Is travelling all you think of?
Nov 8th, 2003, 02:05 PM
#1
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Is travelling all you think of?
My life seems to revolve round holidays and planning and saving for them. I don't go through one single day without thinking about them!I have only a basic wardrobe of clothes and we do not go out too often when we are at home. We are always saving for our next holiday. I have so many great memories of places I have visited and I have the attitude that one day it can all change and I may not be able to afford to travel, so I may make the most of it now. I have this guilt though that I should be doing more to save for my old age! Does anyone else feel the same?
Nov 8th, 2003, 02:29 PM
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What if you save for old age and miss Paris, London, Venice, Rome, and don't make it to old age. I say Europeans have the right attitude that there is more to life than work,living to be old
ages, and eating at Denny's.
Go for it!!!!!!!!
ages, and eating at Denny's.
Go for it!!!!!!!!
Nov 8th, 2003, 02:58 PM
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I have an almost 80 year old aunt who spent most summers of her adult life traveling. She was very adventurous and she's been to more places on the face of the earth than I even dream of. She's physically unable to do it anymore and repeatedly tells me to 'go now while you're young enough to go!" She has enough money now to live comfortably,if simply,and won't be leaving a fortune in her will. I'm planning to follow her advice and go now.
Nov 8th, 2003, 02:58 PM
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maybe "guilt" was too strong a word- it should have been "fleeting thought"!!! I get a real buzz out of seeing new places- every year we add new destinations( and revisit favourites!)I have to admit though that I hear myself"justifying" why I am going away yet again to some people. There can be a real jealousy which I don't understand- after all those who appear jealous have better houses than me,or nicer clothes or a better car or some savings!!!!!!
Nov 8th, 2003, 03:09 PM
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This seems like a philosophical day on Fodors (and I kind of like that!) At the end of it all, what we will run out of is TIME. While you are healthy and you have the means, you must enjoy those assets. No amount of money in old age is going to buy you the ability to be what you are today. The seasons will change and the harvest that is ripe for you right now needs to be captured or it will be lost forever. At the same time, my own approach has been to put the savings requirements on a formula and auto-pilot basis. If you will do that much for youself, then you can preserve your ability to take care of your needs and make choices in the future while still enjoying all that your life has to offer you today.
What you say rings true: "I have so many great memories of places I have visited and I have the attitude that one day it can all change.."
Not only CAN all change, it most certainly WILL. As Rodney Dangerfield said: "Right now if I take very good care of myself, I will eventually get very sick and die." Your experiences ARE a worthwhile investment. You can balance it all and make it work for you, both now and in the future. What of it if we need a little more stimulation in our lives to keep us interested than some people do? For those of us without unlimited means, it's all about priorities.
If I die tomorrow, nobody will be able to say that I didn't really LIVE!
What you say rings true: "I have so many great memories of places I have visited and I have the attitude that one day it can all change.."
Not only CAN all change, it most certainly WILL. As Rodney Dangerfield said: "Right now if I take very good care of myself, I will eventually get very sick and die." Your experiences ARE a worthwhile investment. You can balance it all and make it work for you, both now and in the future. What of it if we need a little more stimulation in our lives to keep us interested than some people do? For those of us without unlimited means, it's all about priorities.
If I die tomorrow, nobody will be able to say that I didn't really LIVE!
Nov 8th, 2003, 03:18 PM
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Mary1, invest at least 15% of everything you make from an early age (20's) and you will be more than okay later in life. Think 401K and Roth IRA.
Pay yourself first and stop buying those $4 cups of coffee! Except, of course, when traveling to Europe.
Pay yourself first and stop buying those $4 cups of coffee! Except, of course, when traveling to Europe.
Nov 8th, 2003, 04:40 PM
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Ever since I was 7 years old I have had the wanderlust. Only in the last couple of years though have we really been able to afford to travel as our children are grown. Yes, I feel guilty. We need to be saving for retirement and our house is falling down around our ears. We have been home from Italy for a little over a month and already I am getting restless, thinking about the next trip.
Nov 8th, 2003, 05:10 PM
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We try to achieve balance in our financial lives. Our children are grown, and we provided them with total support up to and including a college eduaction. So we feel no need to watch our pennies to leave them an inheritance.
We want to have fun now, both at home and away, but also save for retirement so in our later years, when health problems might occur, we can still have options about how and where we live.
We want to have fun now, both at home and away, but also save for retirement so in our later years, when health problems might occur, we can still have options about how and where we live.
