Are We Lost?, my recently launched travel agency, has received IATAN (International Airlines Travel Agent Network) accreditation, which allows me to book commercial air flights directly through the Global Distribution System, and grants my clients access to rates and benefits you can’t find with Expedia, Booking or any other Online Travel Agency.
I’m still available to consult on your Expatriation efforts, as well. The international community has been eager to respond to the unrest in the US with incredible opportunities for residency and citizenship. I’ll be taking advantage of the Dutch American Friendship Treaty, myself. With just a Business Registration and $5k held in a Dutch bank account, I’ll have 2 years of residency that allows me to freelance in the Netherlands, with no minimum stay required. I can even apply for residency in the Dutch Caribbean! In 5 years, I’ll be eligible for EU citizenship. The language requirement is just an A2 level, and I’ve realized that Dutch is, actually, pretty easy for an English speaker.
I’m in Japan now, my 3rd visit since my first in September of 2023, resting from the last 6 months of super intense travel. I spend each day at the Onsen, geothermal hot springs. I’m on the island of Kyushu, the most volcanic place on Earth. I spent a month here in Beppu, the Hot Spring Capitol of the WORLD, back in December of 2023. I’ll be revisiting for a week, along with stays in Hitoyoshi and Miyazaki, followed by a week in Okinawa, #161 on my way to all 330 countries, colonies, territories and exclaves. I should be at the halfway by year’s end, after a few autumn EU island weekends.
I’m excited to forge ahead into entirely new frontier, personally and professionally. I look forward to bringing you with me, literally and figuratively. Many of my clients are joining me in the EU and in India for my annual pilgrimage to the Spiritual Centers of the North.
By establishing a consistent home 8 months per annum, I’ll also be able to establish a more consistent content schedule. I have so many stories to share in words and images…and I’m accumulating more at a rapid rate. I hope to maintain a schedule of 2 weeks of travel every 6 weeks. Of course, some expeditions may require more time away, but I’ll cross that bridge as it comes. I think this year will be a bit of a recovery lap…there’s lots of new locations close to Amsterdam.
I’ll be in NYC from August 3 - September 8 closing up shop, except 4 days in Denver getting an apostille for my birth certificate use abroad. Anybody there to show me around Aug 24-28? In NYC I’ll be devoted to admin & errands: changing my phone plan from T-Mobile to Google Fi, seeing my medical team for the last time, and clearing out my storage once and for all: digitizing my papers, photos, old cassettes and VHS, prepping the vinyl for Ebay, and bringing my art to the auction house simply because I won’t have permanent walls anymore.
My world has gotten bigger and lighter since closing my live / work business - almost too wide and weightless. Looking forward to the balance that awaits me in the Netherlands. There’s lovely little walkable towns a short distance from Amsterdam, including Almere, 30 minutes away by train, where there’s a Vipassana Center that I plan on contributing to. I’ll be spending 8 days of silence there in October, in fact. I hope to make friends and establish disciplines that keep me grounded and prepared for my 4 months of annual chaos on the road…or water.
Reach out for your travel & expatriation needs. I’m excited to share the incredible corners of the world I’ve found with you.
Be Well,
FF
