My father-in-law's terrorism solution
 

Hi all. Y-day we were at my father-in-laws. We started discussing the ways terrorism is affecting air travel, and travel in general. My father-in-law doesn't like to travel.

He told us that nowadays people can travel somewhere and videotape everything. Then we can watch what they tape and never need to go there.

How's that for a solution?

Good heavens.

No sky, smells, food, people's faces, taxi rides, birdsong, breezes, weather, dirt, sunshine??

Some people hate to travel, some live for it.

Or we can just read a book about the place and say we've been there.

No, better yet, we can just pretend we went there!

There's someone on this board who does that on a regular basis.

Someone, please tell the Grand Canyon story on this thread!

I guess we can infer that father-in-law doesn't have internet access.

I'll bite. What's the Grand Canyon thread story? What's the url for it?

I like the Father-in-Law's idea. It would be a lot less expensive. You could cook the cuisine of the tape you were going to watch, thus having the smells and tastes, then watch in the comfort of your family room! Such a deal!

Yeah, we can get the travel channel and copy the programs on our VHSs and DVDs. Can I tell everybody that it's not Rick Steves on the tape, it's my husband with new hairstyle?

I've taken some video on a couple vacations so I could show people back at home (who weren't able to go with me) where I was and what I saw, etc. It's nice to be able to share something more than photos. It's certainly no substitute for the real thing, but they got some enjoyment out of watching. If the situation were reversed, I'd rather see a video than nothing.

That being said, FIL's idea to choose to stay home and watch videotapes of vacations, rather than actually go on a vacation is goofy.

Starrsvile, per your request....
Karens, LOL. I read somewhere about a Dad having his kids stay in van at Grand Canyon, 'cause he couldn't find a parking place. He leaped out of the van, camcorded the scene, and shouted to the kids, "You're not getting out! We'll watch this at home!"

My friend's son got married at the Maui Hyatt. Beautiful setting, long-planned for day, dream-come-true wedding.Only trouble is, we couldn't see the ceremony. The egotistical turkey of a minister placed the bride and groom at a strange angle--we could see HIM, but couldn't see them! Fortunately, the event was videotaped, as the groom's mother despite craning her neck, saw nothing of it. She whispered to me, "Oh, great! I have to wait to get back home, so I can finally see my kid gettng married --on TV!"

KarenS, your father in law is funny. I''ll bet he said this with a smile.

So, he's an "armchair traveler"-- a respectful term for those who enjoy travel, but might be unable ($, health) to do so.

In today's parlance, FIL's the ultimate
"Virtual Tourist."

Sounds kinda trippy...was your FIL raised in the 60's? :)>-

LMAO, bear!!! A head tripper, for sure.

That's funny -- just last week I was telling my friend in Iowa about the Amsterdam Red Light District.

She asked to see photos.

None of mine came out so I just told her to do a google images search for "Amsterdam Red Light District".

Ta da -- better photos than I could ever take.

My FIL would totally agree with your FIL. He has OCD and hasn't really gone anywhere since 9/11.

He has difficulty going farther than 13 miles from home and never after 2pm because he might get stuck somewhere after dark.

He has missed grandchildren graduate from h.s. and college as well as the first grandchild's wedding. I don't anticipate that will change.

Fortunately, he lives in a great travel destination so we stay at the beach for a week and visit with him a couple of afternoons while we're there.

What a shame that he's missed out on so much, amwosu. But I suppose, in a way, it's no different than any other disability that keeps one from traveling. And I'm guessing that, at his age, he's not willing to be treated for it?

Thank goodness he has family who visit him.

CaliNurse - thanks for telling your story. And you are too kind re: my FIL. My FIL's health is OK; he just doesn't like the "hassles" of travel. He loves to sail and will "travel" by sailboat, but he doesn't like to get off the boat. My MIL loves to travel. They just got divorced a few years ago, and she right away found a "companion" and they've been all over the globe together.

The gym shift I work has a lot of older men who come in, and many of them won't travel, either. Some tell me they travelled when they were in the service, and that was enough for them, thank you. And anything beyond about 10 miles is considered traveling to them, lol.

How funny. This reminds me of a colleague who used to say, "Why can't everyone just stay in their own country?" Geez, Louise, some people just don't get it.

Faina, the following statement is the most shocking thing I've ever read on this board:

"Can I tell everybody that it's not Rick Steves on the tape, it's my husband with new hairstyle?" :-o

Faina, I would absolutely choke if I ever tried to claim Rick Steeves as my husband. I like his travel shows, but in another sense, Rick Steeves just doesn't do it for me, if ya know what I mean. I don't think I could tell anyone he is my husband without the fear of being struck by lightening.

But you have given me an interesting idea. Maybe I record "No Reservations," and claim Tony Bourdain as my own? ;;) Yeah, that'll work....

heehee....

Well, Faina, if you are going to do that, be sure to tape the episode where he's in a hot tub. For some of us, it was pretty gross!

As a teacher who loves to travel I always try to share my experiences with my HS students. My classroom walls are covered with awesome photos from old National Parks calenters.
Last year we watched the DVD "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants". After they analyzed the various relationships in the movie I said to a group of 6 girls-"All of the beautiful scenes on the Greek Islands makes me want to visit there, are you ladies thinking the same thing?" 3 of the girls immediately replied they had seen and experienced the movie so there would be no purpose for a visit, the other 3 agreed. I was stunned. My spirits were lifted the next day when a former student came by to visit toting a photo album of her winterbreak course she took which included 3 weeks in the Greek Isles and Italy and she loved it.

Hey, that's what EPCOT is for!