Bugswife, do we happen to share the same friends? LOL!

I just got into a situation where I thought of this thread and thought, "I'm wrong....."

I know I previously said that I want to know every detail when people tell me about their trips, but ... maybe not every last detail.

My friend brought out her trip album, full of photos. That was nice. But then every single brochure + map included....that was a lot, but still not too bad. And then....ta dah! She brought out every single receipt from the trip! Breakfast: two eggs and toast for me, eggs and sausage for husband, $9. Lunch: bay shrimp salad for me, club sandwich for the husband, $15. Ate linguine with tomatos and basil, husband had sausages, $23. OK, I tell people about my eating highlights, but she READ EVERY RECEIPT for the entire trip out loud to us! Even the shopping receipts! And the albums were thick, thick 3-ring binders.

We were a captive audience. The first one was tiring, but amusing. By the time she got to the 3rd album....I was trying to figure out how to fake an allergy attack so I'd have to leave. Now that the experience is past, I can count it as one of those situations where you say, "Someday I'll look back on this and laugh."

Kal:

When I comment on Pittsburgh its because it is a question or questions someone wants to know about the area. If you don't want to know about Pittsburgh then don't enter a posting where it is the main subject.

MelissaHI, what a nightmare!! That would drive me insane. I have asthma and I can fake an attack if necessary. I've never had to do that, but I will remember this in case someone ever pulls out their receipts.

And how do you handle it when your traveling companion pulls out the pix, slides, mementoes, etc. and you KNOW your friends are about to be paralyzed with boredom?

This is a very amusing thread. My wife and I love to travel but have come to know who desires to know of our travel experiences and who would rather get a lobotomy.

One friend seemed to actually enjoy looking at the 400 image slide show of our recent trip to Co & NM. On the other hand, a co-worker who viewed some of the images of last year's trip to Utah's natural wonders simply said "Boy, you sure took a lot of pictures of rocks."

I think it has a lot to do with their vacation experiences. Those who seem interested are those who travel to interesting destinations and are active vacationers. Those who never leave home or spend their vacations reading a book on the beach (not that there's anything wrong with that) seem to be less interested. To them, a vacation is a time to relax and unwind so how interesting could that be?

For me a vacation is a time to get out and explore new places and hike and enjoy my hobby of photography in a new location.

For any of you who think you take a lot of pictures on vacation, go to www.pbase.com/peterb and see how out of control I am. While most may not appreciate them, they help me remember the best times of my life.

To each his own I say.

Cher and bonniebroad, you took the words right out of my mouth! DH and I have visited Italy quite a few times and one friend says "Why are you going there again?" everytime! Only the people who also like to travel ever ask to see photos. Your point about finances is a good one Cher.

So Kal -- you still didn't tell us whom (!) you ran into in Chicago. ??

Simple jorr, NO
M

T'solo,
Still trying to find time to post my pix on worldisround.com

Drop me a line if you wanna sneek prevu?

Sunshine Stephhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,
Can you please give us all a few lessons on how you can keep a massive ego under control?

BTW...you can take the Sewickley/Neville Boy outta Sew/Neville but...well you know the rest. >-

I enjoy every post about The Pitt. We hope to make it back there next Aug/Sept. If so, I'll buy the first fishbowl of IC Lite at Mario's S'Side Saloon!

Say, LoveItaly, when are you going to do your "off the beaten path" report? I'd be truly interested.

I just can't understand why people don't want to see my 17 Italy albums...meals carefully chronicalled. Har har!

Yes, it's best to be a good listener about it.

I remember being little and going to my Grandparents to watch slide slows of their various trips worldwide. Now I go to my Father's for shows. I love looking at the pictures and hearing all the details. I am looking forward to perhaps doing my own show for my family very soon - we haven't gotten to any places terribly exotic yet!

However, that is mostly my family and I have noticed that many people aren't interested at all. There does seem to be a correlation between interest and their own eagerness to travel.

I agree this board is fabulous for my eagerness to learn all about the places I want to go and even those I don't want to visit.

Sara

Kal, Yes, I wanna sneek prevu!

..I usually am asked how my trip was, and I advise that I have pictures if anyone is interetsed...then I show them as my friends ask to see them, so I don't bore the ones who could care less...My friends are the same....but I am always bugging people to see their trip photos...

Kal ~

In response to this: "Worse than people who could care less about your travels are people who ask me or Mrs Kal "How can you afford all of these trips"?"

Our answers range from "Yes. It's true; we sell crack" to "Why? Are you offering to sponsor our next vacation?"

If you are shunned after you've returned from a vacation (on any sort) one wonders if you bored or offended others with your reports/pictures/bragging/etc after a previous trip.

Face it, VERY few people want to relive the trip (through pictures or, heaven forbid, receipts!). If they want details, they will ask for them. Usually, "it was great" is enough of a response to the question - "How was your trip".

Sometimes I wonder why anyone would assume others would be interested in the details of a trip - or a surgery. But, there are folks who love to share!

I've not really been shunned, but have learned that it's easiest to not tell anyone where I'm going before we leave. After returning home, I usually downplay anything. A typical response from me is, "Oh, we went to _____ for a few days of walking, shopping, sightseeing and just getting out of town and having some really good food."

In return I'm not that interested in other people's travels, and have found it easiest to say things like, "What a great chance to get away!" or "I'll bet that was a really relaxing trip."

LOL! Glowbug, I'm going to steal your 'we sell crack' line and add it to my own, "well, we deliberately did NOT have children." I have experienced my share of the sour grapes crowd, too, especially members of my own family who tend to refer to us at the "rich" ones, which is so not true. Just different priorities. Gotta pick your friends, jorr, who needs all that conflict? I personally no longer even associate with people whose politics are different from my own - life's too short- and I'd rather be traveling!

G'bug,
since my office is in my house, and neighbors see me home all day I'd NEVER make a joke like that!

I try wearing shrts all the time so they can see I don't have a "Martha Stewart Ankle accessory".

I just tell them "We're DINKs" and money goes to travel vs braces, gymnastics, swimming, tennis, dance, piano, soccer, scouts, college, etc.

t'solo,
Drop me a line or it may be awhile.
SF this weekend and work's getting too hectic to do it justice.
I should do a quick TR before I forget everything or lose my notes! :-B

This topic certainly has generated lots of personal responses among us "fellow travelers." And it does seem that while some friends/family are interested in your trips some aren't and in fact may make that quite clear.

I remember advice many years ago about a trip to the Holy Land: people really aren't interested in your experience even if it was inspiring. These many travel years later I show pictures in library programs and to some family but mostly just relish the experience with my travel companion wife. Well, it is a family joke about my having a slide show for my kids!

Now our minister is continually mentioning a study leave he had, saying, "When I was at Harvard..."
And me a Yale grad!

ozarksbill
(retired minister in MO)