In June 2025, Michael and I reduced a lifetime to four suitcases and moved from Kansas City to Bucaramanga, Colombia. What began as a late-life adventure became a story about aging, illness, love, chosen family, and building a meaningful life when certainty disappears.
Read the five-part series in order below.
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Where in the world is Jon D Barnett this morning?
RUNNING AWAY FROM COLOMBIA—PT 1
After a spinal procedure lets me walk again, I take stock of an unreliable body, a changing definition of independence, and why Michael and I chose Colombia for the final chapter of our lives.
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Everything Had to Justify Itself or Leave
RUNNING AWAY FROM COLOMBIA—PT 2
As strangers carry our belongings away at an estate sale, a lifetime becomes price tags, four suitcases, and the irreversible decision to leave America for Colombia.
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Building a Nest
RUNNING AWAY FROM COLOMBIA—PT 3
Michael and I arrive in Bucaramanga with four suitcases and a one-month Airbnb, then take a chance on an imperfect apartment with good bones and begin turning it into a home.
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Running into Reality
RUNNING AWAY TO COLOMBIA—PT4
I came to Colombia to keep moving. Instead, walking gives way to pain, a bright blue rollator, medical appointments, and limits I can no longer ignore.
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Running Out of Options
RUNNING AWAY TO COLOMBIA—PT5
A successful procedure briefly gives me back the ability to walk. When the pain returns and our support system begins to change, Michael and I must confront what comes next.
Thank you for reading. If this series speaks to you, please share this page with someone who might enjoy the journey.