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
Day 1 - The Lows and Highs of travel. Waking up in Camden without the typical urgency of a vacation itinerary, whether self-imposed or relayed by the Tour Guide or Rabbi the night before, is already unique - the only rule is there are no rules.
Getting here, after a wonderful farewell family dinner at Borgo in NYC; exemplified the highs and lows traveling. First, our daughter Erinn dropped us off at our hotel in the fairly seedy part of Queens near JFK and we said our goodbyes only to discover the place has no reservation for us - they took one (the easy part) but didn’t hold it (the hard part). I guess we made the reservation with a card that was deactivated and there may have been communication between the hotel and Booking.com but not communication between anyone and us. No reservation or resolution there (every time Jennie asks to “see the manager”I wish our granddaughter Valerie was with us, she loves those “Karen” moments). Forced to walk a quarter mile dragging the luggage through the broken bottle strewn streets of Queens, with every step meaning less sleep before our 5:50 wake up, the clerk, after much consternation and conversation, mostly with himself, gets us a bed. In bed by 1 and up again soon after. In our younger days it may have paid to save the $300 and “sleep” at the airport.
The rest of the initial journey, the part, for good reason, everyone dreads, could not have gone better. Shuttle to the airport NP, check in no line (thanks Virgin Atlantic) quickly through security (thanks TSA Pre-check) flight boards early and leaves on time, no line on the tarmac at Kennedy (WTF). The flight attendant makes his first announcement to say - no, not there is a delay or turbulence, but “we’ll have you on the ground and off the plane early so you can catch the World Cup semifinal”. Pickup at the airport, smooth, no traffic of any kind anywhere, literally everyone is at a pub or in front of their tv watching the game. Get the key to the air bnb throw the luggage and as we leave there is a collective cheer from the whole town as England goes up 1 nil.
Quickly get to the Colonel Fawcett Pub grab a beer find a place to stand and the place is going crazy singing (Hey Jude when they show Jude Bellingham for instance) shouting, cursing - it’s England like it’s meant to be. Within one 5 minute period Messi & co. end all that. Two goals and the vibe is f$#ked. There goes our hope of celebrating on the 19th, no more singing - much more swearing, we finish the beers and get out as the locals curse decisions made by the coach that I don’t understand. We grab some fish and chips (see receipt from our 1st meal) to go and walk back - Jennie comments that the neighborhood has a “Sweeney Todd” vibe, I like it; I won’t need a haircut while we’re here anyway. ~ Eric
Day 28 - Bags packed and checked, sitting in the airport lounge prepared to leave London after the first 28-day leg of our journey, we are heading toward Luxembourg hoping to catch a clear view of this evening’s solar eclipse. Time to reflect on the first lessons of our long term travel plan. The spacious, flexible schedule was a huge success, but the budget may need some fine tuning, our communication with home needs work and we forgot to book to our flight from Luxembourg to Stockholm, so nobody’s perfect.
What Worked: The Luxury of a Flexible, Schedule. On our previous three or four-day trips, vacationing felt like the Amazing Race at times, where every single minute is scheduled with military precision. Missing a train connection, or realizing a certain museum is sold out for a particular morning time slot felt like a disaster and, especially in a place like London in the summer, the next museum queue was always looming. Our 28-day stay eliminated that frantic relationship with the clock. It allowed us to schedule and experience certain things we wouldn’t otherwise have been able to fit in on previous three day visits.
When we discovered that the permanent David Bowie collection wasn't at the main South Kensington building but was instead located entirely on its own at the new David Bowie Centre at the V&A East Storehouse in Stratford, there was no need to panic. We scheduled a visit for a few days later and spent a casual morning traveling across the city to see the exhibit and have Sunday roast in a part of London we’d not previously visited.
When, after doing some research upon our arrival we realized that certain bands were playing throughout London and Wales that it would be great to see live, instead of bemoaning the fact we wouldn’t be here long enough to see them, we were able to go to Wales to see the Sex Pistols and three weeks into our stay, to King's Cross to watch the Red Hot Tribute Peppers (obviously a Chili Peppers cover band) play at The Water Rats, a historic pub where bands like the Pogues and Oasis as well as Bob Dylan made their UK debuts.
We had the time to create and curate multiple specialized walking tours, and discover quirky places we cared about but few others may have (the sight of the Chelsea Drugstore from - You Can’t Always Get What you Want - to name one, there’s not even a store there anymore).
Our final days captured the beauty of our new, unhurried pace. We went to the gym both days, took our daily walks along the canal, and still had plenty of time for a relaxed tour of Parliament and rounded out our stay with a leisurely afternoon tea then spent our final evening having dinner and a show (Hadestown) in the West End.
Works in Progress
Of course, a month on the road isn't entirely seamless. We realized a few days in that we had forgotten to book a flight for the second leg of our trip (quickly remedied), we are still working out the cost and timing of communicating with everyone back home (an extra hour ahead in Stockholm, now the fantasy football drafts are at 1 & 3 am!). Except for communicating with Valerie, who calls at all times of the day or night, her school has started now so that may change.
Also, we are undeniably over budget. Some of that comes down to the learning curve of pacing your daily spending over weeks rather than days, a lot of it is simply because London is an incredibly expensive city to inhabit and some is attributable to necessarily booking travel for the upcoming legs of our trip while still traveling.
Surprisingly London provided 28 straight days of sunshine without a single drop of rain. Great for traveling, terrible for the city’s water supply, and definitely a new personal record for Jennie and me. Leaving our Camden Town Airbnb this morning felt like leaving home, indicating that, despite a few missteps the first leg worked out exactly how we drew it up and hoped it would feel.
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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Some people are able to walk off a twelve-hour flight, bypass the baggage carousel, and step straight out into a new city. They’re entirely free. Realistically, not everyone is cut out to be a hardcore minimalist. We personally don’t travel with just a tiny rucksack, and I’m not suggesting you become a bohemian backpacker who glides from hostel to hostel. But, in most cases, we limit ourselves to just one main backpack apiece weighing less than 25 lbs. Even if we choose to check it to keep our hands free at the airport and avoid security hassles and overhead bin nightmares, keeping the weight that low means no aching shoulders and no struggling to lift a massive suitcase onto a crowded bus or subway car. We also bring one “carry-on” apiece containing our camera gear. Because photography is a passion, that camera is our one non-negotiable item. Many people have told me that they could never reach even that level of minimalism. I’m saying you can, and that each step you take toward bringing less stuff with you is liberating.
You do not need to become a strict minimalist overnight to reap the rewards of traveling lighter; it’s a spectrum. Wherever you currently sit on that spectrum, you can take steps to get closer to lighter travel, and in the end, you’ll be surprised at how little you actually need and how much better it feels not to have to carry extra stuff from place to place.
First, Ignore the “What-ifs”
Many people pack for scenarios that will likely never happen: “What if I get invited to a wedding while on the trip?”, “What if there is a sudden drop in temperature, even though it’s summer?”, “What if I need my hair dryer/curling iron/travel pillow/full-sized toiletries/flashlight?” To truly pack light, you have to drop the "what-ifs" and shift to a more practical question: "What is the worst-case scenario if I do not bring this?" In 99% of cases, the answer to that question is easily solved. If it rains, you buy an umbrella from a street vendor. Most hotels and Airbnb’s have hair dryers. If you absolutely need a piece of clothing due to an unexpected change in weather or a wedding invite—and there is a good chance you won’t—buy it. In an emergency, you can buy toiletries, basic clothing, and medicine almost anywhere on earth. Don’t pack for hypothetical emergencies; pack for reality.
When packing for any journey of more than a week, pack seven days' worth of underwear. For everything else, try this standard formula: pack as if you’re going away for five days. Don’t pack a unique outfit for every day or try to anticipate all the things you might need for all the days you’ll be away; instead:
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Pack for the number of days listed above, including the clothes you wear on the plane (i.e., be wearing one of the 5 outfits). When you’ve reached the end of the rotation, simply wash a few items and repeat. Bring a stain remover pen and travel-size odor-eliminating fabric spray for spot cleaning.
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Stick strictly to a cohesive color palette. Pack three tops for every bottom. If an item only works with one specific outfit, leave it at home.
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Pack clothes made from materials that naturally resist odors, are breathable, and dry quickly—stuff you can wash in the sink. Avoid denim and 100% cotton.
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Tightly roll your clothes instead of folding to eliminate pockets of air and prevent wrinkles. Packing cubes, some of which allow you to eliminate excess air, can be helpful.
Embrace Doing Laundry and Only Pack Travel-Sizes
Doing laundry while on vacation can be a great way to meet locals or experience another side of a location, but if that's not for you, it does not have to mean spending hours inside a laundromat.
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Wash socks and underwear in the sink every few nights. Hang them up to dry overnight and they should be ready by morning.
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Don’t bring laundry detergent; bring dry laundry detergent strips. They take up less space and won’t leak in your bag.
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For toiletries, stick to travel-sized instead of full-sized. This also helps if you need to keep certain items in your carry-on in case luggage gets lost. Basics like shampoo and sunscreen can be purchased at your destination if the travel-size items you bring run out.
Only Bring the Shoes and Accessories You’ll Definitely Need
Shoes and tech accessories are the fastest ways to accidentally overpack your bag. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to anticipate every need.
