Why is travel such a big part of our lives?

[Anonymous]

I had this thought as well recently. It's almost become something you have to do for your kids or you are a bad parent. In truth, travel is exceedingly stressful, disruptive, and bad for the environment. I'm trying to not buy in to the "we have to go on a huge vacation every year" game.

[Anonymous]

Because I love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had this thought as well recently. It's almost become something you have to do for your kids or you are a bad parent. In truth, travel is exceedingly stressful, disruptive, and bad for the environment. I'm trying to not buy in to the "we have to go on a huge vacation every year" game.

Doesn't have to be any of those things.

[Anonymous]

I love travel. I love seeing our incredible world, exploring beyond the small city I live in and experiencing incredible things and meeting people around the world. Life is too short to not enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

Why do we do anything? Why do people have hobbies?

I travel because I love it, expenses and hassles and all. It expands my horizon.

It doesn't have to be very deep. It's my hobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did you decide to travel, OP? I'm curious.

+1

OP states that they traveled extensively and was a big part of their life. You start, tell us why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’re boring me.

Yep, OP is a droner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had this thought as well recently. It's almost become something you have to do for your kids or you are a bad parent. In truth, travel is exceedingly stressful, disruptive, and bad for the environment. I'm trying to not buy in to the "we have to go on a huge vacation every year" game.

Just rent a cottage by the sea instead of going on an intensive trip to Europe or Asia.

[Anonymous]

I think exploration and discovery is part of human nature.

That being said, I wouldn't say travel is a big part of my life. We usually make one trip that involves a flight every two years. Other than that it's long weekends, driving vacations, or visiting family.

[Anonymous]

It's not like the old days where the journey was an experience. Meeting strangers and having amazing conversations. Really a lot of beauty and experiences to be had. I hate flying now. So I understand your question OP.

But there are still a lot of beautiful places to see and if you find the right culture and location esp if you're able to travel off season, travel is worth it. Will it continue to be with the outrageous prices and sheer population of tourists? I don't know.

I know that seeing more of the world is better than not because it's a wonderful thing to experience another culture. To eat different foods and do things you can't at home - to relax on a beach or raft with wildlife around you. You have to really be selective but yeah, it's worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is fun/ interesting to see different parts of the world and to meet new people all over.

How many new people do you really meet if you stay in a hotel? I was in Paris recently and met some people from Chicago and some Australians and a couple from Silver Spring. I talked with the guy at the hotel front desk but only to say things like "Key to room 16 please".

If you live in the DMV area, how many travelers from abroad have you met in the last year who weren't family or connected to work?

I did meet people when I was backpacking solo and slumming it, but that doesn't seem the DCUM way.

[Anonymous]

Because we have become a society that values things rather than people and we are constantly in competition with each other. We are increasingly more obsessed with people thinking we are as much if not more “educated” than they are.

We travel to see things not to get to know the people.

We travel because we want people to think we are “educated” or to show our wealth.

We value the wrong things.

Our minds are racing 24x7 and we can’t quiet them without digging into a book, binge watching TV, working out obsessively or traveling.

We always need something to look forward to because we have arranged our life in such a way that we need to escape it all the time.

People will say bah I travel because I love it… but if you ask why, why, why.

It comes down too … “ I want to seem well rounded”, “I need something to look forward to”, “to educate myself”, “so my children are educated”

But come on.

[Anonymous]

I’ve never been much of a travel person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because we have become a society that values things rather than people and we are constantly in competition with each other. We are increasingly more obsessed with people thinking we are as much if not more “educated” than they are.

We travel to see things not to get to know the people.

We travel because we want people to think we are “educated” or to show our wealth.

We value the wrong things.

Our minds are racing 24x7 and we can’t quiet them without digging into a book, binge watching TV, working out obsessively or traveling.

We always need something to look forward to because we have arranged our life in such a way that we need to escape it all the time.

People will say bah I travel because I love it… but if you ask why, why, why.

It comes down too … “ I want to seem well rounded”, “I need something to look forward to”, “to educate myself”, “so my children are educated”

But come on.

I agree with this. I’ve visited 75 countries but I’m not sure my motivation was always all that pure. Hiking, playing piano and hanging with a few lifelong friends who know me better than I know myself (I’m lucky to maintain these friendships and will never take them for granted) make me far happier than travel. For me the pleasure of travel is fleeting, almost drug like. A temporary high and then the crash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because we have become a society that values things rather than people and we are constantly in competition with each other. We are increasingly more obsessed with people thinking we are as much if not more “educated” than they are.

We travel to see things not to get to know the people.

We travel because we want people to think we are “educated” or to show our wealth.

We value the wrong things.

Our minds are racing 24x7 and we can’t quiet them without digging into a book, binge watching TV, working out obsessively or traveling.

We always need something to look forward to because we have arranged our life in such a way that we need to escape it all the time.

People will say bah I travel because I love it… but if you ask why, why, why.

It comes down too … “ I want to seem well rounded”, “I need something to look forward to”, “to educate myself”, “so my children are educated”

But come on.

I agree with this. I’ve visited 75 countries but I’m not sure my motivation was always all that pure. Hiking, playing piano and hanging with a few lifelong friends who know me better than I know myself (I’m lucky to maintain these friendships and will never take them for granted) make me far happier than travel. For me the pleasure of travel is fleeting, almost drug like. A temporary high and then the crash.

PP, I think your reasons are the ones that a lot of people have if they were being honest with themselves. My inlaws traveled a lot over their lives and all they did was brag about it, even though my MIL seemed so unhappy about it most of the time. It was truly just so they could tell people all the places they have been. Once again, their generation has ruined something for the rest of us. Ruined the climate and now we likely won't have opportunities to travel soon because all this flying around is ruining the environment.