Nov 8th, 2003, 05:16 PM
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I believe that I started having a passion for travel since I was a child. Back then if you asked me what I wanted to do when I grow up, my answer was always the same
quot; I wanted to be an explorer".
Of course, I never literally fulfilled my wish, I married quite young and started having a family right away.. However, I was fortunate that my DH was in the AF,and we had fabulous assignemts in different places of the world , in some way I was able to explore and live in many exotics places.
My philosophy is that" Life is Too Fragile "and tomorrow may never come.. Save for your future ,but in the same time think of Today, who know what the future will bring us?
quot; I wanted to be an explorer".Of course, I never literally fulfilled my wish, I married quite young and started having a family right away.. However, I was fortunate that my DH was in the AF,and we had fabulous assignemts in different places of the world , in some way I was able to explore and live in many exotics places.
My philosophy is that" Life is Too Fragile "and tomorrow may never come.. Save for your future ,but in the same time think of Today, who know what the future will bring us?
Nov 8th, 2003, 06:23 PM
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My father was a teacher/headmaster, and so from infancy my entire summers were spent traveling because that's what he loved to do. That was one-fourth of the year that I traveled throughout my youth. I clearly inherited the wanderlust.
Not a day goes by that I am not thinking about traveling, planning a trip, helping others plan trips, or talking about trips with family and friends. I always have at least one trip in the works - usually several.
Travel isn't, per se, a factor in the business I run, but global communications and other cultures and languages are, so there is always that tie to my work as well.
So no, it's not ALL I think about - I do have to buy groceries and pick kids up from school and schedule dentist appointments and hang up on telemarketers - but a good part of every day of my life is devoted to it. So much the better.
In my old age I plan to be puttering around in the garden in St-Cirq and heading to market on Tuesdays with my raggedy old market basket. That will be travel enough for me at that stage. If I don't make it to that stage, well, I've traveled more than most already and have a lifetime's worth of wonderful memories to be glad for - not to mention about 4,000 photos that need to be organized :-<
Not a day goes by that I am not thinking about traveling, planning a trip, helping others plan trips, or talking about trips with family and friends. I always have at least one trip in the works - usually several.
Travel isn't, per se, a factor in the business I run, but global communications and other cultures and languages are, so there is always that tie to my work as well.
So no, it's not ALL I think about - I do have to buy groceries and pick kids up from school and schedule dentist appointments and hang up on telemarketers - but a good part of every day of my life is devoted to it. So much the better.
In my old age I plan to be puttering around in the garden in St-Cirq and heading to market on Tuesdays with my raggedy old market basket. That will be travel enough for me at that stage. If I don't make it to that stage, well, I've traveled more than most already and have a lifetime's worth of wonderful memories to be glad for - not to mention about 4,000 photos that need to be organized :-<
Nov 8th, 2003, 07:13 PM
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We have always travelled as much as we have been able to.
My father wanted to go to Hawaii with us one year but put it off as he would be retiring soon and 6 months later was killed in a car crash at age 56. My mother-in-law, approaching the end of her life, said the best year of her life was the year she travelled and lived in England (we're from Canada). When we went to Australia she said that was a place she wanted to go to (but never did). Thirteen years ago we did a bus tour through Europe and one of my vivid memories was the older people hobbling on and off the bus and complaining how tired they were. We had two nights in Paris and the last night, we went on a tour of the city to see the lights. At 9:30 pm the bus driver told us if we wanted to explore the city we could get off at the Champs Elysee and find our own way back to the hotel. One other couple, my wife and myself got off and had a wonderful evening. The rest of the tourists said they were tired and headed back to the hotel. I told myself then and there I was going to travel while I still had the health and the energy to enjoy myself.
We have travelled with our children since ages 5 and 7 and we all have benefited from the experience. We have memories that will last a lifetime. We are off to Paris and Italy next summer and our girls ages 14 and 16 can't wait! They are looking forward to applying the French they have learned in school. I wouldn't trade our travels for anything.
If travelling all I think about? I am contemplating where we will go after this European vacation.
My father wanted to go to Hawaii with us one year but put it off as he would be retiring soon and 6 months later was killed in a car crash at age 56. My mother-in-law, approaching the end of her life, said the best year of her life was the year she travelled and lived in England (we're from Canada). When we went to Australia she said that was a place she wanted to go to (but never did). Thirteen years ago we did a bus tour through Europe and one of my vivid memories was the older people hobbling on and off the bus and complaining how tired they were. We had two nights in Paris and the last night, we went on a tour of the city to see the lights. At 9:30 pm the bus driver told us if we wanted to explore the city we could get off at the Champs Elysee and find our own way back to the hotel. One other couple, my wife and myself got off and had a wonderful evening. The rest of the tourists said they were tired and headed back to the hotel. I told myself then and there I was going to travel while I still had the health and the energy to enjoy myself.
