1 R Special Advertising Section | Sunday, March 26, 2023 15 “There are a lot of national forest lands where you can camp for 14 days for free, and so that’s my mainstay,” she says. “I also have friends from Bellingham all the way down the coast to California and into Arizona that I can visit.” In the future, Janel hopes to save on fuel costs by securing a winter spot at La Posa Long TermVisitor Area just outside of Quartzite, which would allow her to stay put between September to April for a $180 fee. Logistics and budgeting To adjust to their slower lifestyle, the Campbells have similarly had to get creative with planning long-term stays, particularly when securing international tourist visas. When they opted for an extended stay near Paris to visit their daughter and three grandchildren, they applied for a yearlong visa at the nearest French consulate in San Francisco. The application had a long list of requirements, including proof of health insurance that would be valid in France. Although the couple was covered by Medicare and traveled back to Seattle for annual medical checkups, foreign coverage hadn’t occurred to them. “Speaking for myself, if we hadn’t applied for the visa, I’m not sure we would have bought medical insurance because we were going to be outside the country,” Michael Campbell says. Supplemental insurance aside, the Campbells have managed to stick to their original hypothesis for affordable travel: relying on the same budget as if they were living in Seattle. They aim to spend at most $90 per night on lodging, though Debbie Campbell notes that averaging costs across multiple locations allows them to splurge a bit in pricier cities. “What we take out of our retirement account, plus our Social Security, is enough to keep doing this,” she says, adding, “I’mmarried to Captain Spreadsheet, so we keep track of everything we spend.” Janel, who turned 50 this year, doesn’t yet qualify for Medicare and was kicked off Washington State’s Apple Care plan due to residency requirements. She’s been playing “uninsured roulette” thus far. While she hasn’t needed any serious care during her nomadic years, she has found affordable checkups in Mexico through word-of-mouth recommendations from fellow travelers. She keeps her other expenses low doing odd jobs and bartering with friends for gas and food money. Her only fixed expense is a $45 cellphone line; she pays her cousin monthly to stay on his family plan. When asked if she fears the future or aging, her voice brightens, and she says she enjoys her freedom. “It’s not as scary as you think,” Janel says. “Your brain will say, ‘No, I can’t do that; I can’t do it on my own.’ My advice is, just jump. You can always go back.” My advice is, just jump. You can always go back. – Diede Janel “ “ Itwas bestiesatfirst backstroke. Mirabella Seattle is a resident-centered, not-for-profit Pacific Retirement Services community and an equal housing opportunity. FindYourPeople inSouthLakeUnion 116 FairviewAve N • Seattle • 206.331.4271 mirabellaseattle.com Mirabella senior living has a pool. It’s part of our comprehensive health and wellness amenities. But ask any resident and they’ll say it’s for the wildly popular water volleyball league. And yes indeed, friends are made here, just add water. Call today to schedule a tour.
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