Notes from the Road

Nashville, TN | April - June, 2026
Wilmington, NC | July - Sept, 2026
Ocean Springs, MS | Oct - Nov, 2026

Sometime in late 2025, Travel + Leisure magazine showed up in my newsfeed with an article, I Retired at 53 to Live in Airbnbs Around the World - Here's how I did it.

The process and math in the article seemed sound:

Step 1. Sell everything.

Step 2. Run away.

The first stop in Step 2, was Nashville, TN. Essentially a Google Map dotted with endless coffee shops, dive bars, dance halls, honky-tonks, and restaurants, Nashville provided the perfect spot for daily dopamine hits, and fresh perspectives.

Subscribe below, or check back every few months to see where I end up next, what I get up to, and how I'm doing.

Sights

Stuff I saw while I was out seeing things. Go to Instagram.

Sounds

Check out a handful of songs that were playing in the background of my time in Nashville. Go to the Spotify playlist.

Stories

The one with a barista | My first morning in Nashville
The one with an archeologist and a chef | Lunch with a stranger
The one with a ukulele player | Something new, somewhere new

Suggestions: Nashville top 10

Alebrije | Mexican street food. Order the shrimp sope and huarache.
Dino's Bar & Grill | Perfect dive bar. Get the cheeseburger.
Skinny Dennis | Great vibes, musicians, and two-step lessons.
Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge | Small, local spot with great live music.
The 5 Spot | Same as above. Small, local, and great music.
St Vito's Foccacceria | Pizza like you've never had.
Category 10 | Sunday line dancing and day drinks.
Chief's | Any day, a good time on Broadway, on every floor.
American Legion Post 82 | Two-step lessons with a live band.
Eastside Bowl | Bowling, bars, and bands.

Somewhere between diver bar French fries, coffee shop conversations, two-stepping, and honky-tonking, the vibration of Nashville grew to feel like home.

And then the three-month Airbnb lease was up and it was time to move to the Carolina coast for a summer of sun, sea, surf, and salty air.

Subscribe below, or check back every few months to see where I end up next, what I get up to, and how I'm doing.

Sights

Stuff I saw while I was out seeing things. Go to Instagram.

Sounds

Check out a handful of songs that were playing in the background of my Carolina coast summer. Go to the Spotify playlist.

Stories

I'm still working on them.

Suggestions: Wilmington top 10

Grumpy Grouper | Rooftop beach bar with great vibes.
The Sea Witch | Great spot for music, drinks, and tuna nachos.
Yoga Salt | Incredible instructors and a welcoming community.
Cafe Mata | Thoughtful, creative drink menu with amazing ingredients.
SUNdays | Coffee, craft beers, good vibes, steps from the beach.
Benny's Big Time | Creative pizzas and excellent bar conversations.
Wrightsville Beach | Carolina Beach | Kure Beach | Try them all on.
Crystal South Surf Camp | The instructor Jo Pickett is a legend.
Wandering Cone Creamery | Unreal vegan and GF flavors.
Wilmington Outdoor Adventures | Kayak to Shark Tooth Island.