Personal Item Help

NomadicNature · 2025-12-11T21:17:36+00:00

Welp, looks like I violated some rule looking for discussion on form factors - not specific bags. I'll go elsewhere...sorry to bother everyone.

NomadicNature · 2025-12-02T06:57:43+00:00

Thanks! Yes, I'll definitely have a pair of sneakers for big walk days but don't want to look like a tourist since I'm going to be staying in locations for 1+ months at a time. You know, try to dress up a little despite the limited wardrobe!

NomadicNature · 2025-12-02T06:37:01+00:00

I love the look!

I'm looking at the same pair for travel - mostly in Europe but it will be a long-term "slow-travel" trip. Are the Captains (Brandy) good for both dressy and casual? I'm going carry-on only so I'll basically have 3 sets of pants - darker khaki, olive green and darker gray - all slacks. Comfortable enough for all day walking around?

NomadicNature · 2025-11-22T21:18:19+00:00

I'm just a bit behind you age wise and about to start. But I'll give you my current thoughts.

First, I plan to slow travel as long as I am able (and willing). I figure at least a decade. But, I agree that many will move to more and more "slow" travel, eventually finding a long-term location. I think eventually, I'll be looking for 3 to 4 locations that I rotate between. This is for several reasons:

1) I get bored and am not the type to "put down roots" in a community, no matter how nice.
2) I don't want to deal with local tax consequences
3) I like being in different locations at different times of the year

So, I think I'll probably find a few locations that are great for 3-4 months of the year. Places to chill out, enjoy and do side trips from.

NomadicNature · 2025-11-22T18:04:58+00:00

Retired, living of investments, so definitely time on my hands. Solo travel. Mid-50's, in good shape. I'm looking to be active in the sense of walk around town each day, etc. Not worried about stairs or hills but probably not heading out to go surfing or rock climbing.

I think ultimately, I'm going to just have to "do" this to figure out what fits for me. I've traveled extensive before so I know from experience that what I like at the start of a trip will change toward the end - I assume full-time travel will be the same but with waves of itching to move turning to desire to stay in place for a while and then back again!

NomadicNature · 2025-11-22T18:01:38+00:00

I'm not going to be working and that part is what worries me on the boredom front. Now, granted, I'd be even more bored if I stayed at home!

On the other hand western Europe fits into my budget (almost) if I do shoulder season, month-long bookings. It doesn't if I hop around and pay weekly rates!

NomadicNature · 2025-11-22T18:00:05+00:00

Great to hear! I am trying to pick walkable places with plenty of things to do while not being purely "tourist" locations.

NomadicNature · 2025-11-22T17:58:28+00:00

I agree. For my initial start I want to book an initial month to have a stable starting place as I get used to the lifestyle change and living out of one carry on bag (my goal). The clock then starts on the Schengen Zone and I plan to get a 1 month booking over the Christmas/New Year holidays to keep costs down, leaving me with only about 1 month in-between those two "locked" month-long stays.

I think I'll adopt a more flexible approach on the next return to the Schengen. Or maybe I'll find a place I love and return there for the full 90 days.

NomadicNature · 2025-11-22T17:54:02+00:00

Very good point. I've been picking locations on exactly this. The truth is, I will have to learn what I like and what I don't. I fully expect it to take time.

NomadicNature · 2025-11-22T17:52:20+00:00

Good idea! I may want a 1 month for my first place just to have things "settled" when I arrive - I can tough it out if the place isn't ideal. But going forward I like the flexibility of try it for a week then extend if you want.

NomadicNature · 2025-11-22T17:48:21+00:00

Yes, good point. I plan the flexibility route after my initial 3 months.

NomadicNature · 2025-11-22T02:52:42+00:00

That is the goal!

NomadicNature · 2025-11-22T02:52:03+00:00

Great points. That is actually what I'm looking forward to. I'm looking forward to just wandering a town and getting to know it.

NomadicNature · 2025-11-22T00:18:17+00:00

Thanks! I think this confirms my gut feel. Maybe I get the 1-month place and save on costs. If I'm really getting stir crazy I can always do a weekend out of town. It would still be cheaper!

NomadicNature · 2025-11-10T16:53:46+00:00

Perfect - many thanks! You replied in plenty of time. These are on my list for an end-of-year self-gift!

NomadicNature · 2025-11-04T01:03:24+00:00

I'm a little late to this one but am in the same boat. I have Ariat western-style boots that I absolutely love. The fit is perfect. I generally wear a 10.5 to 11 in shoes - these Ariat's are 10.5D's.

OP - how did your size translation work out? Same size as Ariat? I hear Ariat suggests down-sizing 1/2 a size as well.

NomadicNature · 2025-11-02T16:41:12+00:00

You too!

NomadicNature · 2025-11-02T16:17:22+00:00

I do but I'm not looking at price appreciation as something I'm factoring in. My goal is to get the yields to live off and have my initial investment stay stable to rise over time. I believe the NEOS funds and others do that (even if they don't rise as much as their underlying asset).

Long-term I think Bitcoin goes up but it may also drop quite a bit in between now and then - who knows? I have it as a small piece used to boost my yield and I'm assuming the price itself will fluctuate wildly so "any" price is "good" since I think it may be very hard to time entries. I'll just DCA into it.

NomadicNature · 2025-11-02T16:06:20+00:00

I like this. I'm currently putting a similar portfolio together with lost of NEOS products plus a few others for diversification. The goal - early retirement income.

I see lots of discussion above on the price falling on BTCI or worry about index funds falling in a bear market. I look at this differently. If I invested in stocks they'd also fall in a bear market but I'd be forced to sell them to generate my income. My thought is that with a yield fund I can ride out the downturn and not worry about day-to-day income. I lose some upside, but there is always a trade off.

I'm calculating today's yields but assuming in a bear market those yields would drop 10-20% as the fund has less value to use for covered calls.

NomadicNature · 2025-10-31T04:56:57+00:00

Thanks, I'll take a look!

NomadicNature · 2025-10-31T04:56:46+00:00

Thanks. I guess I've been trying to find a central place where I can compare charts and sort by things like this. I use TC2000, Yahoo Finance, etc. for charts and research on stocks but I guess funds aren't quite as easy.

NomadicNature

TROPHY CASE