogs, which we never thought would happen before we started traveling. We got to spend some much needed quality time and catching up after not seeing each other in over a year!

Manhattan Beach, CA

We jumped on a plane heading west and spend a few days in LA! Our good friends was getting married, so we figured why not make a trip out of it? We visited some of our favorite places in South Bay, our old stomping grounds. And you can’t visit LA without walking out on the Manhattan Beach pier!

KAUAI, HAWAII

After our friends’ wedding, we headed even more west…back to my homeland, Hawaii! We decided that since we would be in Hawaii for 3 weeks, why not visit one of the neighbor islands as well? So, we Hele On to Kauai!

Lihue

We stayed in a little motel right in the heart of Lihue. We chose this place because it is situated halfway between the south shore and the north shore, perfect distance for our quick trip! Plus, it was walking distance to many shops and restaurants, which was a huge plus! We ended up splurging at a fancy restaurant overlooking the water, using the money we were refunded from our cancelled boat tour due to weather conditions.

Waimea Canyon

The next day, we headed south of Lihue to Waimea Canyon. When we first arrived, it was so foggy and you couldn’t see anything! But as we hiked to Waipo’o Falls, the fog cleared and we had some amazing views of the canyon! We stopped in Waimea for some plate lunches, and it was some of the best chicken katsu we’ve ever had.

Hanalei

On our last day, we drove up to the north shore, but not without hiking to see the Sleeping Giant on the east side. We headed to Hanalei, where we tried a taro teriyaki burger, which was a great vegetarian option for us. We hung out in Hanalei Bay and soaked in the sun before we flew back to Oahu that night.

OAHU, HAWAII

Celebrating Christmas in Hawaii is the best – sunny skies, warm weather, and surrounded by my family. But of course, we still find time to explore!

Lanikai

One of our favorite activities to do in Hawaii is play golf! The warm weather allows for us to golf any day of the year, no matter what time of year we visit. Our favorite place to golf is Mid-Pacific Country Club in the neighborhood of Lanikai on the east side of the island. I was fortunate enough to grow up playing this course, so my dad loves taking the both of us golfing any chance we get.

White Plains, Ewa Beach

My favorite underrated surf spot on Oahu is in Ewa Beach at White Plains! We took my cousin out with us to surf too, as she hadn’t been surfing in years. The mild waves and long rides here are perfect for beginners and seasoned surfers alike. Plus, you get a great view of Diamond Head in the distance, which is cool!

Pearl Harbor Sunset

Even though my dad still lives in the same house I was born and raised in, the sunsets over our view of Pearl Harbor still amaze me every time we’re home. I grew up in Aiea Heights, just outside of Pearl Harbor. The views of the Arizona Memorial and the Battleship Missouri are things I grew up with every day, but didn’t realize how awesome and historical it was for me to experience this until I left the islands. So while we’re home, we take in as many sunsets as possible!

Makapu’u Lookout and Tidepools

On the last day of the New Year, we got our workout in and hiked up to Makapu’u Lighthouse and Lookout. This hike takes you to the most eastern tip of O’ahu, and gives you stunning views of the east coast. On a clear day, like the day we hiked to the stop, you can see the island of Molokai in the distance!

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We also hiked down to the tidepools, where you can enjoy the cool waters of the swimming holes before you make your way back down the trail to your car. It’s a great way to cool off after that glute buster of a hike!

We’ll be in Hawaii through the New Year, then it’s back to the mainland to head south for the winter!

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Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you! This website/blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor(s) regarding your personal finance, investment, and tax matters. 

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

  • Student Loan Planner works with you to help customize a plan to most efficiently pay off your student debt! Click here to book your free consult today!
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  • DankLite is the premier manufacturer of hemp & CBD-related products. Click here to see their line of amazing products!
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Semi Sabbatical – Month 8

This month of our semi sabbatical has much more travel as compared to last month! We spent November in multiple places in the Northeast. We got to experience the transition from Fall into Winter, which was really nice. We primarily did housesitting through Trusted Housesitters this month, so it took us to places that we may have never thought of visiting!

