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Why do you travel?

Is it to get away from work, your house, the stresses of daily life?

Is it to see a new place, the good, bad and ugly, learn about a new culture, taste new foods, meet the natives, see things you've never seen before?

Is it to re-connect with your spouse or family members since you don't get quality time together on a day-to-day basis?

So many reasons to travel. But reasons #1 and #3 say more about our current quality of life, not the need to leave our homes and go somewhere new . . .

This isn't a judgement of any of these reasons (or others), just something I'm pondering in my ole noggin.

Good question, Tansy!
I travel for the new place, new things reason you stated. The other reason is that we are divers and live in Northen CA where the ocean is much too cold and murky !
We are trying to go to all the interesting/great scuba spots around the world as we can. We also love wine but then we live in the Wine Country-as good as any reason to &quot;vacation' at home! and still try new things!
R5

I have two completely opposite reasons for travelling: to spend quality time with my kids, and to get away from them! My husband and I try to take two &quot;big&quot; trips a year. One with the kids and one without.

The trip without the kids is our opportunity to reconnect with eachother as a couple and to relax and recharge without the constant demands of two preschoolers. We like to take this trip when it's cold here in the East. We head to a warm locale with beautiful beaches. Our days include sleeping in, having leisurely meals, and hours of reading, swimming, and snorkelling. Cocktails start well before the traditional cocktail hour.

Our trip with the kids is our chance to spend quality time with our boys without jobs/housework/etc interfering. We are able to completely focus on eachother, have fun, introduce the boys to new places, and make great memories. We usually return from this trip more tired than when we left (think lugging bulging carry-ons and carseats through the airport), but we treasure this special time with the kids.

Right now I feel I need to get away. I'm having vacation relaspes..(ughhh!!) I'm in Michigan where it's cold &amp; cloudy &amp; can be snowy. You can only take so much of this dreary winter weather.

Anyways, I love to travel to see new places. It's funny cause my DH calls me a travel addict. I love looking up trips/destinations online, helping others with there vacations, investigating about different destinations to go. I just love vacationing period. From packing the suitcase to being at the airport watching the airplanes. We don't have any kids so kids are not a factor. We just enjoy being away, around beautiful surroundings, dining at different restaurants, just being somewhere else. Just being away from your normal daily routine,especially work Travel is definitley my passion!!

I travel to live....to breath. At the end of the year, what are my life memories?...work? sometimes....mostly, however are those magic moments I have created to make life living, the adventures when you embrace each and every moment of each and every day. I travel to embrace living and being.............. when everyday life tries to make me forget why we're here and that we're here.

It gives me something to look forward to and planning gives me something I enjoy doing. I think planning sometimes is the best part of the vacation and the anticipation of the approaching trip. I like going places I have never been and gathering information about the place plus learning about it before I go. I usually start planning my next trip as soon as I get back.

Agreed.
My spouse would contend that the perfect vacation is a week at home (with no distractions, if that could be arranged).
I think a vacation week at home would actually increase my level of stress (theoretically--it's never happened so I don't know).

I guess I am #1 and 2, but if I won megabucks tomorrow and could quit my job, I'd be travelling primarily for question #2. You have to travel not just to see the world, but understand your place in it. That, and because the world is my buffet!!

I love to read and then I love to see the places I've read about. It seems that the more places you experience, the richer your life is. Someday when I'm sitting in a rocking chair at the &quot;home&quot; I will have memories. I was watching an old western the other day, and I reconzined the mountains in the movie as being in the Canadian Rockies. Then maybe I love to rtravel because I grew up hearing my dad play the piano and sign &quot;Far away places with strange sounding names, are calling, calling me.&quot;

Tansy:

As implored, you asked us to REALLY THINK...WHY?

OK: I travel because I have sacraficed and saved to do so.

Everytime I can pull out a suitcase, no matter how large or small, I thank God that he makes all of my travel possible.

So, I travel because God blesses me to be able to do so.

Great Question!

Oaktown Traveler