Jet-Settlers
Not Tourists. Temporary Locals.
Jennie & Eric Ossentjuk:
the next chapter of our lifelong journey coming to you July 2026
Our "Year of Living Around the World"
(in 3 parts)
Someday isn’t promised. Steve Jobs said it at Stanford, Biggie said it to Puff Daddy in the intro to "Born Again" and some version of that sentiment is at least one person’s quote in everyone’s yearbook, fact check it. Easy to say for those with the blissful inexperience of an 18-year-old trying to sound deep for future yearbook readers but hard to do unless you have Jobs’/Biggie money.
The mindset that has been ingrained in us from day one is to work when you can, save as much money as you can and when you stop working spend it as wisely as you can. All good advice if death wasn’t looming in the shadows waiting to mess with that plan. Statistics vary on how many people die with more or the same amount of money as they had when they retired. Whatever the percentage (40%-80%) its surprisingly high.
Eschewing the foundational dogma that says to “play it safe”, is however what we intend to do. Not in a crazy “live like there is no tomorrow” way but in a “remember your time is limited, don’t take it for granted” way. We’re not the first nor the last to do this and I am not trying to brag like we invented traveling and living abroad for a period after retirement. Also, we are cognizant of the fact that this is not something that anyone can do, "we’re rich bitch”, not really, but it takes money to travel and I get that, everyone doesn’t want to spend their limited money or time on traveling.
Our general goal is to spend twelve months abroad, in twelve distinct locations getting to know the places we live during those twelve months better than we would usually do on trips where, typically, we spend at most three or four days in any city.
We are breaking the twelve months down into three four-month periods because (playing it safe already!) being away for twelve months straight seemed to be a little much logistically. Anyway, based on the self-important notion that anyone cares enough to, follow along as we attempt to outrun the specter of our own mortality, waste our children’s inheritance and spend the back nine, not counting strokes but taking a long scenic route to the 19th hole.
How We Chose Our Locations
(the iterations)
The first list of places to go was created at a bar called Bella Luna in 2019 on a placemat, likely over a few gin and tonics. But for years the trip itself existed only in our minds and in the multiple iterations of the itinerary, which we would update from times-to-time, more to keep the idea alive than out of a need to actually update the itinerary. The list of 12 countries with the particular places filled in under their matching month on the (eventually) 18-month calendar felt distant and perpetually "someday." It’s a strange, almost superstitious feeling—being so close to embarking on this three-part journey that I'm afraid to talk about it too much, fearing that saying it aloud might jinx the plan we've cultivated over these last six years.
Choosing the places for the first list was easy. There are so many places to go and so many places we haven’t been that finding 12 was not hard. Like usual I lobbied for the more adventurous locations and Jennie leaned more toward cities and culture.
Months were assigned to each country, and a theme was decided on. This trip was to be a shift from our typical pace; instead of our usual three- or four-day city-hopping, we would give ourselves an entire month per location, carefully chosen to align with the best weather. The goal to stop being visitors and start living there, finding the local market, our favorite bar, and to the extent possible learn the rhythm of the place.
Over 6 years the list has been revisited, first to narrow it down to cities as opposed to counties, which better reflects the theme of getting to know a place. Next some revisions were needed to take places we’ve subsequently visited into consideration. The biggest changes took place as the trip came closer and became more of a reality. We had to reflect on what life would be like in certain counties for a month with no car for most of the time. Certain places that seemed like cool places to get to know might become confined after a month, especially if there was limited public transportation. Some cities might also fit better in the three- or four-day visit category and not warrant a month-long stay. - Eric
The First 4 Months
(aka: part 1)
GOAL: Live Like Locals
COMING SOON!
First thoughts
Etc
Etc
Every photo holds a moment we don’t want to forget
Highlights & Recommendations
Reflections From the Road
Traveling in retirement has taught us that slowing down opens the door to deeper experiences. Staying present, lingering longer, and allowing plans to change has made each journey richer and more meaningful.
As always, we’re grateful for the freedom to explore and for the chance to share these moments with you. We hope this story encourages you to travel — whether far from home or just a little closer to where you already are.
With gratitude, Jennie & Eric Ossentjuk
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Introductory Post - COMING SOON
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Travel Tips - COMING SOON
The Art of Packing Light: Lessons Learned
Destination Story
TBD
Lessons on transition, timing, and finding our new rhythm.
How we learned to stop checking boxes and start living like locals
From suitcases to backpacks and how we changed our strategies for international travel.
TBD
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