Alexandria, VA

We housesat for two chill Great Pyrenees dogs and a little gray cat in the suburb of Alexandria, just 30 minutes outside of Washington D.C. We were not expecting to see as much fall foliage here, but we were pleasantly surprised by how much we saw!

On one of our running routes in the neighborhood, it took you through the woods where all the leaves were the perfect mix of fall colors.

Washington, DC

Although we spent most of our time in Alexandria, we still made it to DC! We primarily explored the Logan Circle area, where we enjoyed the local breweries and spent time with some old friends. One of the best parts about this semi sabbatical is that it is allowing us to reconnect with old friends. And lucky for us, the weather was uncharacteristically warm that day, so we got to hang out outdoors which was great!

Boyce, VA

We completed another housesit in the country of Northern Virginia, in a small town located 1.5 hours west of Alexandria. This log cabin was off a gravel road, surrounded by trees, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. The home had an amazing view of the valley and the trees as they began to lose their leaves during our stay.

We spent a day in Shenandoah National Park, where we got to hike in the valley and enjoy the solitude and the sound of the leaves crunching under our feet. I had never known much about this national park, but thank goodness we’re on this semi sabbatical that allows us to explore regions of this country we would have never thought to visit!

We heard there were some pretty sweet caverns in the area, so we checked out Luray Caverns. And although it seemed pretty touristy, it was still a sight to see! The mile stroll through the caverns seemed very surreal. It kind of felt like we were in a Disneyland ride! It was definitely worth it to see these crazy looking caverns.

Burlington, VT

Our next housesit was for the most adorable Pomsky right outside of Downtown Burlington, Vermont! We were just a 5 minute walk from Church St, a pedestrian only walking path amongst all the shops, restaurants and bars that Burlington has to offer. But what we were looking forward to most…was the beer!

We got to visit The Alchemist Brewery, home to the famous Heady Topper IPA. Not only did we pay a visit to buy multiple cans, but it is also the only place that serves it on draft. It started snowing right when we pulled up, which made it so picturesque and a gorgeous winter wonderland for our beer adventure!

We also made sure to try the other local breweries in the area as well: Foam Brewers, Idyletime, Von Trapp, Burlington Beer, Zero Gravity, and Four Quarters. They all had great beer, and I see why Vermont has become such a hub for craft beer!

Rochester, NY

We headed west to upstate New York, to the city of Rochester, for Thanksgiving! We housesat for a loving and sweet black Labrador, who enjoyed our company…especially when we were cooking food.

When we weren’t stuffing our faces with food, or watching World Cup games, we ran along Lake Ontario. Lake Ontario which pretty much looked like an ocean because it’s so big. You can’t even see across of it!

Niagara Falls

We couldn’t be in upstate New York and not visit this world wonder! We spent Thanksgiving Day visiting Niagara Falls…New York, USA, and Ontario, Canada!

From Niagara Falls, NY, you can cross a pedestrian bridge over the Niagara River to the town of Niagara Falls, Ontario. So we had lunch in Canada and enjoyed the full view of the falls from our northern neighbor!

Boston, MA

We capped off this month of our semi sabbatical of November in Boston, MA! We just arrived to our little Airbnb just outside of the city. We’ll spend the first week of December here, and we’re excited to explore New England!

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If you want one-on-one mentoring in your finances, let’s work together to help you on your personal finance journey! Click here to sign up for your FREE 20 minute consult.

Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you! This website/blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor(s) regarding your personal finance, investment, and tax matters. 

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

  • Student Loan Planner works with you to help customize a plan to most efficiently pay off your student debt! Click here to book your free consult today!
  • Trusted HouseSitters is our favorite way to find free lodging through vacation pet sitting. Click here to learn how you can become a pet sitter, or request a house sit!
  • DankLite is the premier manufacturer of hemp & CBD-related products. Click here to see their line of amazing products!
  • Tello is a more affordable cell phone company that can help you create your very own Custom Plan. Combine minutes, texts & 4G data as you want. No contracts or fees, only the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime. Click here to get started with Tello today!

Semi Sabbatical – Month 6

The summer has come to an end so quickly! And what better way to end the summer by exploring more of Colorado, and making our way across the country to the East Coast.

