Curious…by the time your kids graduate HS

[Anonymous]

We've prioritized travel, but sick relatives and COVID have gotten in the way.

My oldest at 9 has been to give European countries, Mexico, and Panama. And probably 15-20 U.S. states, including a cross country driving trip. He was a GREAT traveler even at 2 years old. Little bro makes things more challenging; but at almost 5, he's getting easier to travel with.

HHI is $700k, but up until recently, was more like $250k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is “cheating” as we live overseas on military orders. We are on one government salary, with a 4yo and 6yo. They’ve been to 24 countries so far, even with being sidelined for 18 months due to pandemic travel restrictions. EU travel is very affordable overall when you’re already based in the EU, and we live close to several countries you can easily do a weekend trip to. We are due to return to the US next year; I am sure it will take a couple decades or more or never after that for them to visit another 24 countries. (Favorites have been Baltic states, Scotland, Morocco, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece).

And this here is the key. You can have all the money in the word, but if you live in the geographically isolated US, it is very hard to show your kids the world on one or two week trips to Europe. You just end up hitting the most overtouristed spots like Paris, Lisbon, and Copenhagen. Our family also lives in Europe and we have been able to visit so many off the beaten path places and countries that would never be possible from the US. It’s a combination of time, exposure, and ability to stay in Europe long term that is the key, rather than HHI. That’s why American kids, even from rich families and cities, still seem so unsophisticated in comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious about this too. My kids will have been to quite a few states (mostly because we have moved within the US a few times) and about 5 countries. When I graduated from high school I had never been outside the US, but that was many years ago. And we were poor.

OP here. Travel abroad wasn’t a thing even for most middle class families. Now it’s the norm?? I wonder for how long given inflation. But yeah, it’s crazy all the places kids have been to from my kids’ classes.

I still don't think it's a thing for most middle-class families. Most people who call themselves middle-class in this area are really UMC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is “cheating” as we live overseas on military orders. We are on one government salary, with a 4yo and 6yo. They’ve been to 24 countries so far, even with being sidelined for 18 months due to pandemic travel restrictions. EU travel is very affordable overall when you’re already based in the EU, and we live close to several countries you can easily do a weekend trip to. We are due to return to the US next year; I am sure it will take a couple decades or more or never after that for them to visit another 24 countries. (Favorites have been Baltic states, Scotland, Morocco, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece).

And this here is the key. You can have all the money in the word, but if you live in the geographically isolated US, it is very hard to show your kids the world on one or two week trips to Europe. You just end up hitting the most overtouristed spots like Paris, Lisbon, and Copenhagen. Our family also lives in Europe and we have been able to visit so many off the beaten path places and countries that would never be possible from the US. It’s a combination of time, exposure, and ability to stay in Europe long term that is the key, rather than HHI. That’s why American kids, even from rich families and cities, still seem so unsophisticated in comparison.

Yet nothing can keep you from sounding like an insufferable snob.

[Anonymous]

Backdating to modest HHI under 250k. I was a SAHM.
DD graduated HS in 2017:

Every East Coast state from Maine to Florida. Combination of family vacations, visiting family members.

Also traveled for school activities to Puerto Rico and CA.

Family trip to London and Paris - modest considering stayed with relatives.

DD still loves to travel.

[Anonymous]

Outside US: Turks and Caicos, England, France, Israel, US Virgin Islands, Argentina

US: NY, NJ, NV, CA, NC, SC, GA, PA, NH, ME, VT, AL, MA, CT, DC, RI, FL, IL, MD, VA, OR

HHI >500K

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is “cheating” as we live overseas on military orders. We are on one government salary, with a 4yo and 6yo. They’ve been to 24 countries so far, even with being sidelined for 18 months due to pandemic travel restrictions. EU travel is very affordable overall when you’re already based in the EU, and we live close to several countries you can easily do a weekend trip to. We are due to return to the US next year; I am sure it will take a couple decades or more or never after that for them to visit another 24 countries. (Favorites have been Baltic states, Scotland, Morocco, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece).

