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Discontented after conversations
Posted: Oct 8, 2013
Lately I've been noticing that after people tell me about their travel experiences I feel like I might be missing out on something and am unsettled about it. I do have places I'd like to see but have never been much of a traveler and am generally quite content to stay close to home. I don't really feel envious/jealous but sometimes feel like I should?!? Maybe I don't realize how small my world is and should be having different experiences? Anyone else feel this way?
;
I think it's an admirable trait, to be comfortable - staying close to home.
[ In Reply To ..]I've traveled only a bit, to a few places in England and Canada. My husband, on the other hand, has lived in India, England, Ireland and Canada, and visited practically every country in Europe (his parents are European). I am a little bitter that he's done all this traveling and is pretty done with it all, while I am just getting my feet wet. Honestly, if I could be content with just staying close to home, I would be a happier person. So please don't think you *should* want more. Either you do or you don't, and there's nothing wrong with either one. In fact, sometimes wanting more can leave you feeling very discontented!
I absolutely love to travel, think that is my - middle name
[ In Reply To ..]When the kids were younger I went on W2 as single, no dependents and then at the end of the year put on us 3 and usually got back around 2500-3000+ and that is what I used for the vacations then. I traveled a lot to Club Med, particularly Mexico (at least 4-5 trips there), Jamica, Carucao, Puerto Rico, Bahamas (3 times there), Santo Domingo, went to Greece with my 12 year old daughter for 3 weeks, Alaska (twice there), trip to Canada and have been in every state except for about 3 or 4. I start around September/October the year prior and plan my trips. Am in the process of planning one now. I pay in increments, paying along as I go and by the time vacation time comes around I have everything paid for except for the gas (if I drive) and food. Even the Mouse lets you pay ahead now if you like, sorta like layaway. My husband and I try to make a short trip to Las Vegas each year or every other year, not to gamble but he has his favorite seafood buffet there and I like to take in a show. I do love my home but am just bitten by the travel bug and nothing is wrong with traveling or being a homebody.
Travel experiences you have missed - sm
[ In Reply To ..]Well, sure, you're missing out on something! Driving long distances, the unbelievable cost of gas, interstate pileups, airport shuttle fees, standing in security lines, pat-downs, being crammed into too-small seats with inadequate leg room surrounded by screaming children, blood clots, headaches, airport food prices, hunger, standing in lines to board the cruise ship, gaining massive amounts of weight, surprise fees, seasickness, norovirus, shipboard plumbing failures, shipboard fires, electrical failures, being trapped on disabled ships, being towed to port across half the Caribbean and the entire Gulf of Mexico, near-riots over the last morsels of edible food, unspeakable sanitation, and all the while every service person you encounter hates you, as does every last price-gouging native.
Also . . . hotels. Possibly the most unspeakably unsanitary locations on the earth. Plumbing failures, surprise charges, rampant thieves, unsecured wifi, identity theft, noise, suspicious bedsheets, dirty towels, unidentifiable substances, influenza and communicable diseases of all types.
BEDBUGS.
Even though a part of me would love - to hit the open road
[ In Reply To ..]and never look back, especially when the seasons change, I think a lot of travel is overrated and really more hassel than it's worth. There are a few spectactular places I would love to see, such as Angkor Wat, but from my travels in the military, I know that there might be one interesting thing surrounded by a bunch of stuff, slums, poverty, misery, I would rather not deal with, and can't afford to be insulated from. Also I hate dealing with airports, planes, bad food, overpriced hotels (too old now to crash on a floor, hitchhike or pee in the woods).
Unless teleportation gets invented in my lifetime and becomes real cheap, my serious traveling days are probably over, unless by some miracle I could afford one of those condo ships where you live on board and cruise the world (yeah, right). One travel adventure I might recommend is a trip to Italy... not too difficult to get to, lots of bang for the buck, art, history, good food, beautiful and friendly people, fairly cheap.
What happened at Shakespeare's grave - Norrie
[ In Reply To ..]I think the other posters have nailed the travel issue, both good and bad. What you may be worried about missing might be the "fantasy" of travel.