We have travelled with our children since ages 5 and 7 and we all have benefited from the experience. We have memories that will last a lifetime. We are off to Paris and Italy next summer and our girls ages 14 and 16 can't wait! They are looking forward to applying the French they have learned in school. I wouldn't trade our travels for anything.
If travelling all I think about? I am contemplating where we will go after this European vacation.
Nov 8th, 2003, 07:28 PM
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Mary and everyone else,
I don't know where I got the "wanderlust"...certainly no one in my family had it. I can only assume it came from books and movies.
Of course I think about travel every day - cuz I'm a travel agent, or as I'd prefer to be called, a Consultant. Besides travelling myself, there's nothing that warms the cockles of my heart more than planning a successful trip for my clients. I know they're the same as I am...limited funds and limited time (well, 90% of them...I do have those "freaks" that are wealthy)
After 15 years in this business, I can tell you there are two types of people: Tourists and Travellers. I suspect most of the people on this board fall into the "travellers" category. Tourists are my clients who want to go somewhere for a week, soak up the sun, drink a bunch and come back and still can't pronounce "Puerto vallarta" (we loved our trip to Purto Vy-lllllarta). But that's ok, it's my mission to turn them into Travellers! And I do try to educate them and help.
While we're in this philosophical mood as FlyBoy said... I married this great guy who'd never really been anywhere before he met me. Since meeting me, he's travelled more than he ever thought possible, but always leaving all the arrangements up to me, cuz afterall, I'm the Professional. I couldn't even get him to comment on a website I'd show him!
We take a 3 week trip each year, and it seems to work out to being Australia/NZ one year; Europe the next. I've been "specializing" and accredited in various destinations. In 2000 we went to this swanky dinner put on by the Tourism Dept. of Spain. While there, my husband decided that's where he wanted to go for Big Trip 2001. (I'd been thinking France and Belgium). But hey! this was the first time he'd voiced ANY opinion about a destination.
I worked out an entire itinerary for September, 2001. We were due to leave on 9/20/2001, and then September 11th. I can't even begin to tell you the trauma we went through; on so many levels. Business; personal; as an American. And the worst part? We were NEVER in sync! One day I'd say we should go and he'd say no, and vice versa.
He actually called his brother and sister (who never travel anywhere) and they said "go for it". And so we did. And I'm glad we did. As MaryZ said, do it while you can (paraphrasing). No one knows what the future holds.
Regards,
Melodie
I don't know where I got the "wanderlust"...certainly no one in my family had it. I can only assume it came from books and movies.
Of course I think about travel every day - cuz I'm a travel agent, or as I'd prefer to be called, a Consultant. Besides travelling myself, there's nothing that warms the cockles of my heart more than planning a successful trip for my clients. I know they're the same as I am...limited funds and limited time (well, 90% of them...I do have those "freaks" that are wealthy)
After 15 years in this business, I can tell you there are two types of people: Tourists and Travellers. I suspect most of the people on this board fall into the "travellers" category. Tourists are my clients who want to go somewhere for a week, soak up the sun, drink a bunch and come back and still can't pronounce "Puerto vallarta" (we loved our trip to Purto Vy-lllllarta). But that's ok, it's my mission to turn them into Travellers! And I do try to educate them and help.
While we're in this philosophical mood as FlyBoy said... I married this great guy who'd never really been anywhere before he met me. Since meeting me, he's travelled more than he ever thought possible, but always leaving all the arrangements up to me, cuz afterall, I'm the Professional. I couldn't even get him to comment on a website I'd show him!
We take a 3 week trip each year, and it seems to work out to being Australia/NZ one year; Europe the next. I've been "specializing" and accredited in various destinations. In 2000 we went to this swanky dinner put on by the Tourism Dept. of Spain. While there, my husband decided that's where he wanted to go for Big Trip 2001. (I'd been thinking France and Belgium). But hey! this was the first time he'd voiced ANY opinion about a destination.
I worked out an entire itinerary for September, 2001. We were due to leave on 9/20/2001, and then September 11th. I can't even begin to tell you the trauma we went through; on so many levels. Business; personal; as an American. And the worst part? We were NEVER in sync! One day I'd say we should go and he'd say no, and vice versa.
