Better Wi-Fi, Worse Recovery Time: The Midlife Nomads' Trade-Off
Travel isn’t what it was in our 20s, and that’s a mixed bag. Inside: traveling smarter even as our bodies begin to protest, plus new tools, fresh research, and gatherings for midlife nomads.
Greetings, good day, good afternoon from the Atlantic side of the Dominican Republic, where I *almost* caught the sun coming up over the island earlier this week.
I’ve unfortunately spent most of today in bed, and will likely stay here for the foreseeable future — at least until the migraine that’s been threatening since last night decides to either take hold and run its course or take a hike.
It’s not a full-blown, can’t-see-straight situation (yet), but enough of a looming threat that I’m laying low and missing out on a catamaran adventure this afternoon.
The migraines are just another of the fun foibles of middle age; my body’s newly delicate and temperamental ecosystem seems triggered at the drop of a hat lately. Didn’t get enough sleep? Migraine. Whoops, you forgot to drink enough water. Migraine. Enjoy the sun! But not too much now… migraine.
Anyway, enough whinging. We’re fortunate and grateful to be here. Trevor — the other half of MidlifeNomads — and I are together in the DR for a friend’s wedding with a group of close to 40 people from our hometown, and just trying to take it all in.
The beach here is stunning and hasn’t suffered the sargassum wash-up you’ll find this year on the eastern and southern shores of Caribbean Sea beaches in the Yucatan Peninsula, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
It’s something to keep in mind if you’re booking travel for this winter and hoping to enjoy a swim in the ocean or extended time on the beach.
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I’m taking half a vacation this week… that is, I’m off on holidays from my tech writing day job but still producing a daily local news publication from here. It’s also near month-end, so there are a few admin tasks to finish up.
The good news is that the wi-fi here is great. Much better than when Trevor and I took a vacation to the Dominican some 10 years ago, and I spent hours in the hotel lobby trying to get a few emails out.
I have no meetings this week, so don’t have to worry about it being stable enough for video calls. But I knew to bring an eSIM this time for backup, just in case.
The tech has improved, even if our bodies haven’t. 🙃
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But that’s alright. We aren’t trying to replicate how we traveled in our twenties and thirties.
Back then, we bounced around in backpacks with zero regard for sleep, hydration, or ergonomics. Now I don’t board a plane without my collagen powder, naproxen, and calcium tablets.
Trevor travels with a dedicated pair of sandals designed to protect his feet from diabetic injury — not the beat-up flip-flops or barefoot adventures of yesteryear. Our pack now contains a blood pressure monitor and both our BP prescriptions (twinning 🥸). And I’m running two fans, handheld and USB desk, like it’s an HVAC strategy.
It’s not glamorous. But it works.
We’ve swapped hostel dorms and hangovers for comfy shoes, a solid morning routine, and the awareness that just because you can keep pushing through, it doesn’t mean you should. These days, we know we’ll pay for it later.
We’re not 25 or even 35 anymore (and thank the goddesses for that, on most counts). Our bodies need more care. Our energy needs conservation. And our travel style these days, while still fun and adventurous, requires a lot more balance to avoid burnout.
If you’re feeling that tug to go remote and take your work on the road — or maybe to plan a bit longer of a winter escape by working remote for just a few weeks, or a month — remember: your trip doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.
Especially not what we’re conditioned by travel influencers and the ‘Gram to think travel “should” look like.
You don’t have to see every spot on the TripAdvisor Top 10, or hit every highly-rated restaurant on Google Maps. You don’t need the most luxurious hotel, or to climb the most challenging rock around. You don’t need to pack every minute of a tight itinerary, or worry about time “wasted” in a beautiful place by just sitting and taking it all in.
Your travel plans just have to work for you, where you are right now in your life, with the money, energy, and time you have available.
So where am I now? Still in bed, hoping this headache backs off soon… but feeling grateful to be able to do this at all.
Until next time, here are a few interesting things that came across my desk this week. There are fun, interesting, and good things happening in the midlife nomad space. Enjoy:
Best Countries for Migrants to Settle and Succeed
New research from iSharing ranks Australia as the top country for expat integration. Most newcomers arrive as students, and nearly 8 in 10 find jobs. Czechia and Slovakia lead for expat entrepreneurship, with 1 in 5 foreign nationals self-employed. Italy stands out with a fast-track to citizenship, naturalizing more people than it receives.
You can access their complete research findings here.
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A Moveable Feast in Iberia – Women & Wine Gathering, March 2026
If you’re craving connection, good food, and time to rest in beautiful surroundings, check out Heidi from Little Seed Revolution’s just-announced 10-day women’s gathering in March 2026, along the Portugal–Spain border.
Think natural wines, traditional dishes, day trips through historic villages, and plenty of magic around the table. It’s happening March 13–22, 2026, and rates start at €1955. Learn more here.
Overlap Joins Pangea — Interesting News for Nomads Who Travel to Connect
Pangea just acquired Overlap, an app that helped nomads track when and where their friends would be. If you’ve used it to plan real-world meetups, this shift is worth watching… Pangea says it’s building a unified AI-powered platform, but whether it keeps people (not just features) at the centre remains to be seen.
As an alternative, I’ve used Nomadago since meeting the founders, Victor and Danny, in Cape Town. Their focus on intentional connection and protecting user privacy really resonates.
Surgery in Portugal: A First-Hand Account by Nancy Whiteman
Getting sick or injured anywhere in the world can be a vulnerable and even scary experience. In her latest post, Nancy from Expat in Portugal shares her experience going under the knife in her chosen country.
That’s it for now… travel safe, friends. May the sun shine upon your outdoor plans and your Airbnbs be exactly as advertised.
✌🏻 Miranda