herself

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 "home" 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 "Far away places with strange sounding names, are calling, calling me."

travleis

Makes you appreciate the words even more when someone has to "sign" them, then you have to interpret.
Sorry, I'm only kidding. Couldn't resist.
If I ever make it to the "home" I hope I still have the neuronal capacity to remember and appreciate the memories I've stored up.

Tansy

Cassandra, I can really relate to what you wrote:

"I travel to wake my brain up, to refresh my spirit from the staleness of same-old same-old."

That's definitely a big reason why I travel so much. And the planning! I always have a trip planned, which is my "carrot" to keep me going when work gets too stressful.

suzanne

I want to see EVERYTHING. And just being somewhere new and far away is awesome ("WOW, I can't believe I'm HERE!").

I also love to travel just for the memories of the awesome places and experiences. I've kept journals for several of my trips, and reading them later is such a hoot!

Many of my vacations are a little stressful in themselves. Since I often have little time to plan, I have to wing it sometimes. Figuring out where you're going to stay that very night, what you're going to do & where you're going to get all your meals (esp. when you're with a very picky eater) can be tough. But...an adventure!

Sometimes I do travel to de-stress though...and I'll take some type of all-inclusive adventure trip. It's just easy...and the exercise is revitalizing.

And I have never, ever in my entire working life taken a vacation day at home. That's something I just don't understand. You see your home every night and on weekends...why not spend your free time seeing something new?

Mary2Go

I can relate to almost all the reasons you all have stated. My childhood vacations have influenced me in a diiferent way than some of you. My memories are of car trips trying to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible. I can remember looking out the window of the backseat (covered in that cheesy plastic protector!)wishing we would stop at some of those points of interest. We were usually on the way to see family, which was really important to my folks. I am glad my kids have had the chance to see some different countries, and different ways of living. I think it is easier to understand what happens in other parts of the world. Have any of you noticed that when you return from a trip to a different place that you everday surroundings look a little different? I have discussed this with my Hub and we decided it is because when you travel you are really looking at things as opposed to everday life with eyes wide shut!

buttercup

I travel for all three of your reasons. Different trips fulfill different needs.

I also enjoy the fresh perspective I have on returning home. Staying in nice hotels makes me want to make my bathrooom as luxurious as theirs. Staying in a rental condo with the minimum amount of kitchen items makes me want to de-clutter my kitchen when I get home. Staying in a cozy inn makes me want to refresh my bedroom.

In the same vein, I always read about the location I'm going to both before and after the trip. I always find something I want to know more about when I'm in a new place.

Trying new foods or restaurants inspires me to recreate different recipes at home.

And of course, living out of a suitcase for a week or two makes me realize that I don't need half of the clothes I have.

ed

2 & 3 but also to see new things, eat new food and to go back to places that a we have visited before to admire again- for example Saint Chapelle.

Yes, part of the fun is in planning but in the last few years we let somebody else do the planning.

I have recently retired after 55 years so a good part of the stress is gone but it is still fun to "get away". Even if it is one 80 miles. :-B

travellyn

To see new places, meet people, learn new things, experience someone else's culture. I love being surprised. I enjoy trying new foods and drinks; I'm also really into art, architecture, and gardening. Travel is inspiring and energizing to me.

I can relax pretty well at home (alone) when I have a day off, so I don't travel to destress. We have a lot of family time at home as well. Travel does allow me to connect with extended family and friends who live far away.

M_Martin

Tansy,

I travel for all the reasons you listed and more...

Like you and Birdie, I need to pick up and go every now and then. I was raised as an Air Force brat and have now been living in Ohio for over twenty years. Sometimes I just have to get out of Dodge...

OaktownTraveler

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

hugglynn

We travel to see the world, new places and take in how life is so much different in every area of this country (and others) from where we live. But, to add to that, I feel it makes me more "worldly". I feel like a much more knowledgeable and well-rounded person because we travel. I don't mean that in a smug sort of way, but since we are DINK's (Dual Income No Kids), we've had a head start on this since we were young(er). Many others our age can't get away and appear envious, and at times with family, almost angry, that we can and do get away. I also have friends who "could" travel, but don't because of frugality or, with one person in particular, because they don't want to leave their dog (they get a sitter for one-night occasions). So to sum it up, we travel because we can! Sometimes in our travels, my husband will point out a person he might see in a wheelchair or walker--and his point for doing so is just to say how lucky he feels we can travel now because there might come a time later in life when even though we would want to, we wouldn't be able to or at best, it would be difficult.

SusanInToronto

This has been fascinating. I love travel for many of the reasons sited in the previous post. I do have a stressful job, but I can't say that I travel to escape stress. I find it sad when people can only relax when they leave their life behind. Right now, I get 5 weeks of vacation, so realistically that's about it for travel time. Since my family live on the other side of the country, I do try to get out there to see them as well. But I don't want to spend 47 weeks of my life getting so stressed out that I need those 5 weeks to just unwind!

MacNaughton

So fun to read your answers...I suppose none of us travel for just one reason. I guess I have a couple of compelling reasons. I travel because it makes my world larger. The people I meet, the art I see and the natural wonders I view all expand my understanding of others and myself. I also travel to get perspective. When home for too long, I get to thinking that my problems or stresses are larger than they really are. Travel reminds me that my situation is one among millions and that I would miss all that is "out there" if I stayed stuck in my own universe.

jlb

To escape my "real" world!

Cdanjon

At 45 I just started started to experience the luxury of travel. I've always been blessed by being able to spend summers in Wisconsin with my parents. My children are fortunate to spend their entire summer up north also with my parents. The only draw back to this is that as a family (Husband and 2 boys) we never really went anywhere else. Last year the four of us went to Maya Riviera for a week and it was wonderful. We spent a lot of time reconnecting with each other and the memories are great. Next Feb. my girlfriend and I are planning on going somewhere warm for a week to just relax and have "girl fun." Traveling is a privilege and the planning and anticipation are just as fun. Any suggestions? Carla

Tansy

hugglynn, I completely relate to your comments about relatives or friends being envious/angry about the amount of travel my husband and I do. We are also DINKs and take many trips per year. Some people seem to think it is wasteful somehow (!) -- like we should be spending our money on something more "worthwhile." As if travel is not worthwhile!

Rosemary1

My response is ABSOLUTLEY ALL OF THE ABOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And then some.

Awesome post!

Heartburn3

I like to travel to get away from my regular routine. It's a refreshing way to see new surroundings and meet new people. I like to just drive and look at the scenery. Very relaxing for me.

colecade

Why do people travel?? because it does something special to your heart, soul, your whole being! for example, My husband and I tryed unsuccessfully for 4 yrs. to conceive our 2nd child, when lo and behold we go to the ocean for 1 week, (had not been on vacation since my 1st born)and I guess watching my husband and son frolick in the ocean must have done SOMETHING to me because I came back (with child)!!! we found out 3 weeks after we got back>

dolciani

because I don't have a a tranquil blue sea and warm sun in my backyard!