In 2008, I quit my corporate job, sold off everything I owned and moved overseas with my husband Drew. Since then we've traveled around the world, started our careers over as creative types and nurtured our love of sleeping in late. Oh and we had a baby. Cole, our almost 2 year old has been traveling since he was four months old and probably knows more Thai than me (not that he brags).
Falling in Love with Travel
Author’s Note: I wrote this last September, but never published it. I thought you guys might like, so here it is. Felt like I need something light-hearted after the last two posts. Enjoy.
I used to crush on Travel. Lately it’s gotten a little more serious. It started out as an innocent infatuation. I would catch myself thinking about two week trips to Thailand or a month in South America between jobs. I’d fantasize about running away with Travel. Sometimes, when even I was with Work, I’d really be thinking about Travel. I had a problem.
One day I broke up with my Job and starting stalking Travel full-time. We moved in together. I wanted to say it was just a casual thing, but I knew better. I couldn’t imagine my life without it. I was addicted. But just like any great love affair, I started to notice some kinks. That plane delay? The hostel from hell? Sleeping at the train station while I waited 4 hours for the next crowded, sweaty train? I wondered what happened. This wasn’t the Travel that I fallen in love with– things had changed. Had Travel let itself go?
But it was me. I was starting to see the little imperfections, the things inanate in Travel that I had glossed over in the early stages of our relationship. And I had changed too. The magic, the excitement, the thrill of seeing a place for the first time, well it faded. Maybe I needed to put in more of an effort? Should I get a new haircut? Some sexy new lingere? A Dr. Phil book?
Then something strange happened. I started to accept travel for what it was. A pain in the ass at times, sure, but also there is something beautiful in the small moments that make it worth while. The waiter who jokes with me and tells me that their smallest beer is 10 liters. The couple who sit next to me at the festival and tell me about their RTW trip. The transcendental tiramisu at a cafe in Bologna. Reading a book next to the Aegian sea on a perfect afternoon. Yes travel could get on my nerves, but it was also getting under my skin. Could it be something more important than seeing sights and checking off countries? Was Travel showing me something bigger about the world than the nearest UNESCO site?
So now, I’m content and comfortable with Travel. It has a wicked sense of humor and a big heart too. Maybe, if I’m lucky, we’ll grow old together.
You really used the right analogy! Travel is like a romantized love affair that you’re forced to examine over the long term. I feel exactly the same way. There are some kinks that I don’t remember being there before but travel provides so much growth and memorable experiences that it’s worth it. You can’t give it up once you’re in deep.
Fly Girl´s last blog post..Twin City Love
I heart Travel.
Gillian´s last blog post..21 Days…Ready, Set, Move!
I didn’t find travel till I was 38 years old. I never had an interest, but 8 years ago my brother asked me to join him for a week in Malaga Spain and that changed my life,
When I returned to LA I twisted my wife’s arm to plan a trip to Italy. It was April 2003 when we took our first trip to Italy and since that time I have been there 12 times. I love it. I love the language, the shot shots of espresso and the incredible lifestyle. I can’t wait for my next trip.
Ci vediamo,
Italiancountrycooking.com
twitter.com/italiancountry
There are few (if any) things in life that exceed our expectations. What this post shows is that you took the right direction in your life – and that’s the main thing!
Chris´s last blog post..5 Reasons to Say Yes More
This is actually one of my favorite posts I’ve read on your site. I can relate 100%.
Perfect explanation about the appeal and allure of Travel.
This was just about the cutest thing I’ve ever read! Great work!
Yes but maybe you’ll need to decide between that classic gentlemanly Europe or the dark passionate South America, or the hunky outdoorsy Australia or will you have a secret affair with them all?
Heatheronhertravels´s last blog post..Friday photo – the lady at McDonalds in Cusco – in Peru
Thank you, that was beautiful!
Boss: You don’t seem to be focused, Anthony
A: (Anthony’s idea of what boss says) blah blah blah (all the while thinking about the pending trip to Brazil in March, five months after nine week joyride around south america…)
Anthony´s last blog post..Don’t Call It a Comeback
It’s always the small things, the details, that matter, isn’t it?
Beth Partin´s last blog post..MonHaibun: Getting Things Done
I am really glad you decided to publish and share this article. Super enjoyable and easier to take a more realistic approach to travel. I think the website http://www.travelsucks.com allows people to share all of these “realistic” tales of travel (they still love it too, I promise).
And I am 100% sure that you/travel have grown together.
Natalie´s last blog post..No Ice Climbing for us…pancakes?
We often see the things that we’re looking for in both life or travel. Our outlook has the ultimate effect on an experience wandering. As with anything, travel has its tough times, but the knowledge gained and friends met so outweighs that hassle.
Gennaro´s last blog post..Venice Carnival: Masks And Malvasia
Creative post, I love it. Especially the last sentence… I think that is a very healthy relationship you have.
Travel is indeed transformational. One discovers, explores and learns so much
about themselves when meandering the world. Falling in Love with Travel is
brilliant. Our life becomes the collection of our choices and travel for me
is one of the choices that enriches, inspires and creates lifelong memories.
Bravo and Thank you Christine! Blessings on your journey.
You’ve summed it up so well with this, loved it!
Different angle – enjoyed this article a lot.
Mark H´s last blog post..Winter Hiking in the White Mountains (New Hampshire, USA)
Like travel, I’m in love with this article. Great way to capture the annoying yet irresistable boyfriend named “Travel.”
Creative and well described, Christine. All the best in your continued travels and writing!
I am in the “lust” stage of travel….maybe I will fall in love soon enough with it….one can only hope.
Great post!!
Chris´s last blog post..House is “staged”…and an offer was made!
A terrific post! Of course I love a perfect vacation, but I have to admit, there’s something really special about a journey that is riddled with inconveniences, delays, and problems. In addition to making great travel copy, it’s the journeys that challenge me that end up being most memorable in my books.
This was shared by a very special someone with me and he was right, what a lovely outlook. I, too, daydream of my most sought after love affair to be with Travel. You’ve further inspired me to do something about it. Thank you for sharing! x
It goes without saying” I heart TRAVEL”, of course that goes for habitual travelers.