Leaving for Europe on Monday, and I just heard it again ...."It must be nice ..."
Mar 8th, 2007, 04:39 PM
#181
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Cymbeline, that statement really had an impact on my thoughts. The one about the largest employer being Walmart, in other words, extra money is a luxury. As for myself, I choose to spend my slush fund on travel, rather than new carpet, smoking, drinking, etc, however most of all I COUNT MY BLESSINGS each day that I AM able to travel. halfpint
Mar 8th, 2007, 05:09 PM
#182
This subject has been coming up since we were born. Everyones situations. finances, travel politics differ.
We don't have cell phones, ipods, flat screen tv, digital cameras and lively simply but richly in entertaining our loved friends and look forward to our yearly trip.
We don't have cell phones, ipods, flat screen tv, digital cameras and lively simply but richly in entertaining our loved friends and look forward to our yearly trip.
Mar 8th, 2007, 05:14 PM
#183
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Yes halfpint, I think that is the attitude of us all. We don't buy a new stove just because it's pretty when the old one cooks; we don't buy a new car every year or dash about on mad sprees at the mall for clothes and gear. No, that money is for our priority: travel.
"It must be nice..." OK, don't go to Vegas twice a year, gamble, whoop it up and you might see the real Paris, with a cheap flight in the lovely off season.
And I meant just what you said: we should count our blessings. Blessings that we were given the work ethic through role models we loved, that we weren't left to mean streets or ended up there from mental illness, drink or drugs. Or, coming from an underclass we didn't choose to be born into, simply hadn't thought of a way out other than minimum wage jobs.
"It must be nice..." OK, don't go to Vegas twice a year, gamble, whoop it up and you might see the real Paris, with a cheap flight in the lovely off season.
And I meant just what you said: we should count our blessings. Blessings that we were given the work ethic through role models we loved, that we weren't left to mean streets or ended up there from mental illness, drink or drugs. Or, coming from an underclass we didn't choose to be born into, simply hadn't thought of a way out other than minimum wage jobs.
Mar 8th, 2007, 05:58 PM
#185
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I get a lot of people telling me I'm wasting my money. These are people who have never been out of the country. I simply can not understand the mentality. With each passing trip, I hear it more and more--it's usually "where are you off to next"? And when I tell them they ask me when I'm going to "settle down". Drives me INSANE. As I said earlier..it's just different priorities. I pretty much plan my whole life around travelling--it's what makes me happiest. Or I'll hear "You're going to Paris AGAIN? Weren't you just there?". Well, yeah, I was. I visit new cities, and love to revisit old ones that I particularly enjoyed.
Mar 8th, 2007, 06:45 PM
#186
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I think the reasons that some people do not travel are numerous.
Some people have financial obligations that their paycheck(s) barely covers so they do not have money for European trips. Some people are homebodies and really do not want to travel outside of their comfort zone. I have several friends that do prefer to have a second home in the mountains or by a lake and chose that rather then spending their money to take trips.
Some people are rather afraid or nervous about the unknown and although they would like to travel just can't get past their fear of travelling to different countries.
I have had people comment that it takes to much time and is just to much trouble to plan trips.
Various reasons just like those of us that like to travel have various reasons for doing so. I just chuckle though as in my experiences it seems like those that do not like to travel make more comments to us then we make to them. I never say to anyone "oh you still haven't travelled anywhere out of the states yet?" for example. Has anyone else noticed or experienced this?
Some people have financial obligations that their paycheck(s) barely covers so they do not have money for European trips. Some people are homebodies and really do not want to travel outside of their comfort zone. I have several friends that do prefer to have a second home in the mountains or by a lake and chose that rather then spending their money to take trips.
Some people are rather afraid or nervous about the unknown and although they would like to travel just can't get past their fear of travelling to different countries.
I have had people comment that it takes to much time and is just to much trouble to plan trips.
Various reasons just like those of us that like to travel have various reasons for doing so. I just chuckle though as in my experiences it seems like those that do not like to travel make more comments to us then we make to them. I never say to anyone "oh you still haven't travelled anywhere out of the states yet?" for example. Has anyone else noticed or experienced this?
Mar 9th, 2007, 01:54 AM
#187
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I can only write from a British point of view. Distances are shorter in Europe, and if you want to go south for better weather, then you have to go to another country.
Perhaps that influences people's attitudes to travel, but it seems to me that international travel is commonplace amongst all sections of British society, and at all income levels. Rather more popular than a conversation about the weather is a discussion on where you have just been, or where you are planning to go to. This could be Spain, Australia, Thailand, the United States, or just about anywhere.
It is often not the ambitious sort of expedition undertaken by many of the posters here, but an organised package, a visit to friends and family, or the use of someone's second home.
Another feature of British society is the large number of people whose originas are in Africa, the Caribbean, India, Pakistan the old Commonwealth and other European countries. They all want to return to their home countries from time to time, and are free to do that.
Having said that, going to another country for most Britons still means coping with a different language, a different currency, a different lifestyle and different food. When you have done it once, you have the confidence to do it again.
Perhaps that influences people's attitudes to travel, but it seems to me that international travel is commonplace amongst all sections of British society, and at all income levels. Rather more popular than a conversation about the weather is a discussion on where you have just been, or where you are planning to go to. This could be Spain, Australia, Thailand, the United States, or just about anywhere.
It is often not the ambitious sort of expedition undertaken by many of the posters here, but an organised package, a visit to friends and family, or the use of someone's second home.
Another feature of British society is the large number of people whose originas are in Africa, the Caribbean, India, Pakistan the old Commonwealth and other European countries. They all want to return to their home countries from time to time, and are free to do that.
Having said that, going to another country for most Britons still means coping with a different language, a different currency, a different lifestyle and different food. When you have done it once, you have the confidence to do it again.
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