My mother is an English teacher who wanted one thing in life: To see Shakespeare's grave. So for 2 years we planned the trip and my mom got to fulfill her dream. Except it wasn't what she thought it would be like AT ALL. She imagined a solitary moment at Shakespeare's grave, quietly thinking about all the happiness she had gotten from reading his works and sharing that with her students. What she got was crowds of tourists, LONG lines, noise, heat, and being really uncomfortable (you don't say how old you are, but travel as you get up there in years is very difficult). Also, Shakespeare's England is long gone. It's like anywhere else with a large population--modern, noisy, expensive etc. I guess what I'm saying is if your idea of travel is from what you've seen in movies and TV or hear from people with large budgets and lots of money to spend, you're not missing anything by staying home. If you want to see the world as it really is, and there are still wonderful experiences to be had, you might want to adjust your expectations.
Am going to have to remember about travel getting - older was more difficult
[ In Reply To ..]The only problem I had this past summer was trying to get my small carry on luggage to roll straight down the airplane aisle instead of it flopping over. I am hitting the big 70 this next year so I guess I need to pay heed to what others say, slow down. Last summer my friend had her 3 stepkids up for the summer and we all went swimming at our neighborhood pool. The children were surprised when I dove into the water. I guess they think after 20 maybe you either should not do that anymore or maybe you cannot do that anymore. It is funny to hear what others think you can or cannot do because of a number.
70 is the new 60! Maybe even 50! - NDMT
[ In Reply To ..]70 does not mean you are old and decrepit especially by today's standards. People aren't necessarily thinking, "oh, she's 70, so how can she do that?" You obviously don't feel different from your younger self. My mom is 86, and I really noticed a change between 80 and 86. The fact is that she is more frail at 86 than she was at 80. That's just how it was for her. My friend's mom was a great traveler and visited all 7 continents in her lifetime. The last one was Antarctica when she was 93! My friend said basically they just unloaded her on the beach for a moment or two so she could achieve her dream. It was not an easy trip (though Antarctica is probably tough at any age). Some 40-year-olds would have a problem with a lot of travel experiences if they had health problems.
Those are some excellent points - and wonderful to have
[ In Reply To ..]your mother at 86. I had thought about traveling to Africa a few years back, then considered myself lucky to have made it as long as I have and I know Africa might have some parasites/diseases maybe you get and then cannot get rid of. I know this can happen anywhere, yet this plays out in my mind. My 40 year old kid complains that I have too much energy for them when they travel with me. I pace myself, doing something like Six Flags one day and then the next relaxing around a pool so it works itself out. I really do not feel my age and wonder how did I ever get here so fast. Although I do have some health matters I hope they are quiescent enough to not keep me grounded too long. I have not traveled to places like Cape Cod, Boston and the like so this is maybe on my list of places to go. I am thankful that I have been able to see things I never thought I would, knew they were there but seeing in person, what a wonderful thing.
Well... - see msg pls
[ In Reply To ..]I am perfectly content staying home, but I do love to travel. However, I DO NOT like flitting around being in a different hotel every day or two, or even every few days. I do like to sight-see, but only to a point.
Hubby and I have mostly done the Caribbean--we found some really cheap ways to stay on an island. I am not into going to Europe, mostly because it just all seems too hectic with running around from city to city, or site to site.
I have seen the Mayan ruins, and honestly, it's just a big pile of rocks. I have no desire to see the Grand Canyon (heck, it's just a big hole in the ground).
I think if you were the travel type, you wouldn't be "wondering" what you missed. If you were the travel type, you would just have wanted to go all along. It wouldn't matter if you talked to others about their travels, read about travels, or whatever.
I agree to do it when you physically can. Honestly, I'm only 58, but I do have arthritis and cannot be dealing with getting in and out of a car, walking through airports, bending over in an airplane to get my bag out from underneath...
Age matters less than physical conditions, so if someone is 80 and can do it, go for it. If someone is 50 and can't deal with it, don't strain yourself.
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