Non-Travelers
Feb 22nd, 2006, 04:18 PM
#82
Guy, I didn't realize you were a new poster (a few weeks). Maybe that explains your surprise in discovering how things unfold on a thread like the one you created.
Many of us have been posting here for years (and years). I'm not saying that as a positive or negative thing, just that I have seen literally hundreds of discussions of all manner of topic come and go, some more well received than others. I don't think as a travel forum we are expected to be "nurturing" necessarily. An exchange of accurate information is what I see as the primary goal.
Many of us have been posting here for years (and years). I'm not saying that as a positive or negative thing, just that I have seen literally hundreds of discussions of all manner of topic come and go, some more well received than others. I don't think as a travel forum we are expected to be "nurturing" necessarily. An exchange of accurate information is what I see as the primary goal.
Feb 22nd, 2006, 04:30 PM
#83
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>>A person I know states confidently that I travel because I am not settled and always looking for happiness somewhere else<<
Since I'm 28 and single, and pretty content with my life, ... that's pretty much what everyone around me thinks of me and my travel addictions. I constantly think of how I can downsize my life so that I could spend less in other areas of my life and travel more. My friends and co-workers want me to get married, settled down, and have kids ... and I do want all that, when the time is right for me.
Since I'm 28 and single, and pretty content with my life, ... that's pretty much what everyone around me thinks of me and my travel addictions. I constantly think of how I can downsize my life so that I could spend less in other areas of my life and travel more. My friends and co-workers want me to get married, settled down, and have kids ... and I do want all that, when the time is right for me.
Feb 22nd, 2006, 04:33 PM
#84
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Thanks for that insight, suze (sincere, not sarcastic). On the day I started this thread, I had been noticing all kinds of frivolous posts (of the non-informational variety) and thought I'd join in the fun! Sheesh! I'm going to stick to the "Do you know a good restaurant in Mougins" type of a post that I'd been limiting myself to up until then. Am also new to forums (fora?) in general, and was clearly feeling too comfortable too soon. But honestly, suze, while I'm a very jokey kind of person, I'm also the person who helps others see things from others' points of view (believe it or not!) and am known for slowness to condemn others--people who are considered difficult, for instance. So you can see why this has all been a big surprise to me. I'll continue to believe that the vast majority of people on this forum are quite kind and I will more carefully phrase my posts in the future.
Feb 22nd, 2006, 09:55 PM
#85
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Guy, Don't give up. Come over to the Australia forum. I think we're a bit more relaxed. We enjoy, ironic thought and poking fun at ourselves and our other friends. If you get lucky some one will send you Tim Tams.
AndrewDavid
AndrewDavid
Feb 23rd, 2006, 01:23 AM
#86
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Hey Guy, I thought the post was interesting and dived in with a small one right at the start. I have enjoyed the comments laughed at many, I have agreed with some and others I have not.
The key thing about fodors is that everyone is different.
Possibly by race, Nationality, religion, upbringing etc etc etc and we all have our own opinions about things.
That is exactly why this forum and also your thread has been success full with so many posts.
Just take personal comments with a pinch of salt.
I look forward to your next post.
Muck
;-)
The key thing about fodors is that everyone is different.
Possibly by race, Nationality, religion, upbringing etc etc etc and we all have our own opinions about things.
That is exactly why this forum and also your thread has been success full with so many posts.
Just take personal comments with a pinch of salt.
I look forward to your next post.
Muck
;-)
Feb 23rd, 2006, 02:14 PM
#87
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Guy, I thought it was a great post! I’ve been reading it for several days now.
I have been wondering about the same thing as you for a long time.
I did not understand why the interest for a foreign travel is so low in US. A lot of people love luxurious vacations like cruises, resorts etc, but not a real travel.
It was very interesting to read all these different ideas on this topic.
I think the posts like yours makes this board great, and make me want to check it out every day!
I have been wondering about the same thing as you for a long time.
I did not understand why the interest for a foreign travel is so low in US. A lot of people love luxurious vacations like cruises, resorts etc, but not a real travel.
