“The Slow Poison: How Democracy Withers and What We Can Do” draws chilling historical parallels between Nazi Germany's rise and current political trends in the U.S., particularly under MAGA influence. With stark comparisons and a breakdown of proposed legislation like the "One Big Beautiful Bill," this article warns that democracy doesn’t vanish in a moment—it erodes quietly, unless we speak up and take action.
Read Full ArticleYou never know where life will take you
For two years, Axel and I talked about traveling. Then last year, we finally did it — seven weeks, twelve countries, and countless memories. We sat on our travel chairs in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Croatia. We wandered the winding streets of Venice. We drove through the Alps, where the roads were so narrow and serpentine that I had to close my eyes more than once as we crossed from Italy into Switzerland.
We laughed our way through a three-hour drive across France that somehow turned into eight — thanks to road construction that rerouted us through tiny backcountry villages where the kind locals tried to help, though we didn’t share a language.
Through it all, our dog Abby was by our side. She strolled through the streets of Paris by day and got the zoomies every evening in the small yard of the house we rented.
Shortly after that trip, we made a life-changing decision: to sell everything and travel full-time.
Sorting through a lifetime of belongings — deciding what to sell, what to keep, what to donate — was no small task. We laughed. We cried. But we did it. Now, everything we truly treasure fits into a 5x5 storage unit.
We immersed ourselves in research on health insurance, taxes, visas, and expat life in the EU. We discovered that getting health insurance in Germany at our age isn’t simple. We explored how I can continue publishing novels while navigating different visa types. We consulted multiple experts on how to structure our taxes. It was overwhelming.
Eventually, we looked at each other and said, “Let’s just go.”
So, we rented a small apartment in Germany — a home base, just in case.
It’s not the kind of life that fits neatly into a spreadsheet — and maybe that’s the point. We traded comfort for curiosity, routine for reinvention. Now, with Abby trotting ahead and our suitcases in tow, we’re not chasing an itinerary — we’re chasing a way of living that feels fully our own.
Germany is just the beginning. The road is calling again — and this time, we may not be coming back!
Buy my books on Amazon!
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
