Easter is past. That is, western and orthodox Easter were April 20, marking also the end of Passover, and just a week or so past Ramadan. Let the TRAVEL SEASON begin!
But before you do, make sure you’re ready for whatever Team Orange has planned to make travel even more of an adventure!
- Is your US Passport up to date? If you’re not travelling, you may still want to be sure it’s renewed now, rather than later. We just don’t know what games (Colloseum with lions?) the current US admin has planned for later.
- Pay attention to others’ experiences, when making travel plans. Individual accounts, so far, are mixed. Some have gone to/from the US with ease. Others, not. Check with an agent, your airline booking office or just ask in the DAGR Members Chat on Signal if anyone has had recent experiences to share.
- If you do travel to the US, mind your phone and laptop. Travellers … including foreign passport holders, non-US spouses and even US citizens … have reported having their phones grabbed at airport security, searched for contacts and txt posts. It may be worth scrubbing the phone before traveling, buying a phone just for the journey, or investing in an anti-spying phone pouch. If you have valuable archives on your phone or laptop, back them up elsewhere and maybe delete. Wired magazine has more detailed info.
- Lawyers? You probably won’t need one and all this sage advice will go down as paranoid overkill. BUT … just in case, let your Greek-side lawyer know your itinerary. And if you have a US lawyer, same deal. And write both their numbers on your body (forearm?). Just in case.
- The same goes for people expecting you stateside. Let them know your ETA and other destinations if touring around. You may want to check in with them from time to time. It’s also not a bad idea to give them your lawyers’ contact info. Just in case.
- Take care of your money. Investors who’ve been doing this for a while have already checked their investments and tried to make them as secure as possible. If you’re only exposed in a retirement plan, you may need to trust the plan’s experts. Either way, pay attention.
And lest we forget, current wisdom suggests we curtail the hysterically funny albeit rather aggressive remark about some member of the current regime who really turns our stomach. Butter wouldn’t melt in our mouths, but please may we have an extra pat for our breakfast roll before our trans-Atlantic flight lands?