Sarah

I am completely convinced it indicates the negative about your everyday life. BUT HEY IT BEATS SHOOTING UP OR DRINKINGLOL

ajs

Something that no one has mentioned is the 'looking forward to' syndrome.<BR><BR>I am one of those lucky few that loves his job, works from home, and makes a good living doing so. I have a great wife and two lovely children. But I must always be planning a vacation. We all need things to look forward to in our lives. For some, it's that next big purchase. Obviously, for us here, it's traveling. Nothing to feel embarrassed about, it's just what we like to do. As long as you're not doing it at the expense of your children's college funds, go for it!<BR><BR>And as they say, the romance is all in the anticipation.

Jean

I know just what you mean. My friends & associates tell everyone I travel all the time--not true. However, when talking about travel with some friends over dinner last spring, he said to me, "I feel frustrated if I don't have airline tickets in my file drawer." And then I realized...that's me. If there aren't tickets in the file drawer for at least one trip, I feel awful...like I need a fix.<BR><BR>I now say I work to have enough $ to travel. I love "opening new windows."<BR><BR>Thank God for this forum!

Love it!

Is there a 12 step program for traveloholics or worse, travelboardoholics like us??? <BR>On 2nd thoughts , I don't want to be cured of this affliciton - I LOVE IT!!!

Martha

I might love my job if it paid enough to allow for first class airline tickets. I might like my job if I had Net access at work, instead of having to cram in my Foder time in the early hours.<BR>And I agree with Leslie. A recent report showed that two minimum wage earners couldn't afford housing and a family in most areas of the country. It isn't communism to want to see people getting fair pay for honest work. It isn't communism to want to see everybody have an opportunity to live respectably and comfortably after working every day. It is Republican not to give a sh*t about anybody who doesn't give big bucks for the next election.

Sonia

OK, so we all feel the same, that's good. I do think it has something do do with not being stimulated or challeged enough in everyday life. I'm 27, have my own house, a good job, a boyfriend, yet I still yearn to see more, Oz in particular. We have been to Prague, Paris, Nice, Monaco, Florence, Pisa, Chambery and Carcassonne this year already and have Bilbao, Venice and Venona before the year is out. Despite this, I am alway looking out for a bargain flight to a new destination. I think if I were brave enough, I would take off and travel for a year, but I haven't got the guts (yet!). I just buy lots of books, read this site and plan it all out in my fantasy world! <BR><BR>In the meantime, I just read, and sometimes contribute here and get a buzz out of other peoples excitement.<BR><BR>Nothing wrong with being a dreamer... <BR><BR>Sonia :0)

Teresa

I am really sick too and I'm glad to see I'm not the only one here. None of my friends is like me ,only my son<BR><BR>Sometimes I even feel ashamed to tell them that I'm traveling again, you should see their faces! They must think I'm nuts.

db

Im glad Im not the only one obsessed by this travel forum.. my boyfriend *sighs* when he sees me disappear to the computer (Fodors again?!)<BR>I lurve travelling, and the amount of hols and breaks I have had this year is obscene! My poor bank account (

Amy

Thank goodness for the boards, if nothing more than to verify that my illness is shared. I work in a semi-miserable job that pays well only to live from trip to trip. I also have the "looking forward to" illness. I have already begun to outline trips for 2004 in my head so that when I get back from my 2003 trips, I won't get all bummed out. At least I know I'm sane now.<BR><BR>As for visiting Fodors numerous times a day, I'm just waiting for the systems people at work to ask me to prove the work-related-ness of my 100 hits a day, but it IS much less threatening than some coworkers who are looking at adult sites all day....!

Mike

Martha,<BR>It is Communism when people want the Government to run everything to make it equal for the population. That's whats great about the USA, you could find another job. Theres plenty of opportunity here. With alittle hard work that is. My heritage is Russian, and my cousins comming over right now are used to the government handing them things, it makes me ashamed. When my forefathers came over they worked hard, never gave up and never let themselves act as victims expecting things to be handed to them. I think both parties Republican as well as Democrat only care about big money. You don't think that Democratic leaders are rich as well as there supporters?

