s.fowler

We do have a "master list", but conferences, or events in the lives of our friends in Eastern Europe [or in ours] often intervene. <BR> <BR>We *were* going to Italy last December, but then we became "parents" to a young Macedonian and it seemed a good idea to spend the time showing him San Francisco. [His choice] <BR> <BR>The early September trips that we just cancelled [due to my brief and successful brush with the medical establishment] were for a conference [spousal unit] and for fun [me]. <BR> <BR>Next trip will be in December for a wedding in Skopje. We'll go in through Zurich and then visit our Czech friend who has moved to Hannover. We HOPE to see our Hungarian friend, but that may depend on whether she can get to a midpoint. <BR> <BR>Italy is still on the list, but who knows when! We do watch airfares, but them sometimes events are such that we must go so we've paid anything from $400 to $1,400 to get to Europe and back. [Granted the later was to Skopje, which doesn't "book" as a combined fare]

Joe

Runs the gamut. Early years with three kids, did the 50 States. Carved out a section of the Country each year (over a ten year period) and off we went for four to five weeks at a time. Hawii was a two weeker and Alaska (we drove the Alcan) was a three weeker. There is so much that is wonderful to see and do in this Country. <BR> <BR>The next two years we did Canada with the Children; Western Canada one year, Eastern Canada the next. Wonderful Country: people, cities, countryside, etc. <BR> <BR>When our youngest was thirteen, we took them off to England for three weeks; our first European trip. The next year, my wife and I went to Italy for 23 days. We have taken a 24/25 day trip abroad every year since. <BR> <BR>Last year, we took the girls and , now, one son-in-law, to Italy. It was great to spend two weeks (what they could get)with them before going on to Northern Italy on our own. <BR> <BR>We are sometimes able to take 10 to 14 day trips in the Spring (around Easter). We usually will take in the Dessert, Mojave, Joshua Tree State Park, Anza Borrega, Utah National Parks, or even Mexico, Costa Rica and Peru at this time. My wife is in Education (one more year to early retirement)and must take her vacation in July. This hasn't hindered us. We have done Italy, China and Southern France without too much difficulty (a really hot day here and there). After next year (Poland), we will do our traveling in the shoulder seasons. <BR> <BR>We were well into preperations for a return to China this year (Yangtze Cruise and Yunnan Province) when we discovered that July was their monsoon season; "torrential rains almost daily". We hastly (for us; we usually take a year to pepare for a trip) came up with an alternative. We settled on Scandinavia which was in the plan anyway and seemed like a good July trip. It was wonderful (that word, again, but it applies) and we had no trouble making arrangements in the four months befor we were to depart. <BR> <BR>We seldom go back, always looking forward to the next adventure. We have only returned to Italy, France, England and, because we have good friends there, Scotland. After next year when we can travel anytime we want, we will do the China Trip and then, Turkey, an African Safari, and Spain and Portugal, probably in that order. We might slip in a two trip year here and there. Problem is, our home area is lovely in the Spring, Summer and fall, and we are looking forward to being here for all those seasons. <BR> <BR>Probably more than you wanted to know, but that is me. Why say in ten words what can be said in 200?

kal

Mrs Kal and I are starting a "dart" fund for future travel. <BR> <BR>In addition to our normal travel budget, we will set aside an additional set amount of $$$ every month for the next 5 yrs. <BR> <BR>By then, we'd hope to be able to retire or be darn close to it. <BR> <BR>Then I'll be blindfolded and given one dart and after a few spins, be turned towards our giant map of the world that's on the wall and then toss the dart! <BR> <BR>Where it sticks, we will go! <BR> <BR>With my luck it will probably be Fresno! <BR>Kal

Judy

There is a big world map on the wall in my room, I put a pin on wherever I have been and hope one day there won't be any vacant spot left. <BR> <BR>I collect travel data or books constantly. Any idea caught my whim ( either from books, newspaper or magazines), I start a file but never know for sure when I would be going. Except to U.K. once a year at least to visit gardens ( it is a long term project), usually from picking up a place(the cheapest airfair) to take off, I do it within 2 days to 2 weeks.

Rene

i envy travelers on the east coast being able to fly to Europe for the weekend! Living in California, a trip to Europe usually involves at least 10 days. My first trip out of the states was 3 years ago to England,since then we've gone to Sweden, Finland, italy, Madeira, canary islands, Morroccom Barcelona and back to london in Feb. <BR>Leaving on Wednesday for Australia.I dont have a big plan, just whatever sounds good and affordable. I tend to prefer out of the way destinations.

Andrea

I am with you, Robin, in the "see as much of the world as possible" mode. <BR> <BR>We're lucky enough to be in a position right now where we are able to travel several times per year and the airfare is covered, so we're trying to take advantage of it as much as we can. <BR> <BR>We never know when something could happen that would end this opportunity, so we try to treat each trip as though it could be our last. So we ask ourselves: "Ok, we've visited Paris, Moscow, Hong Kong, Athens . . . if we could only visit ONE more place, where would it be?" <BR> <BR>Long before we had the means to travel, my husband and I created together a "Top Ten" destinations list. We try to "hit" them in order, but are a bit flexible since vacation times & ideal times to visit places don't always coincide. <BR> <BR>P.S. We have a spreadsheet, too!

dan woodlief

Sue, there may be something to that. I have never lived in a large city, only small towns to mid-sized cities (150,000-200,000). I really enjoy visiting large cities, which is quite a change of pace for me. I see the countryside all the time.