It was very interesting to read all these different ideas on this topic.
I think the posts like yours makes this board great, and make me want to check it out every day!
Feb 23rd, 2006, 02:27 PM
#88
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Do you really think Americans are the only ones who don't have passports??? Come on people...use your brains! There ARE people ALL around the world who have not travelled abroad, cannot travel, and who have no desire to...want an example???
We have very good friends in France (have travelled to Germany, Switzerland, Spain) and they are in their 50's and they have never been on a airplane before!! They wanted to come see us this spring but cannot get passports (because of a French strike) soon enough, so they are waiting until next year.
Does anyone have statistics on the percentage of Europeans who have ever left their continent compared to Americans? I would like to know.
We have very good friends in France (have travelled to Germany, Switzerland, Spain) and they are in their 50's and they have never been on a airplane before!! They wanted to come see us this spring but cannot get passports (because of a French strike) soon enough, so they are waiting until next year.
Does anyone have statistics on the percentage of Europeans who have ever left their continent compared to Americans? I would like to know.
Feb 23rd, 2006, 03:08 PM
#89
Guy... Heck no, you should be proud of yourself.
This thread has 87 replies so far and lots of good conversation going on. Anytime you initiate a question outside the most mundane (and as opposed to answering threads started by others) you take the chance of folks misunderstanding your intent.
Ya done great (seriously not sarcastically)!!
This thread has 87 replies so far and lots of good conversation going on. Anytime you initiate a question outside the most mundane (and as opposed to answering threads started by others) you take the chance of folks misunderstanding your intent.
Ya done great (seriously not sarcastically)!!
Feb 23rd, 2006, 03:31 PM
#90
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Andrew, Mucky, Helen, and Suze-You're all too kind!!
What a fascinating lesson in language, personality differences, and who-knows-what-else this thread has been!
Andrew, I will sneek onto the Australia forum from time to time. Someday I'd like to visit there. Sadly, I would probably need to be hospitalized after the flight(s). (By the way, that's just more of my seemingly unavoidable hyperbole, if it wasn't clear
)
What a fascinating lesson in language, personality differences, and who-knows-what-else this thread has been!
Andrew, I will sneek onto the Australia forum from time to time. Someday I'd like to visit there. Sadly, I would probably need to be hospitalized after the flight(s). (By the way, that's just more of my seemingly unavoidable hyperbole, if it wasn't clear
)
Feb 23rd, 2006, 03:50 PM
#91
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Guy18, I get 'ya. Wealthy people who don't travel baffle me too.
BUT I think travelers can turn into travel snobs if they don't stop and think. Some people just don't like to travel! End of story.
Some of those people are camping in the woods or fishing or bowling or obsessed with garage sales or minature horses. Do you know Shakespeare never left England? There is more to life than travel. Also to consider, if you do not have the travel funds, you better find out what that is.
BUT I think travelers can turn into travel snobs if they don't stop and think. Some people just don't like to travel! End of story.
Some of those people are camping in the woods or fishing or bowling or obsessed with garage sales or minature horses. Do you know Shakespeare never left England? There is more to life than travel. Also to consider, if you do not have the travel funds, you better find out what that is.
Feb 23rd, 2006, 03:53 PM
#92
Also among avid travelers some people get a holier than thou thing going. I vacation annually in a wonderful resort town in Mexico, posters on another travel forum made fun of me for not being more adventurous or up to their standards of rough travel in Mexico. Gotta watch where you start drawing those lines.
Feb 23rd, 2006, 03:57 PM
#93
I'm somewhat with suze. If some prefer to stay home and they are happy, how can one critisize that? We love different books, music, food, so not why where we prefer to travel to or..stay at home.
Feb 23rd, 2006, 04:01 PM
#94
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God, suze, that may have very well have been me! Love Oaxaca, Puebla, Merida, Queretero. Never been to Cancun, Acapulco, or Puerto Vallarta. Actually, P.V. looks gorgeous in pictures I've seen. Wouldn't mind going there one bit...
