Never traveling outside the East Coast

[Anonymous]

This is pretty average. My DH grew up in a family who's only trips/vacation were spent visiting grandparents or aunts/uncles. They never went anywhere just to see it and certainly never flew. I grew up in a family that traveled pretty extensively and now DH and I travel a lot with our kids. My ILs think we're crazy to spend our money on travel. Every time we tell them we're planning a trip to somewhere they just kind of shrug and say "why would you want to go there." I recently sent them a picture of my kids horseback riding on the beach in the Caribbean and my FIL responded that he knew someone with a farm horse that would probably let my kids ride it. Next time we wouldn't have to go so far. They even think their neighbors who go to the OBX every summer are crazy. For them it's not financial, it's just that they are very happy in their small bubble in their small rural town. Some people do not get joy from seeing the world. You do you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That sounds like a typical American. Just interested in their small little section of the universe.

I don't have friends who have only lived in one country and never left. Usually they are small minded. No matter how many degrees this person has - still an idiot.

This entire post is so unintentionally ironic.

[Anonymous]

I moved from Arlington to a smaller city in VA years ago and I have met many people who have not traveled much AT ALL, including even leaving the STATE.

This person clearly HAS traveled.

Some people feel that it is best to try and visit all over the US prior to ever traveling abroad while some believe that you should explore globally.

My own parents did take me out west a few times growing up but beyond that, there's a huge swath of the country that we didn't visit. We mostly avoided the deep south, never went to new england beyond visiting CT twice only to see family (not to explore).

Personally, I've taken my kids all over the east coast (VA/WV,CT,NH, NY, ME) and then twice into canada through Quebec (not just montreal/QC) and then down to Florida once.

We have considered going out west but the cost of flights and lodging is SO MUCH so through my research and so we've honestly traveled more around Europe....cheaper, interesting cultures, safe, good public transport, and super child-friendly....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever met a Californian? Most of the native Californians I know have never left the state nor see any reason to do so.

I don’t know if it’s all Californians, but when I lived out there I certainly was surprised at how many native Californians have never been to the east coast and have no interest in doing so. They talk about the east coast like it’s some far away, irrelevant place, lol.

Also Floridians travel outside florida but a fair number vacation in Florida, which…makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever met a Californian? Most of the native Californians I know have never left the state nor see any reason to do so.

As a Californian, this is pretty accurate. Some people feel there's no reason to leave; others can't afford to since it can take all day to drive to a border and then you have to keep going beyond that for a major destination. Most people who fly choose Hawaii, which is just as far away as the east coast but more fun when you land. My mom prioritized travel, so I'd been to most of the U.S. states and major European cities before I was living on my own, but we were viewed as fairly odd because of it.

And, if you are just someplace for a wedding or conference, I would argue you haven't really experienced it anyway. I've "been" to Chicago for one day: we saw the Shedd aquarium and the hotel, so that hardly counts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever met a Californian? Most of the native Californians I know have never left the state nor see any reason to do so.

I don’t know if it’s all Californians, but when I lived out there I certainly was surprised at how many native Californians have never been to the east coast and have no interest in doing so. They talk about the east coast like it’s some far away, irrelevant place, lol.

Also Floridians travel outside florida but a fair number vacation in Florida, which…makes sense.

The best example of this I can give is that after 9/11, national media focused on the absence of the towers from the NY skyline. It really didn't resonate in the western U.S. - not because we didn't care, but we weren't conscious of the skyline before so that way of framing things didn't hit. It wasn't until a couple days after, when fatality counts started to be reported, that I had a grasp of the size.

[Anonymous]

Does her extended family have a summer house in a place they all like to gather for extended periods? I know a few people like that who don’t live near family and want to spend most of their PTO with them at the summer house, rather than travel to see other places.

My ex is like that. He’s from Peru and spends 2 weeks a year visiting all his cousins at the beach, most of them have never been to Machu Picchu

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever met a Californian? Most of the native Californians I know have never left the state nor see any reason to do so.

I don’t know if it’s all Californians, but when I lived out there I certainly was surprised at how many native Californians have never been to the east coast and have no interest in doing so. They talk about the east coast like it’s some far away, irrelevant place, lol.

Also Floridians travel outside florida but a fair number vacation in Florida, which…makes sense.

The best example of this I can give is that after 9/11, national media focused on the absence of the towers from the NY skyline. It really didn't resonate in the western U.S. - not because we didn't care, but we weren't conscious of the skyline before so that way of framing things didn't hit. It wasn't until a couple days after, when fatality counts started to be reported, that I had a grasp of the size.

Another Californian here, and same experience. California is a beautiful place and there’s not much need to travel elsewhere, except a lot of people go to Hawaii.

[Anonymous]

Not at all unusual. Many people don't go outside their state/region except for the 8th grade trip to DC and a family trip to DisneyWorld. Travel is expensive, although became more accessible prior to the last 2 years of price hikes.

I have a beach house in New England and many people in my neighborhood spend the summer at the beach. They might go to Vermont or Maine to ski and to NYC for a weekend or two, and to FL for spring break. Most have traveled to Europe more than once. Nothing wrong with that and they are lovely and interesting people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That sounds like a typical American. Just interested in their small little section of the universe.

I don't have friends who have only lived in one country and never left. Usually they are small minded. No matter how many degrees this person has - still an idiot.

... This friend has traveled. And as for people who have truly never left their country-- ever considered that not everyone can afford to do so, even if they want to? Or are you too small-minded?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, she has traveled other places, you just don't think they count. Lots of people don't have to travel for work, and don't have money to fly on vacations, so if you're not going to count EUROPE, yeah it's common.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That sounds like a typical American. Just interested in their small little section of the universe.

I don't have friends who have only lived in one country and never left. Usually they are small minded. No matter how many degrees this person has - still an idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Growing up my dad had a secretary - at a well-known liberal arts college in the Midwest- who had NEVER LEFT THE COUNTY. She was maybe 50 when I was a kid and had zero interest in travel. She wasn’t any sort of phobic as far as I could tell, she went to college functions and was married and seemed to have a pretty normal life.

I've never left North America. Mexico once and Canada once. I don't have any phobias - I just can't afford to travel. I basically only travel for funerals. Oh, and I'm also a secretary. Not everyone is rich - traveling is a luxury.

[Anonymous]

DCUM forgets that most people in our country cannot afford to travel very far. And for those who can afford it, if you live on the east coast, there is already a ton to see here and the money and time spent traveling across the country will often be the same as going to Europe or the Caribbean, so it's not surprising someone would choose that instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That sounds like a typical American. Just interested in their small little section of the universe.

I don't have friends who have only lived in one country and never left. Usually they are small minded. No matter how many degrees this person has - still an idiot.

Wow, pot, meet kettle.