What was your most regretted tript-not-taken?
Apr 29th, 2004, 06:23 AM
#1
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What was your most regretted tript-not-taken?
Don't mean to be sad today, but posting on the Airlines board put me in a frame of mind to urge people not to postpone travel too long, or the opportunity vanishes.
My father spent much of his short adult life reading Lowell Thomas and watching travelogues. He loved drumming and was particularly intrigued by exotic rhythms of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. He dreamed of going to these places, but was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease when he was 36 and the survival rate was still only about 15%. He did go to the Caribbean and played with a steel band, but he never made it to Africa or Brazil.
I wish I'd gone to Ireland with my husband and his mother (had a very young child, wasn't up for the logistics, etc.).
What trip did you or someone you know not take that you (or they) have regretted ever since?
My father spent much of his short adult life reading Lowell Thomas and watching travelogues. He loved drumming and was particularly intrigued by exotic rhythms of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. He dreamed of going to these places, but was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease when he was 36 and the survival rate was still only about 15%. He did go to the Caribbean and played with a steel band, but he never made it to Africa or Brazil.
I wish I'd gone to Ireland with my husband and his mother (had a very young child, wasn't up for the logistics, etc.).
What trip did you or someone you know not take that you (or they) have regretted ever since?
Apr 29th, 2004, 06:28 AM
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I got accepted to study at Oxford University (Manchester College) in England the summer of my junior year of college and turned it down.
I so regret not jumping at the chance. Who knows where my life would have ended up if would have taken the chance.
Looking back, I realize I was too young and too stupid to recongnize the opportunity.
I so regret not jumping at the chance. Who knows where my life would have ended up if would have taken the chance.
Looking back, I realize I was too young and too stupid to recongnize the opportunity.
Apr 29th, 2004, 06:56 AM
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About 15 years ago, I did not go on a trip to Ireland with my Dad and two of my brothers. They went back to the village that he grew up in to visit his brother and sisters and toured other parts of the country also. My Dad has since passed on as have most of his siblings. I missed a great chance to see my heritage first hand.
They stayed in the house my dad grew up in, walked the fields with him, heard stories about him as a boy from the neighbors, heard him speak in his native tongue (Irish) which he never did at home, saw him tend to his parents graves, saw his one room school house which is now a museum etc.
My brothers talk to this day about what an amazing trip it was. They learned so much about our father and really came to understand and respect him - more than they already did. They also got to feel the welcome the village extended to them - everyone knew who they were even though they had never been there before. Saw all our school pictures framed and hanging in the house - they must have been put there by our grandmother whom we never met.
They stayed in the house my dad grew up in, walked the fields with him, heard stories about him as a boy from the neighbors, heard him speak in his native tongue (Irish) which he never did at home, saw him tend to his parents graves, saw his one room school house which is now a museum etc.
My brothers talk to this day about what an amazing trip it was. They learned so much about our father and really came to understand and respect him - more than they already did. They also got to feel the welcome the village extended to them - everyone knew who they were even though they had never been there before. Saw all our school pictures framed and hanging in the house - they must have been put there by our grandmother whom we never met.
Apr 29th, 2004, 07:43 AM
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I was five months pregnant with my first child when a friend offered to take us to visit his father in Portugal and his mother in Switzerland. We would have needed to charge our airfare and expenses and I was concerned about travelling while pregnant. We regretted it many times later when we were tied down with all of the things that go along with having a young family. It was a wonderful opportunity to see parts of the world we had never seen. We would have had the added extras of free lodging and someone familiar with the areas to show us around. I also missed the chance to meet our friends parents. We would have paid off our credit card eventually and I now know that being in the early stages of pregnancy would not have been a problem...shoulda, woulda, coulda
Apr 29th, 2004, 07:54 AM
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lisettemac, you reminded me of another regret, except there was no choice here: almost the same trip as yours for our 30th anniversary in 2000 -- had reservations at spectacular places in Como, Positano, Anacapri. My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had the surgery right away. The good news was they caught it all (95%+ probability); the bad news was that it had been an aggressive form. There was no question about canceling the trip, and glad we did. But I'll always "remember" that trip, its itinerary, etc.
Apr 29th, 2004, 10:16 AM
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All the trips you can take while young, healthy and strong. You can always see the Grand Canyon from a rocking chair at El Tovor, but you can't hike it and experience it unless you are healthy enough to hike it.
Apr 29th, 2004, 12:15 PM
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My daughter and son-in-law had a 2-year contract to teach at a private school in Istanbul. I had been travelling a fair bit, so I planned to wait and go to visit them during their second year; they were going to be back here for most of the summer in between, anyway. They loved Istanbul but the school's administration made their jobs so intolerable that they ended up leaving after one year - so I still haven't seen Istanbul. They loved Turkey so much they've been back several times; I wish I'd gone when they were there to show me all the things they loved about it.
Apr 29th, 2004, 01:03 PM
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Dear Cassandra
Very thought provoking topic. Because of this, my husband and I planned a trip to his old Air Force Base in Germany. He was stationed there in the early 70's and hasn't been back since. He's always said he wanted to go back and take me. We finally decided to do it as we've heard both of our fathers talk about wishing they'd gone back to the countries they were stationed in during WWII and never did; now it's too late for various reasons. (what is it with men and their old military bases?)
Anyway, so that we wouldn't, too, be wishing we'd taken THE trip, we've made our plans and leave in 3 weeks.
How nice your father at least did get to go to the Caribbean and play with the steel band.
Very thought provoking topic. Because of this, my husband and I planned a trip to his old Air Force Base in Germany. He was stationed there in the early 70's and hasn't been back since. He's always said he wanted to go back and take me. We finally decided to do it as we've heard both of our fathers talk about wishing they'd gone back to the countries they were stationed in during WWII and never did; now it's too late for various reasons. (what is it with men and their old military bases?)
