Affiliate Marketing Let Me Say Yes to California Adventures… and Still Get Paid

Freedom, family, and a phone signal ~  a grandma’s guide to making it all work at almost 70.

I just got back from two unforgettable weeks in California with my 14-year-old granddaughter, Alexa.  We went to visit my sister Kimber with a plan to see the ocean and several cultural and architectural sights.  I am still processing the magic (and the muscle soreness). We packed in sunrises, ocean views, road trips, beach walks, family dinners, history, art, NASCAR races, and more steps than I thought my nearly-70-year-old legs could handle.

But here’s the wild part:
My at-home business didn’t miss a beat.
I didn’t “pause everything” or “ask for time off.”
Instead, I planned ahead, batched my posts, scheduled what I could, and then let my phone handle the rest while I made lifelong memories with my granddaughter and my sister.

That’s the freedom affiliate marketing gave me.
And this trip? It was everything we hoped for, and a whole lot more.

Why This Trip Mattered So Much

For many years, Lexi and I have talked about “someday” taking a trip to see California, the beach towns, the city lights, the art, architecture, and culture, as well as the places she’s only seen on screen. The food is like nothing we have here! (I’ve missed it for nearly 40 years.) I hadn’t traveled in many years because of physical pain, trauma recovery, and, to be honest, the financial stress.  I originally came from the Southern California Coast and miss it so much.  It was important to me to share it with her.

Finally, this year…
We didn’t wait for “someday.”
We packed our bags and made it happen.

I wanted her to experience things we don’t have here in our small Midwest community: the ocean breeze, the Hollywood lights, real authentic foods, sea lions, and the joy of being surrounded by culture, laughter, and sunshine.

And for me? I got to reconnect with my sister and her grown children, to see Lexi spend time with cousins, extended family, and watch her eyes light up with wonder in every new place we visited.

Everywhere We Went (The Highlight Reel)

• Fresno: Shopping, family time, and a 4th of July gathering on a historic family ranch filled with antique treasures and a deep pit-roasted feast.
• Santa Monica: Walk of Fame, Wax Museum, House of Mirrors, Johnny Rockets, and a surprise red carpet Superman movie premiere in the middle of the street… yes, we watched it all from a 2nd floor balcony above!
• Santa Barbara → Pismo → Avila: Beach time, oceanfront steak dinners, walks along coastal lookouts, and my feet and thighs burning in pain and gratitude with every step.
• Morro Bay & Cambria: Boutique shopping, gluten free burgers at House of JuJu, elephant sea lions, and the stunning Hearst Castle Grand Tour.

  

• San Francisco: Family visits, Sonoma NASCAR races (with more people than the population of our whole town!), Fisherman’s Wharf, sourdough from a historic bakery, Alcatraz views, ice cream sundays all around for breakfast at Ghirardelli Square, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge (and several others), a stroll up and down Chinatown, and the iconic drive down Lombard Street.
• Sunset views, and a late-night Chick-fil-A stop on the way back to Fresno to pack for our trip home early the next morning… all in all, it was perfectly imperfect.

Was it exhausting? Absolutely.
Was it worth it? Without a doubt.

The Honest Truth About Doing This at 69

Each day, we walked approximately 10,000 to 12,000 steps, not something I am used to. By day three, my feet hurt, my thighs burned, and I still climbed hills, ramps, and stairs with my granddaughter’s arm gently reaching out for me to rest my hand on as we went.  I huffed, puffed, and winced, but I kept going with a smile on my face and joy in my heart.

Not because it was easy, but because I was determined.
The same kind of determination I bring to my business.

Chronic pain, past trauma, being “older”- those aren’t excuses anymore. They’re proof that I’ve already been through and done the hard things. This life I’m building now? That’s the reward.

How I Kept My Business Running (While Living Fully)

Let’s be clear, I did not “work” the whole time.
What I did was prepare ahead:

• Scheduled social posts in advance
• Set up affiliate links and pinned content
• Brought my phone in case I needed to reply or check in
• Trusted the systems I put in place before I left

Affiliate marketing means I didn’t need to cold pitch or hustle from a hotel lobby.
I showed up when I needed to and stayed present the rest of the time.

That’s the kind of business model I wish I’d known about sooner.

Why Affiliate Marketing Works for Real Life

You can start and do it at any age… in your 30s 40s, 50s, 60s  70s + …
Are you tired of feeling behind, burned out, or broke?
Craving freedom but don’t want to become an “influencer”…

Let me say this clearly:

You are not too late.
And
You are definitely not too old to start over.

Affiliate marketing gave me a way to rebuild without burning out.
It’s flexible. It’s learnable. And yes, it can help you say YES to things like this.

Want to Know How I Got Started?

I’m not here to pressure or pitch.
I’m here to show you what’s possible.

If you’re curious, I created a gentle reset guide you can download here → Waves of Clarity
Or if you’re ready to learn the kind of affiliate setup I used, → Check out the AI Freedom Course – no tech overwhelm required.

And if this blog touched something in you? Just know —
You’re not alone, and you’re not stuck.
This is just the beginning.

 

Freedom, Family, and a Phone Signal.

That’s what this trip was about.
I got to live out a long-held dream with my granddaughter and sister…
While still honoring the work I’ve done to create freedom and stability at home.

If you’re ready to build something that lets you say yes –

You got this.

Let’s take the first step. Together.

 

Love & Gratitude,

Kat B ~ barefoot beach girl at heart

Reach out to me at:  [email protected]

Learn more about my journey in my Blog Pages.

Also, check out My Links page while you’re here.