Boulder, CO

We started off September going on a hike with my husband’s sister and her puppy in the mountains of Boulder! Boulder situated right along the mountainside just under 30 miles northwest of Denver. It’s a gorgeous college town, with so many hiking trails with stellar views of the city!

Denver, CO

We got to go to the Friends Experience during its tenure in Denver! We got to explore replica sets from the famous TV show. From Monica and Rachel’s kitchen, to Joey and Chandler’s living room, to hanging out on the couch in Central Perk… we felt like we were in the show!

Conifer, CO

We spent Labor Day weekend dog sitting for our friends in their home in the mountains! It was a great getaway, and we got to spend the time relaxing and being in the outdoors. The fact that hiking trails are just a few minutes away, we had to give into the temptation to go hiking. The weather was great – when there’s a heat wave in Denver, the weather in the mountains is perfect!

Orlando, FL

We made our way to Orlando for a few days to attend FinCon, a conference for personal finance creators. I learned SO much from this conference. It got me so excited to continue working on this blog and helping other allied health professionals get their personal finances in order.

Fairplay, CO

We capped our last weekend in Colorado with a weekend up in the mountains! Fairplay is about 1.5 hours outside of the city of Denver, and is known for its old timey western downtown area. We rented a house out there for the weekend, where we spent a lot of time relaxing and enjoying the peaceful outdoors.

We hiked up to Crystal Lake, which although just a moderate gradual incline, felt much harder due to the elevation. The start and end point were over 11,000 feet! But the views of the mountains were so worth it.

Kansas City, MO

We drove across eastern Colorado and all the way across Kansas to get to Kansas City, Missouri! We spent a weekend here eating our way through all the Kansas City BBQ and enjoying this small city.

The downtown area was full of cool breweries and distilleries, and the River Market area had an amazing farmer’s market held weekly! The view from the WWI memorial of the city skyline at night was a great way to cap off the weekend.

West Plains, MO

A little over 4 hours south of KCMO is the small town of West Plains, where we visited some of my husband’s family. We got to see the town where his grandpa grew up, and we learned more about his side of the family and their history. The area is lush and green and full of trees, and the local springs here are truly a gorgeous site to see. I had no idea how beautiful it is here!

Chattanooga, TN

Next we headed to Chattanooga, where we visited some of my family! My aunt enjoyed sharing her hometown with us, and took us all over the city. My uncle, a retired history professor, enjoyed sharing the history of the area with us as well.

It was nice and sunny while we were there, so we got on the pontoon and explored Chickamauga Lake! We went up to Point Park, where we got amazing views of the city of Chattanooga, and all the surrounding foothills.

We also went on a hike, where we got to see the Blue Hole and enjoy the lush, green nature of the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. Deeks enjoyed the ride, too!

As September comes to a close, we will be settled in New York City for the whole month of October. We’re looking forward to revisiting our old stomping grounds – this amazing city is where my husband and I first met 🙂

Like what you read? Check out some of my other most clicked blog posts!

If you want one-on-one mentoring in your finances, let’s work together to help you on your personal finance journey! Click here to sign up for your FREE 20 minute consult.

Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you! This website/blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor(s) regarding your personal finance, investment, and tax matters. 

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

  • Student Loan Planner works with you to help customize a plan to most efficiently pay off your student debt! Click here to book your free consult today!
  • Trusted HouseSitters is our favorite way to find free lodging through vacation pet sitting. Click here to learn how you can become a pet sitter, or request a house sit!
  • DankLite is the premier manufacturer of hemp & CBD-related products. Click here to see their line of amazing products!
  • Tello is a more affordable cell phone company that can help you create your very own Custom Plan. Combine minutes, texts & 4G data as you want. No contracts or fees, only the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime. Click here to get started with Tello today!

Semi Sabbatical – Month 2

May went by so fast!

Month 2 of our semi sabbatical was eventful, with a big chunk of travel! In just one month, we visited San Diego, California; Phoenix, Arizona; the Bay Area in Northern California; and South Lake Tahoe, right on the border of California and Nevada.

San Diego, CA

San Diego is such a special place for us, because this is where we spent the first 4 years of our career after we graduated from PT school. It is also where we got married, bought (and sold) our first home, and adopted our two sweet senior dogs. So we were happy to have been able to return for a week!

