Travel Part 1 - The Pros and Cons

 

For this two part travel series let me begin with a general discussion about the pros and cons of travel, based on my personal experience. Next week we'll cover some insights and tips.  I will start by saying that although I am a big proponent of travel, it’s not for everyone.  There are, shall we say, "inconveniences" that the travel websites and even the travelers themselves often gloss over.  Only you can know if it is a good fit for you.  And if it isn’t, that’s okay. 

 

Pros 

Before I became a full time homebody, I actively traveled for 24 years, visiting dozens of states and countries, sometimes with tours, sometimes with family and friends or even alone.  It is one of the things I’m most proud of in my life, and I'm glad I was able to do it BEFORE I retired, while I was still young enough to fully enjoy it.  

 

Travel gave me confidence and a certain amount of status.  I was actually doing something interesting that people wanted to hear about.  They even asked to look at my pictures.  Traveling not only gave me the opportunity to indulge my love of photography, but over time it helped me develop a greater appreciation for art, history and different cultures.   

 

In meeting new challenges I discovered new things about myself and my independence grew.  I made some wonderful memories and met some interesting people that I still keep in touch with to this day. 

 

I also had real adventures.  I've hiked Samaria Gorge in Crete and the Swiss Alps near the Matterhorn. Okay, the later was the granny trail but still... I’ve ridden in helicopters, sea planes, catamarans, air balloons, trains and lots of buses.  I've stood on a glacier, flown over canyons and volcanos, walked through rain forests, and ziplined for hours through the jungle.  I've been to the top of the Eiffel Tower, walked the Great Wall of China, kissed the Blarney stone, participated in African Safaris, and so much more. 

 

Travel has broadened my horizons and shaped my world view.  Living in America you can be forgiven for thinking the world revolves around us but visit a few other countries and you will quickly discover there is a whole world out there with different customs, attitudes, and experiences. And yet, people are people everywhere.  Many form relationships, raise children, work, live and die, just like Americans.  One of my favorite activities when I traveled was to find a quiet spot, such as a park, and just sit and people watch.  No matter where I was in the world I saw the same things - children playing, parents watching, friends talking, someone walking a dog. 

 

Cons 

That said, there are downsides to travel as well.   

 

For instance, I love the beautiful scenery and famous sights of Europe, but oh, how I wish they had more free public restrooms!  As cheap as I am I don't want to have to buy an unwanted drink in a café just so I can use the restroom.   

 

That leads me to another con - travel can be expensive and getting more so every year (more crowded too).  You can always travel on the cheap, and I did plenty of that, but as you get older you find you like your creature comforts.  

 

Traveling can also be exhausting.  You are trying to do it all, but there are only so many hours in the day and your stamina will only last so long.   

 

You might get homesick for people, routines, your own language, familiar food, even your job!   

 

While you might meet interesting people on a trip you will encounter some annoying travelers too.  Just about every tour I took had at least one.  You know the type.  The person who is always late to the bus and makes everyone wait or won’t stop complaining.  Even friends and family can get on each other's nerves after days of “togetherness”. 

 

Traveling is stressful, especially for control freaks like me. It takes you out of your comfort zone and you have to constantly be flexible.  As prepared as you may be, there will be things you just can't control like travel connections, weather, accidents and other unexpected events. Count on it, something will go wrong.  Hopefully it will be minor or you can turn it to your advantage and have an interesting story to tell, but I don't fully relax on a trip until I am back home again.  

 

You can also get burnt out on travel.  That's what happened to me.  Toward the end I wasn't enjoying my trips like I used to. The excitement was gone.  Everywhere I went reminded me of somewhere I had already been.   

 

Nevertheless, when asked about my latest trip my response was always, “It was great!”, even if it wasn't. What else was I going to say?  I spent months planning it and thousands of dollars executing it and it was just okay.  Nobody wants to hear that, but if I wasn't being completely honest, is anyone else?  I can honestly say, I don’t regret a single trip I took, but some were definitely better than others. 

   

Traveling can be intimidating, if not outright frightening at times, but most worthwhile things usually are. Like anything else in life, it may not be perfect, but it can be amazing.  

 

Have you had any great (or just okay) trips?  If so, where did you go?  What did you do? 

Check out my companion article, Travel Part 2 – Insights.