Kavey

<BR>We also travel a lot compared to many but that's because travel is a high priority in our lives. <BR> <BR>I get 24 days leave a year and live in the UK. <BR> <BR>In 2001 My husband and I visited Madeira for a week in February, I went to Rome with a girlfriend for 4 days in April, We went to Normandy for 5 days in May with 2 friends, the two of us went to Namibia and Botswana for 2 weeks in June, and to San Francisco for a week in July, we will be going to Munich for 2 nights later this month. We also do a number of short weekend breaks in the car both within the UK and to the Pas de Calais area of France. <BR> <BR>My plans for 2002 include a trip to Paris, a car trip to Northern France, a 6 day trip to Venice, a 5 day or so trip to Tallinn, and lots of others. <BR> <BR>What people often say is that they want to be able to do the same. This will often be in the same breath as telling me they have just bought a new house with more bedrooms, or are buying a new car, or have spent £200 on a pair of shoes, or have decided to start a family and are saving towards that, or any number of things. What I then respond with is similar to what others above have said: <BR> <BR>My husband and I have made a decision about our own priorities, just as everyone else has. These are all about concentrating on what we enjoy most, and putting the things we want into a sort order. In order to spend more time following the interests at the top of our priority lists, we are not moving to a bigger house, we are not getting new stereos, sofas, or spending much on clothes. We are also not going to have a family, not because we don't like children, but because we personally don't want that particular lifestyle. I know how wonderful children are, and I also know how once you have them, your life is 100% geared towards providing for them, caring for them, rearing them. We are not passionate enough about children to be willing to invest so much of ourselves in a family. <BR> <BR>Also, in terms of the leave allowance itself we only use leave for travel. We don't do as other friends do when they use a day of annual leave to take a restful day doing the christmas shopping during a weekday, we brave the weekend madness, in order to have one extra day leave to allocate to travel. <BR> <BR>I know for a fact my colleagues are on the same salary, yet are always telling me they can't afford holidays. Their rent is same as my mortgage, their partners earn similar to mine, the difference is that one likes to go out drinking and can easily spend £50 to £100 on a night out, another loves designer clothes. Another is saving for a deposit to buy a new house. <BR> <BR>What I am trying to say is that for many of us who do travel a lot, it's not that we earn more than our peers or get more leave than our peers, just about how we personally have chosen to spend it. <BR> <BR>Liam, your family will give you so much pleasure, but it will also mean you have less disposable income than otherwise, and I am sure it's a decision you don't regret for a moment. <BR> <BR>To all of you reading this interesting thread, I wish for you the courage to make the choices in life which are right for you and which make you happy. Live your life according to your own priorities and then you will not resent the sacrifices you need to make in those things which were not high on your list. <BR> <BR>Kavey

curious

It really varies. Some years I travel every few months, sometimes only 3 times a year. I work as a part time consultant (only about 90 days a year) so have as much vacation as I want. We have children (9 and 12), but are also fortunate to have family who will watch them. My husband's job also allows us to travel some. Because of work, my husband can't go on all trips with me but I come from a family of avid travelers. My mother and sister put me to shame when it comes to traveling and always travel every few months, and have been just about everywhere on the planet! We usually take 2 trips per year without husbands so that gives me more travel time. The last few years we've traveled to: <BR> <BR>1999: <BR> <BR>Jan: Puerto Rico (w/husband) <BR>Jan: Amazon Jungle (w/husband) <BR>March: Caribbean Cruise (whole family) <BR>June: Cape/Cod, Nantucket (whole family) <BR>August: Maine (w/my mom, sister and kids) <BR> <BR>Last year (2000) was a good travel year: <BR>Jan: Thailand (w/husband) <BR>Jan: Paris (w/husband) <BR>March: Disney cruise (w/mom, sister and kids) <BR>May: Italy (w/husband) <BR>June: Nantucket (w/husband & kids) <BR>August: South Carolina (w/mom, sister & kids) <BR>October: Boston (w/husband for 40th birthday <BR> <BR>This year was a bit slower: <BR>March: Universal Studios (w/my mom, sister and kids) <BR>June: Nantucket (whole family) <BR>August: Williamsburg, Charleston and south Carolina Coast (w/my Mom, sister & kids) <BR>October: Bermuda (w/husband) <BR> <BR>I am trying to plan something for this March for the whole family - either Mexico or somewhere in Europe that isn't too cold! I love to travel, and would much rather go on a trip than drive a mercedes, so I guess it's all a matter of priorities.

s

Liam <BR>I'm retired military, I share a house & expenses w/my mom, my car is more than six years old, and I go to Europe twice a year -- God willing. I work part-time and use all of that money to fuel my habit. No guilt. All good. <BR> <BR>s

Mare

My husband and I started traveling about 10 years ago when were 30. We travel to Canada for about ten days every summer, sneak in a few long weekends here and there for travel around New England, go to Florida most winters for a week, and go to Europe about every other year. I'd like to change that to once a year, and we probably can manage that at this point. We do have a very nice house in the Boston area, but are frugal in other respects. We rarely go out to eat, own only one (compact) car, and spend very little on entertainment when we are home. We also stay in modest hotels when we travel, fix picnic lunches, etc. I collect frequent flyer miles too, and that gets us free airfare on many of our trips. We don't have children, but it still frustrates me when people with fancy cars, boats, etc raise their eyebrows at us like we are being extravagant because we travel to Europe.

Maira

Sjoerd, loved your "little" list! Hey, ever been to NY??? Make plans!!!

Judy

This year we have spent a week in Arizona visiting relatives <BR> 2 weeks in Spain with our whole family including married kids (7 in all) <BR> 4 day weekend at lake chautauqua,NY visiting friends <BR> 2 weeks in Portland, Ore. (got stuck longer than i intended due to 9/11) visiting kids <BR> 1 week in Myrtle Beach(timeshare <BR>exchange) <BR> long weekend coming up in NYC visiting friends <BR> and a lot of trips taken vicariously reading this message board! <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> long weekend in NYC coming up <BR> a long w

joy

Well said, Kavey!! I personally agree with your thoughtful insights. I think for almost everybody, it really boils down to your priorities and once you have carefully thought of and made your decisions, I doubt that you will regret them!!

Carrie

I guess I am lucky to live in England where Europe is just a few hours away(having friends in different countries help too). I have been to Paris three times this year(Opera, visiting friends and French Open - tennis)and am planning a shopping trip early in December. Early this year, I went to Malaysia and Australia. I also have long weekends in Barcelona, Bilbao and Rome. Just got back from China(Yangtze cruise). I am also looking forward to skiing in Switzerland for Christmas and New Year. I usually have two longhaul trips and many weekend breaks a year. I work hard when I am not travelling, so I don't feel guilty.