I have always loved to travel. I think in a large part it’s because my mother loved to travel. Before she married, she traveled to about 45 states plus Canada and Mexico. My father liked to travel as well, but his idea of the perfect trip usually involved hunting or fishing in northern Wisconsin and Canada. I’ve been to most of the states, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Scotland, and Tanzania. There are so many more places I want to go!
The older I get, the more I realize that travel, like so many other things in life, should be enjoyed while you can and not put off for later.
For example, our health can deteriorate, sometimes much more quickly than we thought. My husband and I are in good health and in good shape physically, even compared to people younger than us. Last year we went to Tanzania, Africa. Getting there involved about 24 hours of being in planes and airports. Of course, it was another 24 hours getting back home. It took a toll on us. We’ve decided that we need to do the long-haul trips (Australia, New Zealand, etc.) in the next few years or we might not be able to do it.
My brother injured his eye a few years ago. He still can’t see properly. There’s travel he would like to do, but if he does travel, he won’t enjoy it like he would have before his injury.
I know a family that has been talking of taking a family vacation for years. They never got around to it. Their oldest is going to college this year. Now it will be even more difficult to do a family vacation.
My nephew and his wife have done things right, in my opinion. They’re not 30 yet but have traveled throughout the world. They couldn’t afford luxurious trips, but they’ve seen places and done things that others never will. They just had a baby. I’m sure that they will travel as a family when their child is older, which will be fun. But they’ve also had the experience of traveling as a child-free couple.
I encourage you to think about what fills you with passion. Think about what you really want to do. And then find a way to make it happen—now. Don’t wait 10, 20, or more years. Do it now because you might not be able to do it later.
