Why is travel such a big part of our lives?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

We usually stay at rentals and go to regular groceries markets, shops, etc. We have met people at dinners. Or hiking.

Lots of ways to interact with others outside of the hostels.

^ oh, and my grandparents were on a very limited income but loved to travel so they stayed at elder hostels

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
A close relative died (unexpectedly) a few days before I had a travel vacation scheduled. It was traumatic. That said, I went on the previously scheduled vacation (only 5 days) with my husband. It was a flight and hotel/city escape. (The memorial service was scheduled for later, but not because of my plans). It turned out to be fine as we were busy going on tours and eating out, seeing sites, etc. As soon as we got on the plane to come back my mind went back to thinking about my relative (it was a horrible death and I was there). Until that moment I had been doing okay.

In sum, a vacation puts your mind into a different place from where it was. You are consumed by those differences and your mind is busy with that. It is a big mental break.

So basically the trip helped me in some way. My relative had said, "Enjoy your life" before he died.

Good final thought. Hugs to you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Instagram pictures.

Many of us travel a lot and have no social media presence at all. We are stealth wealth and actively downplay our travel. We live in our original house and drive older cars.

And some of us traveled while poor. (It can be done.)

[Anonymous]

Escapism

[Anonymous]

Serious answer:

I travel for the following reasons:

1. History and culture. There is nothing like seeing a glorious gothic cathedral in a historic European city or town. There is nothing like ambling through the ruins of Pompeii and marvel at a civilization from 2,000 years ago.

2. Urban character. I love exploring other cities, from London to Dubai to Singapore and Hong Kong. Discovering new neighborhoods, coming across a hidden little temple or church, sitting in an outdoor cafe and watching the world go by and wonder who these people are and where they came from and how they think.

3. Nature. Whether a beach or a mountain or a beautiful rolling countryside or a spectacular African savannah, nature really is good for the soul. Seeing wildlife is really good for the soul.

Travel is annoying, a pain in the neck, a hassle, and mass tourism is creating problems, but despite it all, I love traveling.

[Anonymous]

I travel because…I enjoy it. I like it so much more than remodeling my house or driving a fancy new car or shopping for clothes and handbags. Planning specific vacations and researching future potential trips is a joy to me. And the trips also provide quality family time because DH and kids really enjoy it too. It’s really the only time we spend more than a few hours together without outside distractions. I just love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I say this as a true free spirit, having traveled extensively and lived several places, too.

But why do we do it, on such a large scale, and so much? It’s expensive, tedious, bad for the environment, logistically challenging, and sometimes (frequently?) the locals would really rather we weren’t there.

I can’t relate to any of those statements and I travel weekly for work and monthly (at minimum) for pleasure. A lot of that has to do with a lack of experience and personality traits. If you can go with the flow and not force yourself into unrealistic itineraries, it’s not expensive, challenging, tedious, a nuisance to locals, or necessarily leaving a large GHG footprint. I also live at a tourist/vacation destination so I observe this from both sides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I’m sure some people travel for the Instagram pics or bragging rights but I travel because it’s interesting, inspiring and enjoyable. Seeing places like the national parks out west or a stunning coastline really stay with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Serious answer:

I travel for the following reasons:

1. History and culture. There is nothing like seeing a glorious gothic cathedral in a historic European city or town. There is nothing like ambling through the ruins of Pompeii and marvel at a civilization from 2,000 years ago.

2. Urban character. I love exploring other cities, from London to Dubai to Singapore and Hong Kong. Discovering new neighborhoods, coming across a hidden little temple or church, sitting in an outdoor cafe and watching the world go by and wonder who these people are and where they came from and how they think.

3. Nature. Whether a beach or a mountain or a beautiful rolling countryside or a spectacular African savannah, nature really is good for the soul. Seeing wildlife is really good for the soul.

Travel is annoying, a pain in the neck, a hassle, and mass tourism is creating problems, but despite it all, I love traveling.

Best response thus far. Not trying to be high-minded about it, just being descriptive of things you like to see/experience, and why.

[Anonymous]

I lived abroad in a few places and traveled in my 20s. I got burnt out and wanted to get to know one place deeply and contribute. I'm 40 now and still feel this way. The people I know who travel frequently get bored easily and aren't that connected to their community or have diverse friends. I don't blame them for anything, people are different. But I am never bored where I live, I'm constantly meeting new people and learning and admire those who have roots here.

[Anonymous]

To get followers on Instagram

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Instagram pictures.

Yep, I saw that in action in Paris. The funniest one was a young Japanese woman in an anime style dress posing with two baguettes inside an art museum.

[Anonymous]

When I’m at home, my life is a routine. Entire weeks go by where I have no concrete memory. When I travel, each day is unique and memorable. I can recollect, years later, what I did on my second day in Rome. Travel is a way of kicking ourselves off the rutted track, and remembering what it’s like to pay attention to every moment.

[Anonymous]

I travel because:

-Vacations are more fun than staying home.

-I’m happiest on or by the sea, but I live in a land locked area.

-It’s so interesting to have a change of pace.

-Other cultures are interesting.

-I love to eat my way through cities.

[Anonymous]

I like the novelty of it. I like seeing new places.

I’m not going to BS anyone about wanting to get out of my bubble or learn a different culture. It’s for excitement and novelty and beauty.