He actually called his brother and sister (who never travel anywhere) and they said "go for it". And so we did. And I'm glad we did. As MaryZ said, do it while you can (paraphrasing). No one knows what the future holds.
Regards,
Melodie
Nov 8th, 2003, 07:31 PM
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Wow, I really love this thread because it relates to some of my own experiences and self doubts about 'doing what I want to do and have a great time - travelling'.
I also 'justify' my wanderlust to friends, well I thought they were friends, one just cannot help to stick the knife right in with sarcastic comments about my travels which truth to tell do hurt, I have long given up relating any experiences to her at all and recently I came home from travelling and two close friends who I used to see regularly I haven't seen for nearly a year. The response when I said I was going away again was, "Oh you'll get sick". Hardly helpful at all. And like you Mary, these people I know have the ability to afford it far more than I so I don't understand it either. I can only come up with one word also - jealousy. This also I don't understand because I love hearing travel stories from people.My question is, how do you cope with these sorts of people or do you just drop them?
Not only have my travels enriched my experience and knowledge but now I have wonderful friends in all corners of the earth who give me so much joy which cannot be replaced by material things.
I read a saying yesterday outside a cafe which said -
Stop worrying about your whole future as it only arrives one day at a time.
I also 'justify' my wanderlust to friends, well I thought they were friends, one just cannot help to stick the knife right in with sarcastic comments about my travels which truth to tell do hurt, I have long given up relating any experiences to her at all and recently I came home from travelling and two close friends who I used to see regularly I haven't seen for nearly a year. The response when I said I was going away again was, "Oh you'll get sick". Hardly helpful at all. And like you Mary, these people I know have the ability to afford it far more than I so I don't understand it either. I can only come up with one word also - jealousy. This also I don't understand because I love hearing travel stories from people.My question is, how do you cope with these sorts of people or do you just drop them?
Not only have my travels enriched my experience and knowledge but now I have wonderful friends in all corners of the earth who give me so much joy which cannot be replaced by material things.
I read a saying yesterday outside a cafe which said -
Stop worrying about your whole future as it only arrives one day at a time.
Nov 8th, 2003, 08:07 PM
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Hi
Thanks for posing an interesting question. My first instinct was to reply "no". My rationale was I'm almost 61 yo. Have been traveling for years. I've had a couple of major health problems the past few years and really want to retire in the next several years.
Then reality hits me. My wife and I travel often, going to Europe yearly. I still want to retire but I realize it is only to have more time for travel. I've survived my illness' and have contined to travel. I also tell people I know that I work to travel. I guess I doas you and the others do I always THINK of travel. We came back from croatia in October and I'm thinking about next years big one already. Life is
Good.
Thanks for posing an interesting question. My first instinct was to reply "no". My rationale was I'm almost 61 yo. Have been traveling for years. I've had a couple of major health problems the past few years and really want to retire in the next several years.
Then reality hits me. My wife and I travel often, going to Europe yearly. I still want to retire but I realize it is only to have more time for travel. I've survived my illness' and have contined to travel. I also tell people I know that I work to travel. I guess I doas you and the others do I always THINK of travel. We came back from croatia in October and I'm thinking about next years big one already. Life is
Good.
Nov 9th, 2003, 01:25 AM
#20
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Thanks to everyone for their great responses- seems like I'm not alone!
Kathie
re friends- it is dificult and I'm not sure how to handle it. What I do is NOT speak about my holiday unless they ask. A couple of years ago I had one
friend whose only comment was " you haven't got much of a tan do you?"We still see each other but not as often.
Melodie
I guess I could say I have had holidays both as a traveller and as a tourist. We go on 3 holidays a year and one is definitely a chill out beach/pool holiday. Mind you I DO know how to pronounce where I go to ( reminds me of someone who said they went to Chircargo and someone else who went to Spain and saw the flamingo dancers!) and I always go on day trips.
Kathie
re friends- it is dificult and I'm not sure how to handle it. What I do is NOT speak about my holiday unless they ask. A couple of years ago I had one
friend whose only comment was " you haven't got much of a tan do you?"We still see each other but not as often.
Melodie
I guess I could say I have had holidays both as a traveller and as a tourist. We go on 3 holidays a year and one is definitely a chill out beach/pool holiday. Mind you I DO know how to pronounce where I go to ( reminds me of someone who said they went to Chircargo and someone else who went to Spain and saw the flamingo dancers!) and I always go on day trips.