Certain parts of Imperial Beach allow dogs! But Deeks would have rather stayed on the concrete.

We spent a majority of our time in Imperial Beach, the southernmost city of San Diego county. We were fortunate that our friends let us stay in the their home during out stay. Imperial Beach borders Mexico, and you can even see Tijuana in the distance!

Deeks enjoying the sunset in Coronado

Coronado is one of the prettiest beach cities we have every visited in the continental US. Coronado is an island with a military base that is west of Downtown San Diego, and directly north of Imperial Beach. This is a great place to watch the sunset, and the main drive has plenty of restaurants, bars, and cafes to choose from.

Phoenix, AZ

We continued our semi sabbatical into Phoenix, Arizona. We drove 5 hours to Phoenix to celebrate the wedding of our good friend from PT school. Despite the 100 degree desert heat, it was a beautiful wedding. The wedding as at the gorgeous event venue, Villa Siena, located in Gilbert. We stayed at the Cambria hotel in Chandler, and enjoyed spending our down time at the pool soaking up the sun.

In this desert heat, hanging out in the pool is a necessity…even for Hank!

Then, we spent two weeks after the wedding dog sitting for the newlyweds as they enjoyed their honeymoon! They are the proud dog parents of a 2 year old Golden Retriever named Hank, who was so much fun to hang out with while we stayed in their home. He loved jumping in the pool and playing fetch. And he got along with Deeks, which was a relief!

Golfing at the local course just 5 minutes away from our friends’ house

I made my schedule so that I could still enjoy some relaxation time while we were dog sitting. We played a couple rounds of golf, went on some hikes, and even visited Sedona for a quick day trip!

Sedona, AZ

What’s great about our semi sabbatical is the freedom it provides for us to travel. So on a whim, we took a day trip to Sedona! Less than a 2 hour drive north of Phoenix, Sedona is a stunning little town with gorgeous red rock landscape.

Even in the 95 degree heat, still totally worth it!

When we arrived, we did a quick hike to Cathedral Rock, which was a quick but steep incline that definitely required some fun scrambling to get to the top. We had some ice cream, which was much needed after the 95 degree hike.

Sunset at the Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout

We watched the sunset from a well known vista point: Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout. Deeks got a lot of attention hanging out in his stroller while we all watched the sunset. The red rock canyons looked stunning in this light, and no pictures can do its beauty justice. We met a lot of people at the lookout, and it was fun to socialize with people from all walks of life.

Lunar Eclipse from Sedona, AZ on Sunday, May 15, 2022

Little did we know, that the lunar eclipse was going to happen that night too! So we ended up staying a little later than planned. It was our first time taking night time pics with the Nikon Z5, so it took many tries to get some quality pics of the moon. Sedona is an official Dark Sky community. This means that the people of the city make a conscious effort to reduce their light pollution and educate others about responsible lighting.1

Tierrasanta, San Diego, CA

After our friends returned home from their honeymoon, we drove back to San Diego to do a couple housesits we set up from Trusted Housesitters. Trusted Housesitters is a platform that connects pet owners and sitters around the world. After you pay an annual fee, you have unlimited access to housesits worldwide. There is no exchange of money or goods between the two parties. Although you aren’t getting paid to watch their pet, you are staying in their home for free. It’s a win-win situation, especially during our semi sabbatical!

Our backyard jungle in Tierrasanta with Micah, the Golden Retriever

We got to care for a fun and happy 1 year old Golden Retriever named Micah in the neighborhood of Tierrasanta! Micah tried to play with Deeks, but Deeks is too old to care about that, so poor Micah was stuck playing with us. He loves belly rubs, and is still learning how to play fetch.

We stayed in a beautiful home tucked away in a peaceful cul de sac. The backyard was green and luscious, and it made me feel like I was in a tropical jungle. We got to meet the neighbor across the street, who also has a Golden Retriever, and was very friendly as well.

Hiking to the South Fortuna summit

Tierrasanta is a neighborhood of the city of San Diego that borders that is unlike most of the city. It is a quieter, older part of San Diego. It is situated amongst many canyons and has multiple trailheads, including ones leading into the popular Mission Trails. We even got to go on a quick hike to one of our favorite peaks, South Fortuna.