Love Oaxaca, Puebla, Merida, Queretero. Never been to Cancun, Acapulco, or Puerto Vallarta. Actually, P.V. looks gorgeous in pictures I've seen. Wouldn't mind going there one bit...
Feb 23rd, 2006, 04:29 PM
#96
You read my mind, that's it. Puerto Vallarta is my home away from home. And it was The Thorn Tree forum where they took me down for it. I have a fondness for Waikiki as well (gasp).
Keep this up Guy you'll hit 100 here!!
Keep this up Guy you'll hit 100 here!!
Feb 23rd, 2006, 04:35 PM
#97
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suze,
I love PV. It is what it is, but still manages to remain uttely charming, IMO.
You should go to Rome--as a single traveler, you would love it. Lots to do, lots to enjoy while doing nothing.
I love PV. It is what it is, but still manages to remain uttely charming, IMO.
You should go to Rome--as a single traveler, you would love it. Lots to do, lots to enjoy while doing nothing.
Feb 23rd, 2006, 04:56 PM
#99
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Guy18 -- I think it boils down to the fact that a) we're not all the same; b) we all make choices & sacrifices in life and c) we all think that our choices are the best ones for us.
Personally, I have many friends who are childless like me, make more money than me, and yet comment with a "must be nice" when I say I'm going to Europe...again.
Many don't realize that it's cheaper to fly to Paris and spend a week there than it is to go to New York City from here (Denver). Others prefer a tropical setting, and even though I'm only one state away from Mexico -- I've never been there.
In my mind, I figure it's so close, I can go anytime, but for now I want to spend my younger years traveling as far from here as possible while I still have a sturdy immune system and good knees.
While I would LOVE to see people travel more, and I do encourage people by telling them as much as they want to listen about my exploits, some people are just meant to be homebodies.
I try to look on the bright side: it makes the lines shorter and the sights less crowded once I get there. 'Cause I'm GOING
Jules
Personally, I have many friends who are childless like me, make more money than me, and yet comment with a "must be nice" when I say I'm going to Europe...again.
Many don't realize that it's cheaper to fly to Paris and spend a week there than it is to go to New York City from here (Denver). Others prefer a tropical setting, and even though I'm only one state away from Mexico -- I've never been there.
In my mind, I figure it's so close, I can go anytime, but for now I want to spend my younger years traveling as far from here as possible while I still have a sturdy immune system and good knees.
While I would LOVE to see people travel more, and I do encourage people by telling them as much as they want to listen about my exploits, some people are just meant to be homebodies.
I try to look on the bright side: it makes the lines shorter and the sights less crowded once I get there. 'Cause I'm GOING
Jules
Feb 24th, 2006, 04:00 PM
#100
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I've found this topic quite interesting to read so I figured I'd add my input as my first post on this Forum. I think Muck's initial response summed things up great. It's really down to how a person's wired and what their priorities are. I can relate to h2babe's response. I find myself downsizing and eliminating clutter. Rather than accumulating too much stuff, I spend extra income on experiences...namely travel and concerts.
Sure, there are benefits of both domestic and international travel. On a personal level, I find that internation travel invigorates me and makes me feel more complete as a person. Traveling abroad may not fill a void for everyone, but I feel all the better for it in terms of broadening my horizons and opening myself up to experiences that I would otherwise never experience here in the U.S.
I know it's only my opinion, but I sometimes feel like this country gets too mired in it's own affairs and forgets about the other plus or minus 6 billion people on the planet. Traveling helps me escape this.
Sure, there are benefits of both domestic and international travel. On a personal level, I find that internation travel invigorates me and makes me feel more complete as a person. Traveling abroad may not fill a void for everyone, but I feel all the better for it in terms of broadening my horizons and opening myself up to experiences that I would otherwise never experience here in the U.S.
I know it's only my opinion, but I sometimes feel like this country gets too mired in it's own affairs and forgets about the other plus or minus 6 billion people on the planet. Traveling helps me escape this.
