Are you someone who loves to travel? I’m not just talking exotic destinations, or the once-yearly family vacation. I mean – Travel! Anywhere. A Sunday drive, a weekend getaway, even the “scenic route” to work or the grocery store. If that sounds like you, read on! You may have already caught the “Travel Bug”.
- You start planning your next vacation before you’ve finished unpacking from the last.
As soon as the last bag is in the door, it happens. I look around at the pile of suitcases, coolers, laundry and tote bags and think, “we need a vacation!” Mentally, I am reviewing all the things we didn’t get a chance to do on this vacation, or the places we passed on the route that caught my eye. Before I know it, I’m making a list of potential future destinations
2. You fall in love with Every place you visit and think, “we Have to live here!”
This is us – Every. Damn. Time! We visit a place and think, “if only we could live here!” It’s such a perfect place! Look at that sparkling water, the white sand, the warm weather. Of course, in reality, visiting a place is Much different from living there. We know that from experience. In 2014, we made Three trips to Arizona (yes, in One year). It was perfect every time. Even when we were here in August, with temperatures topping 118 degrees. It was an adventure. Living with that every summer is Not. But we have a relative here so we stay. And the winters! Ah yes, the winters, when the rest of the country is in a deep freeze – that is what makes it all worthwhile.
3. Vacation planning is your happy place.
Whenever the day is getting to me – maybe my knee is hurting, or the dog is barking, or the neighbor is cursing as he completes yet Another remodeling task – whenever that happens, I retreat to the comfort of vacation planning. I cruise the internet or revisit links I have saved in endless, organized folders on my hard drive. Which brings me to the next sign:
4. You have folders and files of past trips and potential future destinations.
On my computer, I have a folder labeled “Trips and Travel.” Within that folder are numerous sub-folders, all neatly arranged and organized. I save information from places we have been, even the spots or places we Didn’t like (important so we don’t repeat the same mistake). I also have links to
5. You record lists of potential future spots while traveling on vacation.
Rick does most of the driving on our trips. One of the things I do to pass the time while we journey is to record interesting cities and sites I see along the way. I search the internet for links, then email them to myself, for future research. I also keep a travel journal, where I jot down notes about our trip, including things we forgot to bring, or things that would be nice to have the next time (like a night light for the hotel room – makes it easier to find your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night). Which brings me to the next sign:
6. You have an alphabetized, categorized list of trip necessities for every member of the family, including the dog.
Well, Especially the dog. Because, like most parents, it’s all about his comfort. My list of trip essentials is a thing of beauty. It’s broken down into categories like – toiletries, first aid, clothing, electronics, and of course – dog supplies. Surprising, how many things are necessary when you travel. (If you join our mailing list, I’ll send you a copy of my list that you can customize for your own family)
7. You can’t imagine spending your life in one town (and you don’t understand people who do).
I have classmates, people I went to high school with, who have never left the small town we grew up in. They got jobs, got married, and raised a family, all in that same small town. I’m not putting down small towns. Rick and I love small towns and would love to live in one someday. But to never want to move – that’s something we just don’t understand. Which brings me to my final (for now) sign that you may have the Travel Bug:
8. You think life is too interesting to spend standing still!
Like gamblers who can’t quit because the next game may be the big winner, we will forever feel the urge to search for that “perfect destination”. And that’s okay. Because there is so much to see in this great big world, that one lifetime isn’t enough to experience even a fraction of its beauty. But we’re going to try. We’ll keep looking and searching out the next “perfect destination”. We hope you’ll come along – travel is so much more fun when you have someone to share it with.
Remember – Life is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the ride!