La Mesa, CA

After a few nights with Micah, we moved on to our next housesit in the east county city of La Mesa. Zazu is a cuddly and friendly 13 year old cat, who loved ear scratches and snuggling on the couch. He was a super chill pet to take care of, and he got along with Deeks well.

Zazu’s favorite sun spot on his tower

Our stay was in a beautiful new luxury apartment complex, complete with a pool, jacuzzi, and gym. We spent our nights relaxing in the jacuzzi before bed, and worked out in the gym in the mornings to start our day. Great ways to bookend our days during our semi sabbatical!

Downtown La Mesa is up and coming, with a main drive loaded with restaurants, cafes, and thrift stores. As San Diego residents start getting priced out of homes, many people are moving just outside to La Mesa, where you can find more affordable homes. This community is primarily young families, and is growing every year.

Oceanside, CA

As nomads on a semi sabbatical, we learn to expect the unexpected and be prepared for anything. As we were leaving San Diego, my car broke down…right on the 5 north freeway!

I know my car is small, but it looks a lot smaller on a tow truck.

With the help of AAA, NK towing, Oceanside Transmission, and S&S Complete Auto Care, we are able to get my car fixed in 24 hours! We are so lucky that we had friends in south Orange County who let us spend the night at a last minute’s notice. The next day, right at 5 pm when they closed, we were back on the road and ready to say good-bye to Southern California.

Redwood City, CA

Our next housesit was located in Redwood City, just 30ish minutes south of San Francisco. We got to care for a rambunctious, friendly 2 year old corgi named Crouton. Crouton loves playing tug-o-war, and loves to be pet. Deeks and Crouton didn’t get along that well at first, but Deeks held his ground with the active corgi, and soon enough they were able to cohabitate in peace.

Crouton the Corgi makes this view even better!

We stayed in a gorgeous apartment complex right on the bay! The view from the patio is of the marina, and it’s an amazing view to wake up to every morning. Sitting on the patio with a cup of coffee, working and enjoying our semi sabbatical, is so calming and relaxing. There is also a nice nature trail on Bair Island, right next to the building. I didn’t think I would get this much calm nature just outside of San Francisco!

San Francisco, CA

Since we’re so close to the city, we would be amiss if we didn’t stop into San Francisco! Prior to our semi sabbatical, my husband had never been to Chinatown, so of course we had to make a stop there.

We were so hungry after the long drive up, so we enjoyed dim sum from Hang Ah Tea Room, the first dim sum restaurant in the USA. We had all of our favorite classic dim sum: shu mai, har gaw, bbq pork bao, soup dumplings.

So many forture cookies – and they even gave us free samples!

We needed to walk off our first lunch, so we stopped by the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie factory, where we got to watch them being made by hand. You could get all types of fortune cookies – flavored dough, chocolate dipped, and more.

So. Much. Good. Food.

We we’re still a little hungry, so we ate some of our favorite classic chinese food – honey walnut shrimp, salt and pepper calamari, and sticky fried rice.

The rest of weekend we got to catch up with friends and have them meet us all around the Bay Area. As much as we enjoy seeing somewhere new, our favorite part about this semi sabbatical is reconnecting with friends we have made in all walks of our life.

On Saturday, we met up with our friends who we actually spent the last 2 years with in LA! This couple met in college at University of San Francisco, and one of them was born and raised in the Bay Area, so they knew the area pretty well. They recommended a brewery on the southern outskirts of the city to meet, and we enjoyed an oyster and seafood dinner in the ferry building.

On Sunday we drove to Half Moon Bay to hang out with an old friend from PT school. We spent most of our time at Hop Dogma Brewery, where her husband works, and we got to watch the Celtics beat the Heat to make their way to the NBA Finals.

We also were able to grab brunch with another friend from PT school, and my former roommate, on Memorial Day. Her and her fiancee came up to us in Redwood City, and we got to meet their dog. It was a great way to end our stay in the Bay Area!