Anyway, so that we wouldn't, too, be wishing we'd taken THE trip, we've made our plans and leave in 3 weeks.
How nice your father at least did get to go to the Caribbean and play with the steel band.
Apr 29th, 2004, 02:04 PM
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I know I will be regretting not taking a planned trip to italy with my daughter this May. I was going to take her on a three week art tour, culminating in a few days in Greece to celebrate her 21st birthday and the completion of her BA. But since she is starting grad school in the fall she decided to postpone the trip and work this summer. I know we say we'll do the trip next year, or the year after that, but I have a feeling it is going to be a while before it ever actually happens.
Apr 29th, 2004, 02:25 PM
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Close friends of ours lived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for 3 years while he was an exchange professor. They traveled everywhere in South and SE Asia. We had never been to SE Asia and intended to visit and travel the area with them, but we never made it. Now that we've been to Thailand and Cambodia, I really regret not taking advantage of such a great opportunity.
Apr 29th, 2004, 02:29 PM
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In 1998-1999 my husband and I took a year off to travel around the world. After 4 months in Asia we were trying to figure out where to go next. I wanted to go to Eqypt or India. Unfortunately, there was something going on in Egypt that caused the US Embassy there to close so we decided not to go. My husband wasn't up to the stress of India, so we went straight to Europe, where we'd been before.
As it turns out, nothing dangerous happened in Egypt when we would have been there and I still regret not going. I haven't been to India or Egypt yet! Someday...
As it turns out, nothing dangerous happened in Egypt when we would have been there and I still regret not going. I haven't been to India or Egypt yet! Someday...
Apr 29th, 2004, 02:37 PM
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Three years ago I was suppose to take a rafting trip through the Grand Cayon with a friend, I ended up in the hospital with a serious condition a month before the trip and we had to cancel. My friend now has a back condition which makes it impossible for him to do that kind of trip, so I may never go.
Apr 29th, 2004, 02:52 PM
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Friends of ours cousin was Prime Minister Of Jamaica and for every year he was in office they wanted us to go with them for the anniversary festivities. It was pretty safe then and we regret not going. Could not see that slice of life in another country now.
Our son is going (with his family) next year to Ireland- and wants us to go with them!-If we can work it out (we will) I'll be at the airport before them and I hate to fly!!
See all you can - when you can-!!
DH has always wanted to see Egypt but the world events keep us nervous-we'll just have to do it before it's too late. Might be blown up someday (the pyramids, not us).
Our son is going (with his family) next year to Ireland- and wants us to go with them!-If we can work it out (we will) I'll be at the airport before them and I hate to fly!!
See all you can - when you can-!!
DH has always wanted to see Egypt but the world events keep us nervous-we'll just have to do it before it's too late. Might be blown up someday (the pyramids, not us).
Apr 29th, 2004, 03:10 PM
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I regret not taking more quick weekend getaways before we had kids. It used to be so easy to just pack up and go. Unfortuneately, we often felt like we shouldn't spend the money on a trip. Now, with kids, a quick weekend is not so easy. I keep telling my younger friends and relatives to travel now.
Apr 29th, 2004, 04:49 PM
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My husband and I had planned to spend our 35th anniversary in Paris last year. We cancelled due to the war. We are now separated( 6 months). Sometimes I wonder if we had gone would things would be different...
Apr 29th, 2004, 05:22 PM
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Wow, summer, that's tough. Sorry to hear about your separation.
This thread came at an interesting time for me. I volunteer with a group called Art Goes to School. We bring a portfolio of paintings into elementary school classrooms - it's really fun to hear the kids' reactions to the artwork.
Last month I got notice that a nearby chapter is organizing a trip to Paris. It is going to focus on art - Louve, Musee d'Orsay, Giverny, Versailles, etc. I've always wanted to see much, much more of Europe, especially all the fabulous art (I've only spent a measly 5 days in Spain). My husband hates art museums, so I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to go and see everything I've always wanted. The price is amazing - 9 days for $1200. I could not find a friend to go with, and was put off by the JFK departure (I'm in Phila.) Well, they just changed the flight now to PHL, so I took that as a sign that I should go! I am uncomfortable not knowing a single person on the trip, and so far I haven't been able to recruit friends (we're all in the same place in life - at home with young kids). But after reading all this, I realize that this is a great opportunity. Yes, I will miss my family and be a little lonely, but I will be in PARIS. I leave in October....
What is interesting is that everyone my age is making a ton of excuses why they can't go. Everyone a bit older (not old, but older, in their 50-60s) tells me to go!
This thread came at an interesting time for me. I volunteer with a group called Art Goes to School. We bring a portfolio of paintings into elementary school classrooms - it's really fun to hear the kids' reactions to the artwork.
Last month I got notice that a nearby chapter is organizing a trip to Paris. It is going to focus on art - Louve, Musee d'Orsay, Giverny, Versailles, etc. I've always wanted to see much, much more of Europe, especially all the fabulous art (I've only spent a measly 5 days in Spain). My husband hates art museums, so I thought this would be a great opportunity for me to go and see everything I've always wanted. The price is amazing - 9 days for $1200. I could not find a friend to go with, and was put off by the JFK departure (I'm in Phila.) Well, they just changed the flight now to PHL, so I took that as a sign that I should go! I am uncomfortable not knowing a single person on the trip, and so far I haven't been able to recruit friends (we're all in the same place in life - at home with young kids). But after reading all this, I realize that this is a great opportunity. Yes, I will miss my family and be a little lonely, but I will be in PARIS. I leave in October....
What is interesting is that everyone my age is making a ton of excuses why they can't go. Everyone a bit older (not old, but older, in their 50-60s) tells me to go!