Lila

I have to say, I started this thread and I am happy that it caught on. I am a social worker, it's funny how this relates to my profession. It seems very much like a support group for travel junkies. I like it.

melissa

I am so glad that I am not the only one! My husband is the same, but not to the extent that I am...he is learning though I spend a lot of time thinking about travel and about trying to come up with time and money to take another trip. Our friends think we are crazy, and I know that they think we have a hidden trust fund somewhere! The truth is, our house cost about $100,000 less than theirs. And we choose to use our money for travel, and have postponed having children for another year.<BR><BR>Thanks for letting me vent! I loved reading all of the responses.<BR><BR>Lila~ I am a social worker also<BR><BR>Melissa D.

JJ

Goodness - My friend and I were on the phone last night with an A3 Atlas on our laps discussing various countries. I then proceeded to write a list of all the places I wanted to visit. I am not too keen on flying, but my passion for travel and seeing other countries are immense. I have recently come back from Las Vegas and all I thought about whilst I was on the plane was 'Please dont let anything happen to this plane as I so want to visit Las Vegas before I die' <BR>I work to travel and take pleasure in looking at books and reading this website with everyone's responses. <BR>'Take only memories, leave nothing but footprints'

orgy7

I must also admit that I have a big world map where I throw three darts into, and I give myself five years too travel too at least one of these places...<BR><BR>just with this method i've gone too TOKYO. and PROGUE.. but as I always do I end up incorporating more destination then I originaly planned.

Noname

Here is the key phrase from Leslie's post:<BR><BR>"While in the UK, France, Australia, Italy, and most of the Western world, most people have a month or more to holiday, sometimes with an extra month's pay thrown in!" <BR><BR>These are not communist countries. Though interestingly, most do have socialized medicine.... Sounds like a better standard of living, with more balanced priorities to me; sign me up!

Mike

Noname,<BR>You make a valid point, question though, Is it law in these countries to offer this? If so is the average salary lower? Would you be willing to take a pay cut? If it isn't the law, why would we blame Republicans for it not happening in the US? Does every company practice it? Do the companies that do, pay there employees less? If we made this law in the US, would it put companies out of business? How can it help unemployment? I feel it would make it worse. Would companies move to Mexico? Would we the consumers be willing to pay more for products as they do in Australia? Would it hurt our demanding economy? Don't get me wrong I would love a months paid vacation, but we have to weigh all the issues, unstead of just blaming a political party.

DD

The company I work for in Canada gives me 6 weeks paid vacation per year. Sometimes I think of changing jobs, but I know I'd likely not get so much vacation anywhere else. The result is that this company keeps my skills and experience and doesn't have to train new staff often. They probably come out ahead by giving generous vacation time.

amy

This thread would be a good one to show to airline companies when they consider reconfiguring their FF mile programs. Christine, I, too, am addicted to earning, using, and leveraging my frequent flyer miles. <BR><BR>Good thing I don't gamble. <BR><BR>As to the priority trips themselves take in my household,hmmm. If it's something for the kids, I'm not too penny-pinching. If it's something for me or for the house, I constantly think in terms of "that would buy my museum pass, " or "a new couch would be a RT Europe for 4." <BR><BR>On a more serious note, I found out four years ago that not being able to plan a trip put my mental state into a tailspin. My husband's business was up in the air, I was in declining health, and we were unable to look forward to anything. Life was on hold. As soon as I was able to say, "We could go away in July for two weeks," it was an elevator ride to normal. I'm sure many of you are the same--I don't need to go on the trip; I just need to know that it's possible to plan it.

iagree

topping

Sue

I too am addicted to travel, travel planning, travel books, Fodors Forum, & acquiring frequent flyer miles!<BR><BR>I returned last night from Belgium. I was flying FREE on flyer miles and the flight was Brussels/London/Chicago/Los Angeles/Palm Springs. I was to the last leg, LAX/Palm Springs and they asked if I was willing to give up my seat for a free round trip ticket anywhere in the USA except Hawaii & Alaska. I was on cloud nine!!! I couldn't believe they offered that for a 40 minute flight!! AND, I only had to wait 2 hours for the next flight out. <BR><BR>Travel, travel, travel... that's my tunnel vision. My 38 yr old son just took his first trip to Europe last year and my daughter, 36 yr, just returned from her first trip to Italy this week. I'm thrilled, that gives us our travels to share and talk about! <BR><BR>I visit this board every night! I don't see my traveling and travel planning as a problem. I think it enriches my life and it's my high!