I enjoy working, exploring new opportunities, stepping out of my comfort zone, living a full and exciting life, and spending time with my husband. I chose travel writing as my retirement career so I could enjoy all those things and live the good life.
1. Travel with my husband
My husband retired at age 67 after 42 years with the same company. He wrestled with the decision for several years before setting a retirement date. While he was trying to figure out his timeline, I was busy working on mine.
We knew we wanted to enjoy travel opportunities together, and being five years younger than him, I didn’t want to wait until I reached my full retirement age before leaving the 9-5. Travel was the driving factor in the kind of work I wanted for my third act. She had to allow us to travel together whenever we wanted, live in warmer climates when the cold New England weather set in, and enjoy traveling while we were both still in our starting years.
Needless to say, working in the travel industry came first. When I added up all the skills and reasons listed below, I knew that travel writing would be the perfect job for me to work on in my retirement.
Pro Tip: I worked as a travel writing side hustle for two years while my husband was still working full time. I wanted to make sure I could make the transition without affecting my income too much.
2. Use my Marketing Background
My professional background is in Marketing. I was the director of advancement for a private school. Most of my work focused on writing and fundraising for the annual fund. I’ve written correspondence, annual appeals, newsletters, website content, marketing collateral, annual reports and more.
Having a background in marketing that required writing compelling compositions was the perfect training ground for writing compelling travel stories.
Pro-Tip: While working full time, I made sure to save money that would cover me for the first six months after I quit my regular day job. I needed that reassurance to help me move forward with peace of mind.
3. I will always work
I am a worker. I like to work (most of the time). I never see myself not working. I chose my retirement career knowing I could work well into my later years.
Now, I expect I won’t be doing travel and clips at the rate I currently do, but travel writing will always give me one thing – a great reason to travel.
I have so much travel on my bucket list that I look forward to traveling and creating stories at any age, even into my 80s.
Pro tip: Work keeps your mind active and creative; it gives you a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Find something you love to do because now is the time to love your job.
4. Set my schedule
Setting my own schedule is a big reason why I became a travel writer. After working in the development world, where you have late-night networking meetings, weekend meetings with potential donors, and regular day jobs, it’s easy to burn out. I regretted the time my work took away from my family.
As a travel writer, I can mostly set my own schedule. I’m in my home office every morning writing, planning and filing travel blogs. It’s my dream job. After years of writing, I don’t believe in writer’s block. Have you ever heard of engineer’s block? Or nurse’s block? No. You just have to start and go from there.
When I’m on press trips, the public relations (PR) team tells me where and when to go. But at the end of the day, I have to decide if the trip is right for me. On a recent trip to Puerto Rico, a tourist board representative guided us around the central mountains. This is great because you don’t have to plan or think, just follow.
Pro tip: You should set aside time every day to write. Even if you don’t have an assignment. Writing is what makes you a writer. It is what makes your dreams come true.
5. Travel expenses as business expenses
This is one of my favorite perks of being a professional travel writer. Many times, my travel is covered by the PR firm, but sometimes it’s an out-of-pocket expense. When these travel expenses lead to a travel history, they can become business expenses.
Pro Tip: Discuss your travel business with your accountant. They will help you with all the documents you need to be compliant.
6. Nomadic way of life
The flexibility that my semi-nomadic lifestyle brings to the table is liberating! I mentioned the cold New England winters – more so. We should plan our winters in sunny places. Last year we spent a few weeks in Hawaii and then a month in South Carolina. It was so nice not to pile up every time I walked out the door.
For example, as I’m writing this story, I’m visiting Cooperstown, NY, for a story on the Baseball Hall of Fame. I’m sitting on the porch at the charming Cooperstown B&B. Yesterday, I was on a luxurious two-day ranch vacation in Gilbertsville practicing goat yoga. Who is retired? Not me – retirement is the best job ever.
Pro tip: Deadlines still have to be met, however, when you’re polishing a story about Maui while sitting on a gorgeous Maui beach, it’s not bad.
7. Press Trips And FAM Trips
Press trips and FAM (familiarization) trips are the best way to pay more for your time and efforts.
When you participate in a press trip with a group of writers, you will be exposed to inside information that the general public does not usually have access to. This allows you to write from more interesting and unusual perspectives. FAM trips can sometimes be just journalists or it can be you and a travel companion.
Find your niche. Choose three or four words that describe your writing. Keep your bio consistent – “I’m a travel writer with a focus on 50 plus travel, local cuisine and fun libations. History and content creation from the US and beyond.”
Pro Tip: Start locally with press trips. Check with your local tourist board. This will allow you to create clips and credentials.
8. Looking at the US
I’m a writer based in Boston and I write about what I know. These are the easiest articles to plan, present and write. New England has been my playground for years. So I often write about all the great places to eat, things to see, and experiences to have in and around New England.
My goal is to see the USA. I have about ten states and a few territories left to explore. Keeping these states in mind as I plan trips helps me accomplish my goal of visiting all states and territories.
Pro tip: Keep it simple and write about what you know.
9. Exploring Foreign Countries
I love Europe. I try to visit a few times each year. As with collecting states, exploring new countries and regions is important to me. I adore the food, culture and history of Europe. That’s my thing. You have to find your thing.
Pro tip: Find what is important to you and follow that dream.
I love being a travel writer
This is definitely my favorite job ever. I never would have been able to pursue travel writing while raising my family, but now that it’s just me and my husband, it’s happily my job. Becoming a travel writer offers me a freedom I haven’t experienced in many, many years. It’s liberating, it’s interesting, and it’s more fun than you could ever imagine.
“Oh, the places you’ll go!” said Dr. Seuss
To read more about post-retirement options, check out these articles:
