Escaping the Empty Nest

In Case You Missed It:

My Half-furnished Apartment

Would you like to take a tour of my half-furnished apartment? Ok, let’s go! Here’s our backstory, in case you’re new. After years of getting furniture at Goodwill, Ikea, yard sales, and Toys R Us, and with only one kid left at home, we were finally ready to get some decent furniture. Then we decided to move to Paris. Shipping our crummy furniture...(read more)

How to Go to Paris

Go to Paris, the city of love and light! It’s really worth it, but it takes some work to make your trip wonderful. Follow my tips and you’ll be ok.
Before you go: Where will you stay? I prefer Airbnb, but Home Rentals are great, too. I like to have room to spread out and get to know the locals, and I also found the prices at Airbnb and Home Rentals...(read more)

How to Rent an Apartment in Paris

Have you heard about French bureaucracy? It’s immense and far-reaching, penetrating the depths of your soul. But if you want to live in France, you’ll get used to it. Here’s how to rent an apartment in Paris. Really, I recommend that you be employed by a company that transfers you to France and has already leased apartments which they funnel...(read more)

Airplane Etiquette

Flying is no longer the elegant, special thing it was during aviation’s early days. Now, air travel is more accessible and more affordable. It’s more casual. And sometimes, it’s meaner. Airplane etiquette consists of regular human decency with extra sensitivity to others mixed in. Let’s begin. 1. Do not bring your pet snake on the plane. 2. Keep your lawyer...(read more)

Dear Bored Man

Dear bored middle-aged man sitting on a bench in the ladies shoe department,
On behalf of all middle-aged women, I salute you, sir! You are doing the hard work, the taxing work, the work we truly need done. I’m serious. We don't need someone to leap tall buildings in a single bound...(read more)

I'm New Here: Thoughts on Being a New Expat in France

I’m still in the honeymoon stage of life in France. Culture shock is due to set in soon, but for now I just think this place is lovely! Everything is pretty. Food is delicious. Groceries are affordable. The weather is nice. People are friendly. Here are some nice pictures for you...(read more)

My Blog is Having an Identity Crisis

I’m not having an identity crisis, but my blog is. I started this blog to document my weird journey through sending two-thirds of my kids off to college and traveling around the world for a year. Now the kids are in college and the traveling is done. The remaining kid is low-maintenance.
So, if this blog lives on, what kind of blog should it be?...(read more)

Dear Paris

Dear Paris,
I don’t know if you remember me, but I visited you a couple of times in the past few years. I was the one who spoke high school French and ate your snails and frog legs. In a black coat. Walked a lot. Ring any bells? Well, we had some good times together. I’m writing because...(read more)

Maldives: The Grumpy Post

In general, I try to keep it positive here at Escaping the Empty Nest. I want my readers to feel like the world is a big, beautiful place that is inviting and available. I want you to feel like people are wonderful and if we just meet them all there would be world peace because we will truly connect. I want you to be inspired. Today is just not that day. Maldives is a...(read more)

Movie Review: Beauty and the Beast

Whenever I see a movie being remade, I wonder if we really needed to remake the old one. Ghostbusters? Spiderman? Annie? Usually the answer is no. However, after seeing the new Beauty and the Beast, I can assure you that we need this new BATB. First of all, let me say that I’m done with kid movies, so this isn’t one. My youngest is 14, and I plan never...(read more)

How to Look More-or-Less Like Yourself Far from Home: A Personal Journey

When I travel, I usually just maintain my personal care as best I can until I get home. However, long-term travel is hard on a middle-aged body, so if I didn’t want to look like Tom Hanks in Castaway, I’d knew I’d need some extra TLC. Briefly, here was my personal care routine back...(read more)

What to do in Hong Kong (After Shopping, Eating, and Hiking)

I have spent quite a bit of time in Hong Kong, because my husband is a native Hong Konger and we’re based here for part of our trip-around-the-world this year. It’s a fast-paced and energetic city. Public transportation is great, it’s safe, people are civilized and helpful, and there’s...(read more)

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep: February 2017

When you sell your house to travel, you give up your own bed and some privacy. But you might gain something else, like new friends or a new perspective. During this year of travel, I’m sure I’ll sleep in houses, hotels, and hostels. However, I also hope to find some unusual...(read more)

Should You Visit Japan?

Yes, you should. The end. Shortest post ever! JK LOL. But seriously, I think you’d really like it. But why chose it over any other Asian country? Why fly across the world for sushi? You probably didn’t take Japanese in high school, and you might never have watched The Seven Samurai. You might not even like fish. But there are still plenty of good...(read more)

I'm Yvonne, and this is my blog.
The kids are leaving, I’m retired, and I’ve got miles to go before I sleep. If you are as perplexed and excited as I am about the second half of your life, come eat, travel, and figure it out with me.

In Case You Missed It:

​Airplane Etiquette

Airplane Etiquette