South Lake Tahoe, CA

After brunch, we made the 4 hour drive to South Lake Tahoe, where we stayed until the end of the May. We spent our first day there hanging out at Regan Beach, where dogs can be off leash. Deeks really enjoyed sniffing around, and the soft sand was comfortable on his paws for him to explore as much as he wanted. For dinner, we enjoyed wood fired pizza and pay-per-ounce beer at Lake Tahoe AleworX.

I hate wearing shoes on the beach, but it was way too cold to go barefoot!

The next day we found a paved nature trail to Nevada Beach, which is a dog friendly beach! It’s just under 4 miles round trip, and it was stunning! The walk to the beach was very woodsy, surrounded by trees and meadows. Once we got to the beach, the water was crystal clear and insanely blue. Although the weather was a bit chilly, the sun was shining bright and there was no cloud in the sky, making it a perfect beach day.

Sunset over Lake Tahoe from the East Shore

We stayed along the east shore of the lake, and stumbled upon Logan Shoals Vista Point. It was a gorgeous view overlooking the whole lake and the mountains in the background. We ended up coming back here to watch the sunset later in the day. There is something so peaceful about watching the sunset on Lake Tahoe. The calmness of the lake water, the peacefulness of the surrounding. I wish we could stay longer, but it’s time to head to Reno, NV!

If you want to follow us on our journey, check out our Instagram!

If you want to travel more, or you want to and you want to learn ways to save your money, check out some of my other blog posts:

If you want one-on-one mentoring in your finances, let’s work together to help you on your personal finance journey! Click here to sign up for your FREE 20 minute consult.

Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you! This website/blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor(s) regarding your personal finance, investment, and tax matters. 

Resources:

  1. https://www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/communities/

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

  • StudentLoanAdvice.com was created to help ease your anxiety and take charge of your future by providing answers for optimal student loan management. Click here to reach out today!
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Semi Sabbatical – Month 1

Month 1, in the books!

So my husband and I have finally made the decision to quit our in-person jobs to go on a semi sabbatical!

We call it a “semi” sabbatical because we are still technically working during this time. However, we are only working part time, and we are working remote jobs that allow us flexibility to travel.

But the main reason we are going on a semi sabbatical is to reconnect with each other, our friends and family, and to remember why we love the work that we do.

So on April 1, we said good-bye to our in-person physical therapy jobs, along with the lease on our apartment. It was tough saying good-bye to our patients, but the month of April proved that we made the right call.

Getting Buck Wild at a bachelorette party in Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee

I actually started my portion of our semi sabbatical a little earlier, with a bachelorette party for one of my good friends in Nashville, Tennessee! The girls and I spent the weekend bar hopping, enjoying live music, and taking in the liveliness of this city. I had never experienced Nashville before, and the music scene here is truly above and beyond anything I would have imagined. Plus, exploring the town with a fun group of ladies made the experience even more enjoyable!

Going on a crisp, cool morning walk in Chatham, NJ

Chatham, New Jersey

The hubby and I met up in New Jersey, where we spent the night in the suburb town of Chatham with our friend’s parents before we caught a red eye the next day to Milan, Italy. Chatham is a beautiful and picturesque east coast town, with gorgeous homes and big lots and trees abundant. Whoever says that New Jersey is the “armpit” of America, clearly has not explored Chatham!

Duomo di Milano, aka the Milan Cathedral

Milan, Italy

Our semi sabbatical started to feel more real once we touched down in Milan, Italy. We got to check out Duomo di Milano, the fifth largest Christian church in the world! Also called the Milan Cathedral, it covers an entire city block and has over 3,000 statues, gargoyles and figures.

We also got to see The Last Supper painting, which was an incredible and powerful sight to see. It is originally a wall painting, and the original church it was painted in was actually bombed during World War II. However, by covering the painting with a wall of sandbags, they were still able to keep it intact!

So. Much. Pasta. Mmmmmmmmmm…

Bologna, Italy

After a few days in Milan, we continued our semi sabbatical to Bologna, which was a short hour train ride away. Our primary reason for visiting Bologna was to attend the wedding of our two good friends that we knew from our grad school days. Bologna is the 7th most populous city and the food capital of Italy. And after eating all the tortellini and tagliatelle, I can see why!

Crazy that we met these amazing people in PT school back in 2013, and we’re still friends to this day!

