“Leave It to Norwegians in Florida to Convince Me Cold Weather Is Good for Me”

Some of the best radio & podcast conversations start exactly where you don’t expect them to…like poolside in Florida—in bathing suits, no makeup, and not a business card in sight.

That’s how I met Kari Berit—in what I call a “Random Run-In.”

Kari and her hubby were on two lounge chairs in the sun at a hotel pool in Florida. The only other slice of sun not being blocked by our mutual hotel building was hitting a lounge chair right next to them. This cold, pale New Yorker wanted that only other sunny spot, but I didn’t want to be a too-close lounger (kinda the same as a too-close talker), so I asked if they minded. They did not mind.

When I realized they were Norwegian (switching back and forth between Norwegian and English was a tip-off), I had to bring up the Norwegian word I’ve been having fun talking about for a few weeks on the radio and ask them how to pronounce it correctly.

Friluftsliv!

See, this year I decided that instead of complaining about the NY winter, I’d try to embrace the cold like the Norwegians do.

Friluftsliv (pronounced: free-loofts-liv) is a Norwegian philosophy that means “open-air life”—the belief that spending time outdoors in nature, year-round, is essential for physical health, mental well-being, and happiness.

Of course, it seemed a little bizarre that I was bragging about my newfound attempt to love cold weather while sitting poolside on an 80-degree day in Florida—but hey, no guilt. The Norwegians were there too. And we got to talking—in English—about why they were in Florida and what they do in Norway.

(I was there with my other half, Dave, to visit his son for Thanksgiving. They were there to settle the estate after the sad passing of an elderly parent.)

Fast forward to Wellness Wednesday and my ongoing segment called “Keeping The Live In Alive!” …

I asked Kari to join me on the show to talk about her fascinating journey—from Minnesota radio gal to homestead living in Norway, where she now helps people create deeply personal bucket-list trips through her company, KB Norway Tours. Whether it’s exploring stunning fjords, avoiding tourist traps, or standing on the actual land where your ancestors once lived, Kari creates travel experiences that are meaningful, soulful, and unforgettable.

We also dove into friluftsliv. Translation? Get outside. Breathe real air. Live better. (I’m still working on the pronunciation—but I love the philosophy.)

But Kari isn’t just about dreamy travel. She’s also a powerful voice in the world of caregiving. As the author of The Unexpected Caregiver, she shared real-talk wisdom on what so many families face—but rarely prepare for—caring for aging parents. Her message is reassuring, practical, and refreshing: it’s okay not to know what you’re doing. None of us were trained for this role—and you don’t have to feel guilty, alone, or overwhelmed while figuring it out.

This conversation had it all: laughter, life lessons, Norwegian fun facts (yes, they really let babies nap outside while parents go into a restaurant), and honest talk about family dynamics, responsibility, and staying sane while caring for the people you love.

If you’re curious about Norway, navigating caregiving, or just love a good “random run-in” story—you’ll love this one.

 Listen to the full conversation of this warm podcast about livin the cold life.
 Learn more about Kari’s travel work at kbnorwaytours.com
 Caregiving resources at unexpectedcaregiver.com

Sometimes strangers aren’t strangers for long—and sometimes a random run-in turns into a conversation worth sharing.