And this here is the key. You can have all the money in the word, but if you live in the geographically isolated US, it is very hard to show your kids the world on one or two week trips to Europe. You just end up hitting the most overtouristed spots like Paris, Lisbon, and Copenhagen. Our family also lives in Europe and we have been able to visit so many off the beaten path places and countries that would never be possible from the US. It’s a combination of time, exposure, and ability to stay in Europe long term that is the key, rather than HHI. That’s why American kids, even from rich families and cities, still seem so unsophisticated in comparison.

Yet nothing can keep you from sounding like an insufferable snob.

It's really an inexhaustible gift from this poster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is “cheating” as we live overseas on military orders. We are on one government salary, with a 4yo and 6yo. They’ve been to 24 countries so far, even with being sidelined for 18 months due to pandemic travel restrictions. EU travel is very affordable overall when you’re already based in the EU, and we live close to several countries you can easily do a weekend trip to. We are due to return to the US next year; I am sure it will take a couple decades or more or never after that for them to visit another 24 countries. (Favorites have been Baltic states, Scotland, Morocco, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece).

And this here is the key. You can have all the money in the word, but if you live in the geographically isolated US, it is very hard to show your kids the world on one or two week trips to Europe. You just end up hitting the most overtouristed spots like Paris, Lisbon, and Copenhagen. Our family also lives in Europe and we have been able to visit so many off the beaten path places and countries that would never be possible from the US. It’s a combination of time, exposure, and ability to stay in Europe long term that is the key, rather than HHI. That’s why American kids, even from rich families and cities, still seem so unsophisticated in comparison.

Yet nothing can keep you from sounding like an insufferable snob.

It's really an inexhaustible gift from this poster.

NP - but PP is probably right. I mean there are def times I wish I could travel more with my family but alas, between the little time off we get for work and school calendars, it's not even the money. I'm the daughter of immigrants but I know my kids will never be able to pick up culturally their backgrounds because I just don't have the time to have them fly across the world and spend time with relatives there. We aren't loaded and have some money but it's not even a matter of money but both time and money. It's not what any of Americans want to hear, but to her point, she's not totally wrong. Maybe she could have put it a bit more compassionately of course!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is “cheating” as we live overseas on military orders. We are on one government salary, with a 4yo and 6yo. They’ve been to 24 countries so far, even with being sidelined for 18 months due to pandemic travel restrictions. EU travel is very affordable overall when you’re already based in the EU, and we live close to several countries you can easily do a weekend trip to. We are due to return to the US next year; I am sure it will take a couple decades or more or never after that for them to visit another 24 countries. (Favorites have been Baltic states, Scotland, Morocco, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece).

And this here is the key. You can have all the money in the word, but if you live in the geographically isolated US, it is very hard to show your kids the world on one or two week trips to Europe. You just end up hitting the most overtouristed spots like Paris, Lisbon, and Copenhagen. Our family also lives in Europe and we have been able to visit so many off the beaten path places and countries that would never be possible from the US. It’s a combination of time, exposure, and ability to stay in Europe long term that is the key, rather than HHI. That’s why American kids, even from rich families and cities, still seem so unsophisticated in comparison.

Yet nothing can keep you from sounding like an insufferable snob.

It's really an inexhaustible gift from this poster.

NP - but PP is probably right. I mean there are def times I wish I could travel more with my family but alas, between the little time off we get for work and school calendars, it's not even the money. I'm the daughter of immigrants but I know my kids will never be able to pick up culturally their backgrounds because I just don't have the time to have them fly across the world and spend time with relatives there. We aren't loaded and have some money but it's not even a matter of money but both time and money. It's not what any of Americans want to hear, but to her point, she's not totally wrong. Maybe she could have put it a bit more compassionately of course!

No, she is wrong on so many levels. The first major one is her assumption that only Europeans culture matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is “cheating” as we live overseas on military orders. We are on one government salary, with a 4yo and 6yo. They’ve been to 24 countries so far, even with being sidelined for 18 months due to pandemic travel restrictions. EU travel is very affordable overall when you’re already based in the EU, and we live close to several countries you can easily do a weekend trip to. We are due to return to the US next year; I am sure it will take a couple decades or more or never after that for them to visit another 24 countries. (Favorites have been Baltic states, Scotland, Morocco, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece).

