Even Cowboys Can Take the Bus

Our Home Exchange in Mlini, Croatia

I set out as a traveling nomad retiree with a DIY mindset. Travel agents - pah! Cruise ships - for sissies! Tour buses - for old folks! My ego was tied to an image of self-reliance and minimalism that, it turns out, I could never actually achieve. Nearly a year later, my inner cowboy is riding off into the sunset, and I’m not unhappy to wave goodbye to him. I’ve learned that I enjoy the travel experience a lot more when I’m less fixated on all the little details - did I pick the right Airbnb, is this the least expensive restaurant, can we save five euros by taking the bus in an hour instead of a taxi - that can bedevil me.

Case in point: Barbara and I have about eight days coming up in a Home Exchange in Mlini, about 10 km outside Dubrovnik. It’s a lovely apartment overlooking the Adriatic, not far from a little town and close to the bus line. It will be a nice jumping-off point to see Dubrovnik, or a perfectly pleasant place to just hang out on the balcony-which is where my mind starts to go as I think of the logistics required to visit attractions in the surrounding area. I think I should DIY it, and the thought is kind of exhausting.

This is where my “better half” is better by way more than a half. While I can get us between countries and into accommodations, Barbara is masterfully working out the details for when our boots hit the ground. She annotates the Google Maps, identifies the “must-see” sites, and sets the schedule. There are now many days when I have the luxury of just waking up, getting dressed, and following behind her to see wonderful things.

Just as importantly, Barbara has taught me the value of the guided tour in our budget-conscious travel life. We find the Guru Walk during our first days in a new city to get the lay of the land. In Funchal, Madeira, we took the Hop On, Hop Off bus (the “HoHo”) for the first time, and it was great! I had rebelled against the HoHo in the past, claiming it was too “touristy” for globetrotters like us. I was just being a snob-it’s a wonderfully efficient way to cover some ground in a new locale. And now, we selectively take guided bus tours for day trips-over my initial kicks and screams-after Barbara pointed out that when I macho up with a rental car in a foreign country, about all I get to see is the road. I am learning to love those tour buses now.

This week I’ve received offers for a seven-night small ship cruise from Dubrovnik to Split (our last stop in Croatia before we go to our housesit in Switzerland). The dates correspond to our time in Mlini and the price is right; it’s been discounted significantly since I first left my cookie in the website’s marketing jar. We have a great place to stay (for free) in Mlini and a week full of things to do, thanks to Barbara’s amazing planning. But it’s still really tempting me, so I got to thinking about why. I'm not dying to visit all the little islands off the coast of Croatia (Barbara’s plans include some day trips via ferry), and it’s way too cold to enjoy the secluded swimming spots cruise passengers love in the summer. Honestly, I just like the idea of being fed a couple of meals a day that I don’t have to cook, and waking up in a new place without thinking about how I got there. In short, I have become an old fart. Well, maybe just a fart, since I was already old. I kind of like it.

Saddle up, inner cowboy -- it’s time to head out. Oh, and we're taking the bus.