Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Traveling Without Certainty


Last year, on this very day I was planning to leave on my trip to South America. I was completely discombobulated. Leaving on a plane tomorrow. I hadn't had the luxury of planning for six months as I usually do.

There was no losing 30 pounds. No knowing exactly where we are going. I don't understand altitude sickness and the lack of air.

No certainties. No plans. No expectations.

I miss it. I love the getting ready of it all. The little tubes of toothpaste and what to put in my backpack for the plane. What treats to take for the children. Balloons? Candy? Chocolates?

We're going to Vegas this summer with a gaggle of other lesbians for three birthdays. My Love's, my best friend's and my best friend's sister's girlfriend.

I'm excited about that trip, but what I really hunger for is another trip with my uncles and aunt. I'd love to take my girlfriend so that she could experience another culture without plans. Tasting quinoa soup with Godknowswhat floating around in it. Local wines. Smiling at people who don't understand me hoping that they can feel the love in my heart. I want all of that for the woman I love. I want her to experience what I love about travelling with my family.

We will go with them. Maybe next year. But not this one. Everybody's cutting back this year. Including us. But next year...it might be China. Or Morocco, Spain and Portugal. Or Africa....like my aunt wants.

My question for you is....if you could go anywhere, where would you go? and why?



30 comments:

Jessica said...

ahh, you speak to my heart. I'm the same way as you about traveling. I love it. I would go to Africa, no question. I've never been, but have always felt a kinship, don't know why. Kenya looks beautiful.

Jessica said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

id stay here. i love where i live... i never had much wanderlust, even when i was younger. im a homebody... always have been.

lynette355 said...

I want to see America. Never really wanted to travel elsewhere. Maybe England and that is it. Most of all, I love being at home. I know boring but someone has to keep the home fires burning.

KayJay said...

I would love to go to Italy, but more than anything, I would love for me and my g/f to pack up the kids and just take off driving. Take turns blindly pointing at a location on a map. I think that would be awesome.

SkylersDad said...

I traveled a whole lot in the Navy, but never made it to the Alps, that is where I would go - Switzerland, France, etc...

Anonymous said...

If I could travel anywhere I'd love to meet my family in Italy. Coming in second on my list is Ireland--although perhaps that is more of a place I'd love to live. I dream of backpacking obscure places throughout the world. One day, maybe.

Thank you for visiting my blog!

Anonymous said...

I love traveling and in all ways, shapes or forms. From road trips to a 24 hour to your destination flight. As long as I'm moving into another direction, I'm happy. Spin the globe and where ever my finger lands (on land) that's where I'd like to go. Now the Wife likes things a little more organized and less campy so we're planning on visiting Italy and Australia sometime in our far future. Near future looks more like TN, FL and NJ...lol.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

Italy or Australia

Gary's third pottery blog said...

I ask myself that all the time, where would I go? Maybe nowhere, I love it here!
OK, a wee little trip to key West in january to warm up would be nice...

Fortune Cookies said...

Thailand, or New Zealand. OOOH....or maybe France. Definitely Thailand though.

Gina said...

Smiling at people who don't understand me hoping that they can feel the love in my heart.

Best blog quote ever. :)

I want to go to Africa, but first I have got to get to L.A. How pathetic is that?????

Dianne said...

I want to drive cross country - in a crazzy painted VW bus right out of the 60s

and I want very much to go to Africa

Scarlet said...

I would go to Spain and visit all the places my great grandfather talked about...or places LIKE the ones he talked about as I forgot the names of the cities. :(

Like you, I prefer a vacation where I can experience the culture and come away enriched!

Jeanne Estridge said...

Florence, Italy to see the Uffizi.

Another Suburban Mom said...

I want to see all of Italy. My family is from all over Italy so it would be cool to see if I have distant relatives out there.

Queen-Size funny bone said...

I would love to see every national park in the USA.

Anonymous said...

I love traveling cross-country. I've packed the wife and kids into our van and crossed the us 5 times to visit family (although twice was for funerals) but if I could go anywhere in the world, it would be Ireland. Second is New Zealand. Would love to see that beauty.
FMD

13messages said...

As a temporary escape from the "sound and fury, signifying nothing," I'd like to spend a week or two in a monastery. Vow of silence and all of that.

Have fun in Vegas! That's on my list as well. :)

we're doomed said...

I love to travel around America. Our country is so beautiful. Arizona, would be the state I would like to go visit. I lived there for about 6 months when I was young. I am thinking about visiting Canada, too. I just like to drive and see the beauty, period.

Dana said...

Odd ... I've actually been contemplating this. I've been thinking about taking Cam and going to some third-world country and living for a year. For me, it really isn't about the where, but about the who. I crave going somewhere that I can meet people different from me with so much culture to share. Where that is matters not.

g-man said...

I have wanted to go to Europe (I am mostly German so there I would like to start) England and Ireland countryside and Italy. I think I'd also like to take a year and with my camera on my back just go take pictures across this country and make a book. I'd also like to go to China, but I only know two words in Chinese, one is vagina (Yeendow) cause, ya know, I do. The other is "hello" (Neehow) for the record. :)

Candy's daily Dandy said...

Oh yes, I love this post. And before I answer, I just would like to say that I really felt the passion in your heart for your love and your family through your words. Nice quality for a writer.

ok-I want to go to Greece with My Guy. I would love to take the kids this summer and go for two weeks and tour the Greek Isles, experience the cool blue waters and soak up the local culture.
My Guy is the greatest concierge in the world-the only problem is that summer is his busiest time. The trip will happen and soon, but not in the summer. Probably more like fall, which is ok with me!

Kelli said...

I would love to travel to Italy. A close second would be Ireland. And a third choice would be the Netherlands. That's where my family is from so I would like to see where my ancestors came from. I pretty much would love to travel through all of Europe. And then the rest of the world from there!

Nolens Volens said...

Oh no! Not another pussy stampede! LV almost didn't survive that last time. Hope that cracked you up. ;)

Grant said...

Japan - bunny! You knew that one, right?

Spontaneity is vastly overrated. I tried to do that for a birthday celebration and everything went horribly wrong (got lost, restaurant I wanted to try had closed, etc.). I returned home, called for a do-over, carefully planned the next day and had a ball.

Anonymous said...

It's so grey right now, I think I'd go to the Maldives or somewhere else HOT!

Anonymous said...

I'd love to lose myself anywhere in the Mediterranean.

Man...you got me jonesing!

Akelamalu said...

I want to go to Africa and I will, one day. :)

Your trip to South America sounds so exciting. :)

Jules said...

Oh that's easy, I have always had a craving to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes in the South of France and participate in the nightly candle ritual to the steps of the Cathedral. Then again, I'm dying to visit Venice before it all just sinks. Tuscany is on my radar ever since I saw the stoopid Diane Lane film. And who wouldn't want to go to the Easter Islands and be 2,000 miles away from anywhere?

But on my current budget the most travel I can afford is Parump, New Jersey :(