And this here is the key. You can have all the money in the word, but if you live in the geographically isolated US, it is very hard to show your kids the world on one or two week trips to Europe. You just end up hitting the most overtouristed spots like Paris, Lisbon, and Copenhagen. Our family also lives in Europe and we have been able to visit so many off the beaten path places and countries that would never be possible from the US. It’s a combination of time, exposure, and ability to stay in Europe long term that is the key, rather than HHI. That’s why American kids, even from rich families and cities, still seem so unsophisticated in comparison.

Yet nothing can keep you from sounding like an insufferable snob.

It's really an inexhaustible gift from this poster.

NP - but PP is probably right. I mean there are def times I wish I could travel more with my family but alas, between the little time off we get for work and school calendars, it's not even the money. I'm the daughter of immigrants but I know my kids will never be able to pick up culturally their backgrounds because I just don't have the time to have them fly across the world and spend time with relatives there. We aren't loaded and have some money but it's not even a matter of money but both time and money. It's not what any of Americans want to hear, but to her point, she's not totally wrong. Maybe she could have put it a bit more compassionately of course!

No, she is wrong on so many levels. The first major one is her assumption that only Europeans culture matters.

PP here. I didn’t mean to offend, it’s just the truth. And I never said that only European culture matters. That’s also why our family spent eight months in Latin America, to get the same exposure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is “cheating” as we live overseas on military orders. We are on one government salary, with a 4yo and 6yo. They’ve been to 24 countries so far, even with being sidelined for 18 months due to pandemic travel restrictions. EU travel is very affordable overall when you’re already based in the EU, and we live close to several countries you can easily do a weekend trip to. We are due to return to the US next year; I am sure it will take a couple decades or more or never after that for them to visit another 24 countries. (Favorites have been Baltic states, Scotland, Morocco, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece).

And this here is the key. You can have all the money in the word, but if you live in the geographically isolated US, it is very hard to show your kids the world on one or two week trips to Europe. You just end up hitting the most overtouristed spots like Paris, Lisbon, and Copenhagen. Our family also lives in Europe and we have been able to visit so many off the beaten path places and countries that would never be possible from the US. It’s a combination of time, exposure, and ability to stay in Europe long term that is the key, rather than HHI. That’s why American kids, even from rich families and cities, still seem so unsophisticated in comparison.

Yet nothing can keep you from sounding like an insufferable snob.

It's really an inexhaustible gift from this poster.

NP - but PP is probably right. I mean there are def times I wish I could travel more with my family but alas, between the little time off we get for work and school calendars, it's not even the money. I'm the daughter of immigrants but I know my kids will never be able to pick up culturally their backgrounds because I just don't have the time to have them fly across the world and spend time with relatives there. We aren't loaded and have some money but it's not even a matter of money but both time and money. It's not what any of Americans want to hear, but to her point, she's not totally wrong. Maybe she could have put it a bit more compassionately of course!

No, she is wrong on so many levels. The first major one is her assumption that only Europeans culture matters.

PP here. I didn’t mean to offend, it’s just the truth. And I never said that only European culture matters. That’s also why our family spent eight months in Latin America, to get the same exposure.

It isn’t the truth, it is your biased and uninformed opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is “cheating” as we live overseas on military orders. We are on one government salary, with a 4yo and 6yo. They’ve been to 24 countries so far, even with being sidelined for 18 months due to pandemic travel restrictions. EU travel is very affordable overall when you’re already based in the EU, and we live close to several countries you can easily do a weekend trip to. We are due to return to the US next year; I am sure it will take a couple decades or more or never after that for them to visit another 24 countries. (Favorites have been Baltic states, Scotland, Morocco, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece).

And this here is the key. You can have all the money in the word, but if you live in the geographically isolated US, it is very hard to show your kids the world on one or two week trips to Europe. You just end up hitting the most overtouristed spots like Paris, Lisbon, and Copenhagen. Our family also lives in Europe and we have been able to visit so many off the beaten path places and countries that would never be possible from the US. It’s a combination of time, exposure, and ability to stay in Europe long term that is the key, rather than HHI. That’s why American kids, even from rich families and cities, still seem so unsophisticated in comparison.

Yet nothing can keep you from sounding like an insufferable snob.

It's really an inexhaustible gift from this poster.

