My Travel Journey

Welcome to NomadicStan.

If you’ve landed here from one of my travel guides, destination reviews, retirement articles, or travel stories, you may be wondering who I am and how I ended up traveling throughout the Americas after retirement.

The short answer is that none of this was part of a master plan.

The longer answer is a journey that started with a difficult period in my life, a willingness to take chances, and a belief that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself.

This page tells that story.

The Early Years

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, the youngest of three children. Like many people, my life included periods of success, setbacks, growth, and reinvention.

Over the years I worked in marketing, management, transportation, and a variety of other industries. Looking back, every chapter taught me something useful, even when I didn’t realize it at the time.

For many years I followed the traditional path of work, responsibilities, and trying to build a better future.

Then life started pushing me in a different direction.

Rebuilding in San Diego

In 2013, I found myself starting over in San Diego.

At the time I was working for a limousine company and driving for Uber during the company’s early days. Back then, Uber was still relatively unknown, and I had the unique opportunity to watch the company grow from the inside.

I enjoyed the work.

I met people from all walks of life.

I learned the value of flexibility and independence.

Unfortunately, enjoying the work and making good money were not always the same thing.

To make things work financially, I made a decision that many people would consider unusual.

I began sleeping in my Kia Sorento.

For approximately nine months, my vehicle became my home.

Those months taught me lessons about discipline, resilience, and living with less. They also forced me to reevaluate what was truly important in life.

What felt like a difficult chapter at the time would eventually become the foundation for everything that followed.

The Google Years

In 2016, a new opportunity arrived.

I accepted a driving position supporting Google in Northern California.

The move from San Diego to the Bay Area would become one of the most important decisions of my life.

The Bay Area was exciting, innovative, and full of opportunity.

It was also incredibly expensive.

Rather than spend thousands of dollars on rent, I made another unconventional decision.

I continued living in my vehicle.

Unlike before, this wasn’t about survival.

It was about strategy.

Living simply allowed me to save money, reduce stress, and focus on creating options for the future.

During weekends I explored Northern California extensively. I visited coastal towns, wineries, beaches, parks, and communities throughout the Bay Area and beyond.

Without realizing it, I was already developing the travel mindset that would later shape my retirement years.

Buying the Roadtrek

After years of saving and planning, I purchased a Roadtrek camper van.

For me, it represented freedom.

The van wasn’t just transportation.

It was the ability to travel on my own schedule, explore new destinations, and live more intentionally.

The Roadtrek became a central part of my lifestyle and remains one of the best purchases I’ve ever made.

It gave me the confidence to think bigger about retirement and what life could look like beyond a traditional routine.

Retirement and Reinvention

In 2018, I retired.

Many people imagine retirement as slowing down.

I viewed it differently.

For me, retirement was an opportunity to start a new chapter.

I spent time traveling throughout the United States, learning the rhythms of life on the road, and exploring destinations that I had always wanted to visit.

Those years taught me an important lesson:

Retirement isn’t the end of the story.

For many people, it’s the beginning of a completely new one.

My First International Adventures

The international chapter of my life began in 2021.

My first major trip was to Costa Rica.

Like many travelers, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.

What I discovered was a world that felt much larger and much more accessible than I had imagined.

That trip changed everything.

Soon afterward, I began exploring Mexico.

Falling in Love With Mexico

Mexico quickly became one of my favorite countries.

Over time I visited destinations including:

• Puerto Vallarta

• Cabo San Lucas

• La Paz

• Huatulco

• Cancun

• Guanajuato

• San Miguel de Allende

• Ajijic

• Lake Chapala

• Monterrey

• Irapuato

Each destination offered a unique experience.

Some introduced me to beautiful beaches and coastal living.

Others showed me vibrant colonial cities rich with culture and history.

Mexico helped me understand that international travel could be affordable, rewarding, and surprisingly accessible.

Ecuador Opens New Doors

My travels eventually took me to Ecuador.

I spent time exploring Guayaquil and Cuenca while gaining a deeper appreciation for South America.

By this point, I was no longer simply taking vacations.

I was learning about different lifestyles, cultures, and ways of living.

The idea of spending significant time outside the United States no longer seemed unusual.

It felt possible.

Colombia Changes My Life

Of all the countries I’ve visited, Colombia has had the greatest impact on my life.

What began as another travel destination eventually became something much more meaningful.

I met the woman who would later become my wife.

I developed friendships and routines.

I traveled throughout the country and gained a much deeper understanding of Colombian culture.

Today, Colombia serves as a home base while I continue exploring other destinations throughout Latin America and beyond.

It has become one of the most important chapters of my journey.

Exploring South America Together

Since meeting my wife, our travels have expanded to include additional destinations throughout South America.

Together we have explored places such as:

• Argentina

• Peru

• Panama

• Uruguay

• Various regions throughout Colombia

Along the way there have been amazing experiences, unexpected challenges, lost wallets, flight delays, visa appointments, beautiful landscapes, and countless memories.

Those moments often become the stories you read here on NomadicStan.

Why I Started NomadicStan

I created NomadicStan to document my experiences and share what I’ve learned along the way.

This site is part travel guide, part travel journal, and part life story.

You’ll find practical destination information, travel tips, retirement insights, relocation advice, and personal stories from the road.

My goal isn’t to convince anyone to follow my exact path.

It’s to show what’s possible when you’re willing to stay curious, remain flexible, and continue growing regardless of age.

What You’ll Find Here

On NomadicStan you’ll discover:

Travel Guides

Detailed destination guides covering cities, regions, and countries throughout the Americas.

Travel Stories

Personal experiences, lessons learned, and adventures from the road.

Retirement & Relocation

Insights for people considering travel, retirement abroad, or a location-independent lifestyle.

Travel After 60

Honest perspectives on staying active, healthy, and adventurous later in life.

Living Abroad

Experiences and observations from spending significant time outside the United States.

Final Thoughts

If there’s one lesson my journey has taught me, it’s that life rarely follows the path we expect.

When I was sleeping in a Kia Sorento years ago, I certainly wasn’t imagining that I would eventually retire, purchase a camper van, travel throughout Latin America, marry a Colombian woman, and build a website dedicated to sharing those experiences.

Yet here we are.

The road has never been perfect.

But it has been worth every mile.

Thanks for following along.

I hope some part of my journey inspires you to take the next step in your own.