PeninsulaPerson wrote: Sun Nov 02, 2025 5:46 am
Wannaretireearly wrote: Sat Nov 01, 2025 10:51 pmDesires:
– get to know the locals
– yet, not be too far from expats doing similar, with similar mindset.
– immerse ourselves into local life, within reason
– scope places out where we could stay longer
Happy to hear from other dreamers, like me, but really want to get some detailed locale information from those who have spent 4-6 or more weeks renting/living in one place. Why was this place special?
I know this topic has come up before, but I’d like fresh thoughts on this. Let’s keep it upbeat and fun. I’m less interested in the financial aspect. More interested in understanding your amazing, or not, experiences.
This is 1-3 years away for us, but I’d like this thread to ideally serve as a wish list for us.
I offer this as something for you to think about, since you specifically asked.
Have you considered doing this in your very own backyard?
I say that because – a few years ago – my husband wanted to go to an event one town over from us. We got the tickets and did a little pre-exploration to know where the parking was and etc. before the night of the event.
For myself, I was stunned and humbled at how – having lived in this area my whole life and having done a lot of poking around – I had never been anywhere near this part of that town, only by one little corner of it driving by/eyes on the road. It was amazing with a small historical cemetery and a bunch of interesting-looking restaurants and even houses that were subtly different from where I live, 10 minutes away.
That experience redoubled my interest in seeing things around here. One day we took an Uber to the Constitution! Then a ferry to Boston for a lunch in the North End at a place we had never been. (I was my first trip to the Constitution – wow! I now see Master and Commander so differently!)
I won’t go into all of what I’m seeing. A trip to Marblehead this summer with all the fishermen’s houses and tiny yards with jewel-box gardens stands out. And I haven’t gotten to Walden Pond yet, tho’ it is only 20 minutes away.
My point is that people always seem to think that “away” has to be away.
But people and day-to-day life can be very similar everywhere.
It’s not about saving money – I don’t mean that at all!
But what I am doing is so relatively easy. That has been humbling too.
I live in a place people would happily pay to come spend a month in.
(Boston is highly-recomnended. Lots of colorful locals . Many very Italian, and Thai! Plenty of places where one could also stay longer – Rhode Island, Connecticut!)
For me, it’s about drinking in this place – and my heritage & life in it – more, and more, deeply.
Just saying that maybe you can start living those wishes right now, today, this afternoon!
Good question!
Wishing you happily-memorable adventures.
I love Boston! Spent roughly 6 months there decades ago. Great town and would love to go again with DW.
The locals exploration is a good one! There is lots we have not seen in CA. In fact one of our special trips was staying in Westwood LA for a few weeks while kiddo did his summer program there. Loved it and was our first Airbnb experience.
More locally here in NorCal, sure, there are pockets we have not explored yet. It’s a great idea to explore more locally. Day or weekend trips. I’m not sure there is a place I’d want to spend multiple weeks, but I could be wrong! Perhaps further up the NorCal coast near the Oregon border
