November 7, 2025 • 5 mins
Recent Retiree Mark Oberlin joins us to discuss a topic many are interested in when they retire - Travel.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Survey is out the number one goal of retirees. We
will reveal this is West Michigan's morning News Steeve Kelly
read Bikita is seeing more live music like Journey.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Oh, that'd be great.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Mark Oberlin's retired now he is with a segment we
call retirement Realities on the liveline. Mark, thanks for doing
this today.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Glad to do so.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
It's something you do plenty of and you should be.
Is it any surprise to you that travel is the
number one thing that we're hoping to do once we retire.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Well, I mean, in fact, this survey I refer to
is really my own personal survey after forty years of
guiding and counseling people on how to spend their money,
save their money and trying to prioritize their interests. So
to me, the number one is we want to travel
slash more. So maybe they've gone to Traverse City or
(00:52):
Chicago or Tampa. But when I talk about travel, until
about international travel. Because this buy and far has got
the most anxiety associated with it, and you know, to
be upfront, it is, it has. It's very it's overwhelming,
and so if you kind of narrow it down to
me I want to go to Paris and do the
following things. Well, that's that's where you start. You have
(01:15):
a plan, I want to go to Paris, Well give
me a date, but it's going to be in the summertime. Okay, great, so,
but people don't think about some of the other things
that are associated with that, like currencies. You know, you
go over there, the euro is used almost everywhere except
England and some of the Eastern European countries. So you
(01:36):
just go to an atm and you know, put your
card in the air and drawn out like you would
at the corner of twenty eighth Street. And they don't
want the fear of foreign things. You know, Hey, I
want to go over there to witness history. Well you're
going to have to navigate narrow streets, cobblestone streets. You know,
there's some language barriers that everybody's in the in the
tourism speaks English. It's the universal language of money, so
(01:59):
you bet they leor not to, you know, speak English.
But then you've also got some these some countries require visas,
so you just have to be prepared to do some homework.
You know, you can use a travel agent and they
can do a lot for you. But there's just a
lot of stuff you have to.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Do on your own mark before I get into the
health piece of that, as far as when you're retired
and getting stuff done before you know, maybe your legs
failue or you know, whatever else happens. I want to
ask you about something that you just hit on when
you're doing international travel and you know this to be true,
Like people know, okay, this is spring break week going
to Florida. I want to avoid that is really do
(02:35):
your homework on you know what other festivals or celebrations
might be going on in those different countries that make
it busier than you expected, right.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Exactly. And of course us retirees, you know, we don't
have to abide by spring break right or Christmas break.
We don't even have to go on a weekend. We
can go Monday through Thursday. You get better prices, often
there's less congestion. So healthcare is a big issue. So
whether it's you know your health or your spouses. I
(03:05):
have a lot of people, well I'm great, I'm healthy.
How about your spouse, Well, you know she's got this
or he's got this that it only takes one of
you to have a health problem to put a stop
to all the travel and so long flights. You know,
it's eight hours from Detroit to Paris. That's a long
plan for some people that have you know, deep vein
thrombosis or you know urine area issues. You know, you
(03:27):
can go deep into the subject, but you know, mobility
is an issue. You're you're trying to get around cobblestone
streets in downtown Burtsberg, Germany, You're going to have a
bumpy ride because they're all cobblestones. Similarly, you want to
have a good pair of walking shoes and just things
like little things like you can't necessarily go to the
drugstore and buy hydrogen peroxide. Many countries don't even stock
(03:49):
it in pharmaceuticals. I can tell you that from firsthand.
So just have to be prepared for what's going to
have possibly happened to me while I'm outside the country.
Does my medicare advantage or surplus cover that out of
country health needs? And to make sure you have enough medicines.
You know this little things like that people forget and
(04:11):
I've forgotten some of these things, so I know firsthand
you make mistakes.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
I got to tell you there are a lot of
people that want to book the whole thing and say
we're going to Wurzburg, we're going to rent a car,
we're going to dinner at so and so, and then
there are people like me who are just starting the
whole travel thing. And we did a call a tour
to Italy last fall. I put on a pair of
headphones and followed the leader and loved it. Talk to
(04:35):
us about group travel, well, I.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Just returned from a two week riverboat cruise in Europe
from Bossel to Budapest, and that's a lot of planning.
That's I think we stopped at fourteen different cities. If
you were doing this on your own, you'd have to
pack the suitcase and unpacked one every day. So group
travel makes a great deal of sense because you avoid
a lot of the congestion on the roads. You don't
(04:57):
have to worry about road construction. They have people on
board that are experts in the cities that you're going to,
so they will take you on these little guided paths
with your microphones. Like you said, I had phones, so
much less anxiety. All you got to do is get
there and leave there. Everything else is basically taken care
of for you, including portering luggage and all the other
(05:20):
trip vices that are required. So I'm a big fan
of group travel for the inexperienced or the first time
international travel.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
And pointing out restrooms if you have to go a
lot with retirement regals.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Well, in fact, that that was one anxiety you're doing
to worry about. Those guys have to go to the bathroom,
just like we do. Be prepared to bring some small
coins because some of them are not free.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Totally was the truth in Italy. Mark, thanks for your
time again today.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Hey guys. Bye,
Survey is out the number one goal of retirees. We
will reveal this is West Michigan's morning News Steeve Kelly
read Bikita is seeing more live music like Journey.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Oh, that'd be great.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Mark Oberlin's retired now he is with a segment we
call retirement Realities on the liveline. Mark, thanks for doing
this today.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Glad to do so.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
It's something you do plenty of and you should be.
