Hey Reader,
I mentioned last week that my housesitting gig is ending soon. Some people asked what's next for me and are wondering if I'm heading someplace exotic.
I guess if you consider my sister's house exotic, then yeah.
I'm not ready to leave my dad yet. He's 83 and doing very, very well so he doesn't exactly need me here. But after losing my mom last year I'm having trouble tearing myself away.
Plus, while he doesn't need me, he appreciates my help. And we have fun together so it's a win-win.
My sister's house has a completely self-contained studio apartment in the former garage, so I'll still have my own space while being an au pair for her pets.
Here's what I have for you this week:
✈️ Travel Spotlight: Avoid Getting Sick While Traveling
💻 Digital Nomad Life: Digital Nomad Myths Busted
🐾 Travel With a Dog: Most Dog-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
✈️ Travel Spotlight
This Week: How to Avoid Getting Sick While Traveling
Getting sick on a trip is more common than you might think. Just ask my sister and brother-in-law!
Between crowded airports, lack of sleep, changes in diet, and exposure to new bacteria, your body is under extra stress when you travel.
The good news is there are simple ways to lower your chances of spending vacation days stuck in bed. Or returning home only to test positive for COVID.
Here are some of the top tips:
- Wash your hands often and use sanitizer.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, especially on flights or in hot climates.
- Get enough rest to keep your immune system strong.
- Be careful with food and water by sticking to busy, clean restaurants and avoiding unsafe tap water.
- Carry a small health kit with basics like pain relievers, stomach medicine, and rehydration salts.
- Support your immune system with good nutrition, exercise, and probiotics if they work for you.
- Protect yourself on planes and against mosquitoes, both common sources of illness.
- Pace yourself so exhaustion doesn’t make you sick.
Travel throws your routine out of balance, but a little preparation goes a long way. These steps will help you stay healthy so you can focus on enjoying your trip instead of recovering from it.
You can read all the tips on my latest article.
👉 Related Read: 10 Ways to Avoid Getting Sick While Traveling
💻 Digital Nomad Life
Topic: Digital Nomad Myths
When most people hear “digital nomad,” they picture someone working from a beach chair with endless free time. The reality is far different.
Here are some of the most common digital nomad myths and the truth behind them:
Myth: Nomads are always on vacation. Work comes first. Travel happens around deadlines and meetings. That's why I stay in one place for so long. It takes me forever to see everything.
Myth: You have to be young and single. Families, couples, and people over 50 are all living this lifestyle. I feel like being "older" is the best time to travel full-time.
Myth: You need to be rich. Affordable destinations and slow travel make this possible on a budget.
Myth: It’s only beaches and cafés. Most nomads work from apartments, libraries, or coworking spaces. Sand, sun, and laptops really don't mix. I once tried to work from a rooftop coffee shop with a Caribbean view, and got zero done. There was just too much to look at.
Myth: You can’t have pets. Many nomads travel with dogs or cats. I travel full-time with my dog, Shelby. It's often a pain in the patookus but worth it.
Myth: It’s just a fad. Remote work is growing, and digital nomad communities are becoming more established every year.
See the full list in my new article.
👉 More on this: Digital Nomad Myths: 10 Things People Still Get Wrong
🐾 Travel With a Dog
This Week: Most Dog-Friendly Cities in the United States
I’ve been traveling full-time with Shelby for more than three years, and I’ve learned that not every city is as “dog-friendly” as it claims. But some places make life with a pup a whole lot easier.
Take San Diego, where dogs can run off-leash at Fiesta Island or even try surfing competitions.
Or Chicago, where Montrose Dog Beach and the 18-mile Lakefront Trail mean plenty of outdoor adventure.
Portland tops the list for off-leash parks (more than 30 of them) and has restaurants that serve up menus just for dogs.
Even smaller cities like Boise and Omaha are getting it right with huge dog parks and even a bar that doubles as a dog park.
I put together my full list of the most dog-friendly cities in the United States, each with parks, trails, patios, and hotels that welcome dogs as part of the family.
What do you think of the list? Hit reply and let me know if any of the cities shouldn't be on the list. Or others that should be!
👉 Check it out: 25 Most Dog-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
🥸 Joke of the Week
How do you prevent dry skin after swimming?
Avoid using a towel.
I want this newsletter to be as useful as possible. What topics would help you most? Reply and let me know!
Happy travels,
Sherry
Digital Nomad and a Dog
P.S. Be sure to follow me on Facebook!
My general travel page is Digital Nomad and a Dog
I have a Facebook group specifically for travel in the Yucatan Peninsula called, you guessed it, Yucatan Peninsula Travel
I also have a private group, Women Over 50 Digital Nomads (you don't need to be over 50, but you do need to be a woman)
You can also follow me on Instagram