NP - but PP is probably right. I mean there are def times I wish I could travel more with my family but alas, between the little time off we get for work and school calendars, it's not even the money. I'm the daughter of immigrants but I know my kids will never be able to pick up culturally their backgrounds because I just don't have the time to have them fly across the world and spend time with relatives there. We aren't loaded and have some money but it's not even a matter of money but both time and money. It's not what any of Americans want to hear, but to her point, she's not totally wrong. Maybe she could have put it a bit more compassionately of course!

No, she is wrong on so many levels. The first major one is her assumption that only Europeans culture matters.

PP here. I didn’t mean to offend, it’s just the truth. And I never said that only European culture matters. That’s also why our family spent eight months in Latin America, to get the same exposure.

It isn’t the truth, it is your biased and uninformed opinion.

Also, what does "geographically isolated USA mean"? It's not like I live in Hawaii or Alaska. Is Ireland geographically isolated? What about Norway? Isolated from...what, exactly?

And, how does one legally stay in these places for such a long period of time? How do you work (despite what many here may experience, the vast majority of jobs can not be done remotely 100% of the time).. How does money not matter in such a situation? How do you afford these things? Do you enroll your kids in school there? How do you afford private school, assuming you couldn't have them go to public school?

It just seems like a strange assumption that it's realistic for anyone more than a few very rich, or with unusual attributes (multiple citizenships, etc), could do anything like what you suggest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is “cheating” as we live overseas on military orders. We are on one government salary, with a 4yo and 6yo. They’ve been to 24 countries so far, even with being sidelined for 18 months due to pandemic travel restrictions. EU travel is very affordable overall when you’re already based in the EU, and we live close to several countries you can easily do a weekend trip to. We are due to return to the US next year; I am sure it will take a couple decades or more or never after that for them to visit another 24 countries. (Favorites have been Baltic states, Scotland, Morocco, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece).

And this here is the key. You can have all the money in the word, but if you live in the geographically isolated US, it is very hard to show your kids the world on one or two week trips to Europe. You just end up hitting the most overtouristed spots like Paris, Lisbon, and Copenhagen. Our family also lives in Europe and we have been able to visit so many off the beaten path places and countries that would never be possible from the US. It’s a combination of time, exposure, and ability to stay in Europe long term that is the key, rather than HHI. That’s why American kids, even from rich families and cities, still seem so unsophisticated in comparison.

Why do you need to show your children the world? it will still be there when they grow up and they can see it on their own. Just giving them a taste of what’s out there is enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is “cheating” as we live overseas on military orders. We are on one government salary, with a 4yo and 6yo. They’ve been to 24 countries so far, even with being sidelined for 18 months due to pandemic travel restrictions. EU travel is very affordable overall when you’re already based in the EU, and we live close to several countries you can easily do a weekend trip to. We are due to return to the US next year; I am sure it will take a couple decades or more or never after that for them to visit another 24 countries. (Favorites have been Baltic states, Scotland, Morocco, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece).

And this here is the key. You can have all the money in the word, but if you live in the geographically isolated US, it is very hard to show your kids the world on one or two week trips to Europe. You just end up hitting the most overtouristed spots like Paris, Lisbon, and Copenhagen. Our family also lives in Europe and we have been able to visit so many off the beaten path places and countries that would never be possible from the US. It’s a combination of time, exposure, and ability to stay in Europe long term that is the key, rather than HHI. That’s why American kids, even from rich families and cities, still seem so unsophisticated in comparison.

Yet nothing can keep you from sounding like an insufferable snob.

And that’s exactly my point: you probably can’t achieve it for your kids, no matter how high your HHI is, or what private school they attend. Their one or two week trips to Europe or East Asia or Colombia or wherever will never make them the kind of people who spend lasting time in other cultures, like military kids, or State Department kids, or missionary kids, or the children of immigrants. It’s just a fact, and that’s why framing this discussion in terms of HHI and countries visited briefly (as the OP did) is entirely meaningless.

And yes, the US is geographically and culturally isolated. It takes a long plane flight to reach most of the world, unlike your examples of Ireland and Norway which are within a short flight from dozens of languages and cultures.

It's really an inexhaustible gift from this poster.

