Design a Life You Don’t Need a Vacation From
Hi, I’m Katrina, a solo traveler, cruise lover, and soon-to-retire higher-education leader who believes that retirement should feel like freedom—not fear.
For the past 25 years, I’ve spent my career helping adult learners reinvent themselves, build new futures, and create opportunities they didn’t know existed. Somewhere along the way, I realized I needed to start designing my own next chapter too.
So I created Solo Travel by Design — where planning, purpose, and wanderlust meet to help you build a retirement you’re excited to wake up to.
Why I Started This Blog
Like many people approaching retirement, I found myself asking the same questions you might be asking:
- How do I actually prepare for retirement if I want to travel more?
- Can I really slow travel solo with a modest budget?
- What happens to my home if I leave for months at a time?
- How do I keep my dog cared for while I cruise?
- Can I work a little, travel a lot, and still retire confidently?
As I began building my own 20-month countdown to retirement, I couldn’t find resources that blended:
✔️ realistic retirement planning
✔️ slow travel with a dog
✔️ month-long cruising
✔️ downsizing + home prep
✔️ financial practicalities
✔️ emotional preparation
✔️ real-life firsthand experience
So I decided to write the guide I couldn’t find.
This blog is the behind-the-scenes journey of how I’m designing a retirement filled with slow travel, extended cruising, creative work, and simplicity—and how you can do the same.
My Travel Style
I’m a planner at heart, but I’m also deeply curious. I love:
- Solo cruises in balcony cabins
- Month-long stays in small towns with farm-fresh food
- U.S. road trips with my dog, Bobo
- Long transatlantic sailings
- Rail travel (hello, California Zephyr!)
- Slow mornings, quiet evenings, and scenic everything
I’m not a backpacker and I’m not chasing adrenaline.
I’m chasing freedom, comfort, and meaningful experiences.
If that sounds like your style too, you’re in the right place.
Who This Blog Is For
Women in their 50s, 60s, and beyond who…
- Want a retirement filled with travel
- Prefer comfort over adrenaline
- Enjoy time in nature with a furry companion
- Want financial confidence without obsessing over spreadsheets
- Are ready to design a life they love — on their own terms
If you’ve ever thought, “There’s still so much I want to see,”
you’re in the right place.
What You’ll Find Here
This blog shares my journey—but it’s ultimately about helping you design yours.
You’ll find practical, real-world guidance on:
Retirement Planning for Travelers
- Budgeting
- Downsizing
- Home rental prep
- Transition planning
- Health + safety on the road
Cruising for Solo Travelers
- Back-to-back itineraries
- Casino comps + cabin strategies
- Ship reviews & cabin tours
- Planning extended cruise seasons
Slow Travel
- One-month stay guides
- Mild-weather itineraries
- Dog-friendly U.S. travel
- Balancing travel with home-base resets
Financial + Points Strategy
- Credit cards that make travel easier
- Stretching a $4,000–$5,000 monthly retirement budget
- Using loyalty programs without overwhelm
Mindset & Lifestyle Design
- Leaving a full-time career
- Creating purpose in retirement
- Building routines while traveling
- Saying yes to your own happiness
Most importantly, everything I share is based on experience—not theory, not hype, and definitely not perfection.
A Bit More About Me
I’m finishing my career as an Associate Vice President in higher education and workforce development—a world where planning, coaching, and supporting adult learners is the heart of the job.
That background blends naturally into this next chapter:
helping people design a retirement that feels aligned, empowered, and full of possibility.
I’m not a financial advisor or a lawyer, and I don’t pretend to be.
But I am someone walking this path in real time, and I share what I learn—honestly, openly, and in a way that helps others feel prepared and confident.
What’s Next
As I move closer to retirement, you’ll see:
- Behind-the-scenes planning
- Townhouse prep for rental
- My slow travel scouting trips
- Early cruise seasons
- A YouTube channel launching in early 2026
- Coaching options for solo travel + retirement design
This blog is my accountability, my creative outlet, and my way of helping others design a life they love—one month, one cruise, and one adventure at a time.
Let’s Connect
If you’re designing your own retirement journey—especially one with travel at the center—you’re not alone here.
Feel free to reach out, comment, ask questions, or follow along as this next chapter unfolds.
Here’s to creating a retirement—and a life—by design, not by default.
Solo Travel by Design 