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Shoes take up the most physical space. Limit yourself to a maximum of two pairs. Wear your bulkiest, heaviest pair (like hiking boots or sneakers) on travel days, and pack a single, flat pair of versatile shoes in your luggage.
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Don’t pack a thick jacket, sweater, or heavy boots inside your luggage. Wear those items onto the airplane or train. You can always take your jacket off and use it as a pillow once you are in your seat.
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Skip specialized travel pillows or niche electronic gadgets unless they are absolutely necessary. If you aren't a professional photographer, leave the heavy gear behind; your phone can handle your navigation, photography, and reading materials, and you’re bringing that anyway.
Double Halve
Skillful packing takes practice and you will likely not achieve "one-bag perfection" on your very next vacation. If the 5-day rule feels too rigid, try the “double halves rule” instead. First, lay out everything you intend to pack and immediately remove exactly half of the items, keeping in mind the concepts discussed above. Then repeat the process by cutting the remaining pile in half a second time. Lastly, close the luggage and don’t open it until you arrive at your destination.
By letting go of the "what-ifs" and aiming to get to a lighter load through halving what you would usually bring twice (or at least as close as you can get to that goal on the first try), you will spend less time packing, less money on airline baggage fees, and more time enjoying the journey without dragging unnecessary items around the world.
Pack for Reality to Avoid Overpacking
Getting to and from the airport - Pay the Exhaustion Tax
The best feeling after getting off a long flight, aside from realizing your luggage actually made it with you, is having someone waiting for you at the airport holding a sign with your (in our case, misspelled) last name on it. Certain hotels provide this service gratis, while others do it for a fee. Assuming you don’t have such an arrangement, my advice is to splurge on the way in.
No matter how you arrive at a destination, unless you’re driving your own car, you’ll likely land at a large, centrally located hub like a bus terminal, train station, airport, or ferry terminal. From there, you still have to get to wherever you are sleeping. Many of these hubs are serviced by public transit that can get you close to your destination at an affordable price. Most guidebooks, GPS apps, or AI tools can walk you through how to use these options and save money compared to a taxi.
But my advice is to splurge and take the cab. It goes against my inherent cheapness, but there are good reasons for it.
First, you likely just got off a long flight, bus ride, or train trip, leaving you sleep-deprived. Do you really want to screw around with logistics at that point? Figuring out the schedule of an airport shuttle or "air train" is one thing; getting a ticket is another, especially if you need local currency. Even if you clear those hurdles, where does that train or bus actually drop you off? You could easily end up dragging your luggage through the streets of an unfamiliar city, searching for your hotel after being deposited in an amorphous location known as the “city center” and in some cases, resorting to a cab to get you where you're going anyway.
Consider the frustration of trying to save a buck in massive, sprawling hubs. Take London or Paris, for example. If you land at London Heathrow, trying to navigate the Tube or the Heathrow Express while carrying multiple bags and operating on three hours of sleep can be, to use a military term of art “a clusterfuck.” In Paris, the RER B train from Charles de Gaulle Airport into the city center is infamous for steep stairs, packed cars, and pickpockets targeting tourists. When you factor in the high cost of these "express" airport trains anyway, you aren't even saving that much.
Save yourself the agony. Even though it feels like a rip-off, take an official taxi on day one. Make sure it is an authorized cab operating within the airport's official system. If a flat rate isn't available (which it likely won’t be if you're at a train, bus, or ferry terminal), ask the driver to use the meter or agree on a price beforehand (a quick Google search or Lonely Planet perusal can give you a ballpark figure). If all goes well, you will get door-to-door service, help with your luggage, and zero of the frustration that comes from trying to save a buck when you are exhausted. You’re paying a little extra to keep your sanity.
As an aside, never agree to and especially never prepay for a return ride with the same driver or company. Some drivers will try to lock you in at the same price (or a slightly discounted rate) to give you "one less thing to worry about." It seems like a good idea at the time, but airport taxi fees are often inflated or fixed at a premium. The return trip from the city center back to the airport, even in a cab, is often much cheaper.
Even better, your return trip is when your inner cheapskate can finally be invoked. Take some time over the next few days to figure out the cheapest way back to the terminal. Your well-rested self can rationally weigh options, seek advice, and plan the return trip with zero pressure, relying on a better sense of geography and your actual departure time.
You might even find that getting back to the airport is cheap or completely free. For instance, if you find yourself in a place like Luxembourg, the entire country has 100% free public transit. Taking the tram or bus from the city center back to Luxembourg Airport costs exactly zero dollars. Sure, you’ll have a fleeting thought that you could have gotten from the airport to your hotel for free as well, but picture yourself dragging your luggage through the casemates because you didn’t know exactly where your hotel was, and don’t look back.
Or, you can wait until the last minute, do no research, and take a cab back to the airport anyway. It's up to you—something keeps these guys in business.
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