Is it any surprise to you that travel is the
number one thing that we're hoping to do once we retire.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Well, I mean, in fact, this survey I refer to
is really my own personal survey after forty years of
guiding and counseling people on how to spend their money,
save their money and trying to prioritize their interests. So
to me, the number one is we want to travel
slash more. So maybe they've gone to Traverse City or
(00:52):
Chicago or Tampa. But when I talk about travel, until
about international travel. Because this buy and far has got
the most anxiety associated with it, and you know, to
be upfront, it is, it has. It's very it's overwhelming,
and so if you kind of narrow it down to
me I want to go to Paris and do the
following things. Well, that's that's where you start. You have
(01:15):
a plan, I want to go to Paris, Well give
me a date, but it's going to be in the summertime. Okay, great, so,
but people don't think about some of the other things
that are associated with that, like currencies. You know, you
go over there, the euro is used almost everywhere except
England and some of the Eastern European countries. So you
(01:36):
just go to an atm and you know, put your
card in the air and drawn out like you would
at the corner of twenty eighth Street. And they don't
want the fear of foreign things. You know, Hey, I
want to go over there to witness history. Well you're
going to have to navigate narrow streets, cobblestone streets. You know,
there's some language barriers that everybody's in the in the
tourism speaks English. It's the universal language of money, so
(01:59):
you bet they leor not to, you know, speak English.
But then you've also got some these some countries require visas,
so you just have to be prepared to do some homework.
You know, you can use a travel agent and they
can do a lot for you. But there's just a
lot of stuff you have to.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Do on your own mark before I get into the
health piece of that, as far as when you're retired
and getting stuff done before you know, maybe your legs
failue or you know, whatever else happens. I want to
ask you about something that you just hit on when
you're doing international travel and you know this to be true,
Like people know, okay, this is spring break week going
to Florida. I want to avoid that is really do
(02:35):
your homework on you know what other festivals or celebrations
might be going on in those different countries that make
it busier than you expected, right.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Exactly. And of course us retirees, you know, we don't
have to abide by spring break right or Christmas break.
We don't even have to go on a weekend. We
can go Monday through Thursday. You get better prices, often
there's less congestion. So healthcare is a big issue. So
whether it's you know your health or your spouses. I
(03:05):
have a lot of people, well I'm great, I'm healthy.
How about your spouse, Well, you know she's got this
or he's got this that it only takes one of
you to have a health problem to put a stop
to all the travel and so long flights. You know,
it's eight hours from Detroit to Paris. That's a long
plan for some people that have you know, deep vein
thrombosis or you know urine area issues. You know, you
(03:27):
can go deep into the subject, but you know, mobility
is an issue. You're you're trying to get around cobblestone
streets in downtown Burtsberg, Germany, You're going to have a
bumpy ride because they're all cobblestones. Similarly, you want to
have a good pair of walking shoes and just things
like little things like you can't necessarily go to the
drugstore and buy hydrogen peroxide. Many countries don't even stock
(03:49):
it in pharmaceuticals. I can tell you that from firsthand.
So just have to be prepared for what's going to
have possibly happened to me while I'm outside the country.
Does my medicare advantage or surplus cover that out of
country health needs? And to make sure you have enough medicines.
You know this little things like that people forget and
(04:11):
I've forgotten some of these things, so I know firsthand
you make mistakes.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
I got to tell you there are a lot of
people that want to book the whole thing and say
we're going to Wurzburg, we're going to rent a car,
we're going to dinner at so and so, and then
there are people like me who are just starting the
whole travel thing. And we did a call a tour
to Italy last fall. I put on a pair of
headphones and followed the leader and loved it. Talk to
(04:35):
us about group travel, well, I.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Just returned from a two week riverboat cruise in Europe
from Bossel to Budapest, and that's a lot of planning.
That's I think we stopped at fourteen different cities. If
you were doing this on your own, you'd have to
pack the suitcase and unpacked one every day. So group
travel makes a great deal of sense because you avoid
a lot of the congestion on the roads. You don't
(04:57):
have to worry about road construction. They have people on
board that are experts in the cities that you're going to,
so they will take you on these little guided paths
with your microphones. Like you said, I had phones, so
much less anxiety. All you got to do is get
there and leave there. Everything else is basically taken care
of for you, including portering luggage and all the other
(05:20):
trip vices that are required. So I'm a big fan
of group travel for the inexperienced or the first time
international travel.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
And pointing out restrooms if you have to go a
lot with retirement regals.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Well, in fact, that that was one anxiety you're doing
to worry about. Those guys have to go to the bathroom,
just like we do. Be prepared to bring some small
coins because some of them are not free.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Totally was the truth in Italy. Mark, thanks for your
time again today.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Hey guys. Bye,
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Are You A Charlotte?
In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.