People have asked me how did I get out of the Matrix and into my new life and I often tell them, I just made up my mind to do it.  I have met many other Boomers in my travels who have left their old lifestyle and I wanted to share the story of Norman Bilodeau. Norman is from Montreal, Canada and he is one of those Boomers who said he was gettig out of the Matrix.

Have you ever thought about geting out of your present life situation and venturing into a new one?  I always used to tell my students that once they make the initial decision, that 50% of the battle has been won and the remaining 50% just has to be worked out.  In my situation, I retired from teaching, left the U.S. four years ago, lived for two years in Costa Rica, traveled throughout Central America, lived in Mexico for one year, and traveled to Peru, Bolivia and Colombia and am exploriing South America.  

I've met people from Canada, the United States, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Brasil, Scotland, England, Australia, Austria, New Zealand, Germany, Hong Kong, China, Japan and many others.  These Boomers range in age from 50 to 70 years old and are they ever having the time of their lives!!

And you can do it too Boomers- all you have to do is make that initial decision.  

Conscious Baby Boomers,

I don't know about you but I absolutely love chocolate.  Did you know that Chocolate originated in the Americas and that the actual plant is White in color?

When I was in Costa Rica I had the chance to see a Cacao Tree and the  tiny  flower from which it started and then to see it as an adult pod.  It was not what I thought it would look like.  Delicious, delectable, soothing and, yes, American.

Chocolate was a New World discovery, one of the most sought-after treasures brought back to Europe from the brave new land across the Atlantic.  

Conscious Baby Boomers,

Well I am on the road again after having had an 8 month stay in Peru and heading north to Colombia. Bubba and I, will have to pass entirely through Ecuador and will take a comfortable nighttime bus leaving from Piura, Peru and head directly to Quito, Ecuador.

Our reservation to return back to Mexico City is set to leave on April 25th from Quito, Ecuador. It’s a crazy situation, but we leave from Quito, head south back to Lima, Peru, and then fly direct to Mexico City.

So we literally have to head south to go north! We tried to change the reservation but crazy Travelocity wanted to charge us $926 for the change fee and a new flight. This was absolute insanity as I paid $625 for my initial round trip ticket. We were living in Peru so we wanted to delete the Quito, Ecuador, part and leave from Lima, but in their wisdom Travelocity said no, and I refused to give them my hard earned money, so Quito it is.

But it is just as well as this helped us make the decision to travel to Colombia – ahhhuuuaaa!

 Conscious Baby Boomers,

So let's talk about Baby Boomer “Experiential Travels".  Of course the destination is important but when it comes to making travel plans, it’s what you can DO when you get there that counts most. Many Boomers have veered toward Experiences over Destinations. We are not interested in the “typical” experience, and we search for tours that offer local experiences, especially those related to food, wine, and culture.

This has been called “Experiential Travel” and it could be defined as simply heading off beyond the beaten tourist path and becoming immersed in authentic local culture. A definition offered by Pure Insights:  “Experiential Travel is journey away from home, involving a truly memorable and powerful experience - active, cultural, natural, social, or spiritual - that will enrich a person’s life, and improve the way that people connect with both loved ones and with the world.”

Conscious Baby Boomers,

 In my travels throughout South America I have encountered some wonderfully delicious and new fruits and vegetables and grains as well.

 One of the best grains is Quinoa which has a nutty delicious flavor and can be used in soups, salads, cereals, cookies, and drinks, pancakes and is very healthy for everyone.  It is also used as a side dish and dessert and eating it leads to many health benefits.

As you can see in the foto, this seed is very tiny and is of a beautiful golden color.  When it is cooked, the shell bursts open and the contents are cooked and it is very soft.  There is another version that is Quinoa Morada which is maroon in color and has a nutty, buttery taste and it is equally delicious.