The wedding was situated in the hills of Pianoro, at a gorgeous winery overlooking the countryside. This evening really reminded us of why we chose to go on a semi sabbatical. Reconnecting with our friends who we met almost a decade ago, in this beautiful country, filled our hearts.

Portugal

After the wedding, we flew to Lisbon, Portugal. Our semi sabbatical continued with the help of my old coworker and good friend. She is Portuguese and recently moved back to Lisbon last year. She planned out the entire week for us, and I am forever grateful for her as our tour guide. I don’t think we would have seen as much as we would have hoped for if it wasn’t for her!

The OG Portuguese sausage! Hawaii people will understand 😛

Lisbon, Portugal

We spent the first day in the city of Lisbon, eating copious amounts of sausage and pasteis de nata, as we walked on the cobblestone sidewalks on downtown. We walked along the river, and explored Time Out Market, which had so many food options to choose from.

Can you spot the hubby in the castle?

Sintra, Portugal

Then we explored Sintra, a cute tourist town just outside of Lisbon. In this town, we ate travesseiros and drank ginjinha out of chocolate cups. We visited Quinta da Regaleira, a castle/garden that was created by a bored, rich dude who wanted to open a portal to another dimension. I wish I was joking, but I’m serious! He built a bunch of castles and caves surrounding his palace in the lush hillside of Sintra.

Gorgeous cliffside in Cascais

Cascais, Portugal

We stopped in Cascais, a coastal beach/cliff town just west of Lisbon. The main attraction is Boca do Inferno, or Hell’s Mouth, which is a cave that is similar to a blow hole. We watched the sunset over the Atlantic here, and it was truly a sight to see. To watch a sunset over the Atlantic was also a first for su!

Came for the views, stayed for the port wine 🙂

Porto, Portugal

We drove to Porto for a day trip, where this city by the river was full of beautiful architecture, many street vendors, and a gratuitous amount of port wine. Port wine is made in the region just east of Porto (hence the name), and all the ones we tried during our tasting and cellar tour were fantastic. We also got to listen to live traditional Portuguese music, watching the sunset on the river, as we enjoyed our port wine, which was such a neat experience.

Hard to believe they have big wave surf competitions here during the winter!

Nazare, Portugal

We did a quick trip to Nazare, where the beach is popular for its massive waves during the winter/spring months. The biggest wave ever surfed in the world was here, measuring at almost 30 meters tall. But when we visited, it was completely flat. It was hard to picture a wave that big here!

This Hawaii girl was in her element in Algarve

Algarve, Portugal

Our last day of our semi sabbatical in Portugal was in the southern coastal beach district of Algarve. It’s typically warmer and sunnier in this region as compared to the west coast, and is a popular tourist destination for Europeans. We were lucky enough to have such warm weather, that we even got to jump in the ocean for a bit!

Back to California

We returned to Los Angeles, where we spent the majority of the last two weeks of April with our good friends who we had gotten closer with during the pandemic. These two were a part of our “quarantine bubble,” and it was nice to be able to spend more time with them before we left Los Angeles.

Shredding the gnar gnar

Mammoth Mountain, California

We drove up to Mammoth during the week to get one last mountain day in for the season. Going on a Wednesday was WAY less crowded than our usual weekend trips. We got a ton of runs in, and we still had time at the end to grab a beer at the local brewery before driving back down to LA.

Paddling an OC1 in Morro Bay

Central Coast, California

We also did a little impromptu trip to the central coast of California. We spent a few days during the week in Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, and Morro Bay. I was privileged enough to be able to paddle and OC1 during our time in Morro Bay! The bay was calm and quiet, and I hadn’t paddled for years. It felt good to be back in my element, enjoying the peace and serenity of Morro Bay.

Next month, we continue our semi sabbatical in San Diego, followed by Phoenix, then making our way up to Northern California for Memorial Day weekend. Stay tuned!

If you’d like to continue to track our journey across the US and the world, follow us on instagram: @thirddecadenomads

And if you’re looking to find ways to save some money so that you can start planning for a semi sabbatical, check out these other blog posts:

Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you!This website/blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor(s) regarding your personal finance, investment, and tax matters. 

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