NP - but PP is probably right. I mean there are def times I wish I could travel more with my family but alas, between the little time off we get for work and school calendars, it's not even the money. I'm the daughter of immigrants but I know my kids will never be able to pick up culturally their backgrounds because I just don't have the time to have them fly across the world and spend time with relatives there. We aren't loaded and have some money but it's not even a matter of money but both time and money. It's not what any of Americans want to hear, but to her point, she's not totally wrong. Maybe she could have put it a bit more compassionately of course!

No, she is wrong on so many levels. The first major one is her assumption that only Europeans culture matters.

PP here. I didn’t mean to offend, it’s just the truth. And I never said that only European culture matters. That’s also why our family spent eight months in Latin America, to get the same exposure.

It isn’t the truth, it is your biased and uninformed opinion.

Also, what does "geographically isolated USA mean"? It's not like I live in Hawaii or Alaska. Is Ireland geographically isolated? What about Norway? Isolated from...what, exactly?

And, how does one legally stay in these places for such a long period of time? How do you work (despite what many here may experience, the vast majority of jobs can not be done remotely 100% of the time).. How does money not matter in such a situation? How do you afford these things? Do you enroll your kids in school there? How do you afford private school, assuming you couldn't have them go to public school?

It just seems like a strange assumption that it's realistic for anyone more than a few very rich, or with unusual attributes (multiple citizenships, etc), could do anything like what you suggest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is “cheating” as we live overseas on military orders. We are on one government salary, with a 4yo and 6yo. They’ve been to 24 countries so far, even with being sidelined for 18 months due to pandemic travel restrictions. EU travel is very affordable overall when you’re already based in the EU, and we live close to several countries you can easily do a weekend trip to. We are due to return to the US next year; I am sure it will take a couple decades or more or never after that for them to visit another 24 countries. (Favorites have been Baltic states, Scotland, Morocco, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece).

And this here is the key. You can have all the money in the word, but if you live in the geographically isolated US, it is very hard to show your kids the world on one or two week trips to Europe. You just end up hitting the most overtouristed spots like Paris, Lisbon, and Copenhagen. Our family also lives in Europe and we have been able to visit so many off the beaten path places and countries that would never be possible from the US. It’s a combination of time, exposure, and ability to stay in Europe long term that is the key, rather than HHI. That’s why American kids, even from rich families and cities, still seem so unsophisticated in comparison.

Yet nothing can keep you from sounding like an insufferable snob.

It's really an inexhaustible gift from this poster.

NP - but PP is probably right. I mean there are def times I wish I could travel more with my family but alas, between the little time off we get for work and school calendars, it's not even the money. I'm the daughter of immigrants but I know my kids will never be able to pick up culturally their backgrounds because I just don't have the time to have them fly across the world and spend time with relatives there. We aren't loaded and have some money but it's not even a matter of money but both time and money. It's not what any of Americans want to hear, but to her point, she's not totally wrong. Maybe she could have put it a bit more compassionately of course!

No, she is wrong on so many levels. The first major one is her assumption that only Europeans culture matters.

PP here. I didn’t mean to offend, it’s just the truth. And I never said that only European culture matters. That’s also why our family spent eight months in Latin America, to get the same exposure.

It isn’t the truth, it is your biased and uninformed opinion.

Also, what does "geographically isolated USA mean"? It's not like I live in Hawaii or Alaska. Is Ireland geographically isolated? What about Norway? Isolated from...what, exactly?

And, how does one legally stay in these places for such a long period of time? How do you work (despite what many here may experience, the vast majority of jobs can not be done remotely 100% of the time).. How does money not matter in such a situation? How do you afford these things? Do you enroll your kids in school there? How do you afford private school, assuming you couldn't have them go to public school?

It just seems like a strange assumption that it's realistic for anyone more than a few very rich, or with unusual attributes (multiple citizenships, etc), could do anything like what you suggest.

And that’s exactly my point: you probably can’t achieve it for your kids, no matter how high your HHI is, or what private school they attend. Their one or two week trips to Europe or East Asia or Colombia or wherever will never make them the kind of people who spend lasting time in other cultures, like military kids, or State Department kids, or missionary kids, or the children of immigrants. It’s just a fact, and that’s why framing this discussion in terms of HHI and countries visited briefly (as the OP did) is entirely meaningless.

And yes, the US is geographically and culturally isolated. It takes a long plane flight to reach most of the world, unlike your examples of Ireland and Norway which are within a short flight from dozens of languages and cultures.