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When I retired, two years ago, I embarked on what I called my "geriatric gap year". Now, my gap year has turned into my geriatric gap life, and the only way my family and friends can keep up with me is by reading my blog. If I confined my thoughts to a journal, that I carried with me, they would still be wondering where I am and what I am doing. Communication with my family is complicated by the fact that they all live so far apart. Of my three daughters, one lives in England, one in South Africa and one in Australia; my husband is working in Turkey and we have relatives all over the globe.

In the past two years, I have traveled from Turkey to England, South Africa, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand; visiting some of these countries several times. My constant companion is my very small, compact computer that fits into my handbag. I can write when I want to and I can download my photos from my camera and edit them, ready for when I get Internet connection, either through wireless or in an Internet cafe. For me, blogging is an instant way to communicate my experiences as I travel around.

Because my family is so widespread, my blogs also serve as way for them to keep up-to-date with one another. We can watch children and grandchildren growing up together. Cousins, who might never have met, can catch a glimpse into one another's lives. How else would Jessica, in England, see those annoying monkeys in her cousin Shannon's garden in South Africa or her new baby cousin in Australia? My blogging has enabled our far-flung family to retain its links and share its identity. They can log on to the blog for a few minutes each week to keep up with the "here and now". If they had to wait for me to arrive with my Journal, it would all be "old news".

I suppose I could email, but, with so many family members, a "Dear Family" email would not have nearly the same impact. In the past two years, I have posted more than 100 blogs and uploaded more than 350 photos. My journal would be huge by now, if I chose to lug one around, whereas, my slimline, lightweight, compact computer takes very little room at all.

As I look back at past blogs, I can recapture those moments that pass so fleetingly, as can those who were there. It has become a memory bank of my life. Therefore, I will continue blogging as I travel around the world, visiting friends and family. This is now my life, and it is an open book, or rather blog, for anyone to read who wants to.

Learn more about this author, Elizabeth Coughlan.
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