It’s no secret that I used to be a flight attendant. I flew the friendly skies for fourteen years, until I left for the calm waters of publishing. Stop laughing! It’s not funny. I have a lot of people ask me if I regret leaving the airline (ie steady pay, good benefits, lots of vacation time, four days off a week, free flights) for well, none of the above. I don’t have any regrets when it comes to the choices I made with the airline. I have a lot of happy memories. People also ask me if I miss flying. I miss some of the people I used to work with, but no, I do not miss flying. But this entry isn’t really about flying. It’s about the need for a change of scenery.
I’ve been working pretty much nonstop since the end of last year. Between meeting deadlines and doing edits, I haven’t had time to do much else. That’s probably why I’ve been craving a change of scenery. I spent a lot of years on the road, seeing different places. You get used to looking out the window of your hotel room and seeing something new every time. When I stopped flying all that ended. I didn’t realize how much I missed that change and how much I needed it until recently. I’ve had a bad case of itchy feet over the past few months and it’s only getting worse.
Dh and I are about to take a long trip to the UK and Europe to visit family. We’re hitting several cities while we’re there. I’m hoping that the change of scenery renews my writing spirit and calms the travel itch. I know my eyes are looking forward to seeing snow, green, castles, and old buildings. They can hardly wait. *g* The rest of me is slowly catching up.
I know my need for a change of scenery comes from traveling for so long. Or perhaps it stems from something even earlier. When I was a kid, my mom used to joke that I was part gypsy because I always felt the need to move every few years. Maybe some people are just born that way. I don’t know. I’ve accepted that I’ll probably never be happy in one place–though that doesn’t stop me from searching for the perfect location.
I’m curious, for those of you who don’t travel for business do you crave a change of scenery? Or are you perfectly happy with staying in one place?
Travel is not an indulgence for the hubby and I, it is a necessity. A must have. I figure the world wouldn’t be so big and diverse if we weren’t supposed to travel.
Every couple of months, I simply MUST leave the country. I need to go. Anywhere. It doesn’t matter.
If I don’t, I go squirrelly.
BTW… I don’t consider business travel travel. I spent a week in Houston once for business travel and couldn’t tell you what the city is like. I ate, slept, worked, moving from hotel to office. That was it.
by Kimber Chin December 4th, 2008 at 8:33 amA change can do you a world of good. Haven’t been able to do much travel since becoming a parent, but there’ve been daytrips and moves. Feeling the need for a change now, bigtime.
by Charlene Teglia December 4th, 2008 at 9:25 amI love to travel, and for years hubby and I went to Europe once a year. Now with the economy and the exchange so bad, we didn’t go this year, and I miss it terribly. I loved my big 20 day or so excursions aboard. I miss the people, and sights, but the US has lots things to do and see. So instead of jetting off to the UK, we’re going to drive across country to visit family in the midwest in the fall. I’m really looking forward to it. I haven’t moved much in my life, but I love to go away to different places so I can come home.
by Lee December 4th, 2008 at 10:48 amI guess its how you look at it for me. We are military so we move every couple of years. That part is a must for me. I grew up military and start getting antsy after a few years. We move to a new place and get to check everything out. Aside from that though we don’t do an traveling for pure pleasure. No trips to Italy or Englandd just for the fun of it.
by Brandy W December 4th, 2008 at 10:52 amI traveled around a lot when I was younger. I moved a lot too, but always in the same city. I moved 8 times in five years. I started just living out of boxes, and never fully unpacked.
But since becoming a mom, a single mom at that, I haven’t moved, and don’t travel too much. Now, when I travel its for work, writing conferences are my travel destinations. Eventually, I’d like to get to the point where when I go to conferences my dd can come with and we can take a few extra days and see the sites.
by Vivi Anna December 4th, 2008 at 11:10 amI’ve been to Russia and China, a few other countries, and all over the US, but mostly I consider myself a homebody. Travel for me is a chance to refill the well… but only so I can empty it again
Although now that you mention it, it IS past time for a day hike…
by Jessa Slade December 4th, 2008 at 11:58 amKimber, Your description of business travel sounds a lot like what it’s like to be a flight attendant, although we did get out to see some of the sites on occasion.
Nice to know someone else gets itchy feet. *g*
by Jordan December 4th, 2008 at 1:25 pmCharli, It’s harder with little ones under foot, but still possible. It just takes a LOT more effort. I do hear you on the need for change.
by Jordan December 4th, 2008 at 1:27 pmLee, We’re actually excited because the exchange rate right now is the best it’s been in years. 69 cents per pound and 77 per Euro. We’ve never gotten that good of an exchange. Normally we’re paying two dollars per pound. It’s not terrific, but it’s better.
You’re right about there being a lot of lovely places in the states. I have a list of places I’d still like to see once we’re done traveling the world.
by Jordan December 4th, 2008 at 1:32 pmBrandy, I understand getting used to moving. It’s a shame you don’t get to travel for pleasure. It’s a lot more fun than packing boxes and moving.
by Jordan December 4th, 2008 at 2:08 pmVivi, A lot of my travel these days is for business. I’m trying to cut down on that next year and only make two trips. We’ll see if I manage.
by Jordan December 4th, 2008 at 2:10 pmJessa, We want to go to China bad. I think our next vacation (we don’t consider visiting family a vacation) will be to Thailand, but hopefully China won’t be far behind.
by Jordan December 4th, 2008 at 2:12 pmLike you, I get itchy feet on a regular basis. Not sure if I was born that way, or if it’s because we moved so much when I was growing up, but I move around a lot, and travel every chance I get. It seems to sooth my spirit and like you said, inspire me.
Oh, and my nickname has been Gypsy for about twenty years now. Ever since my friends realized it wasn’t my family moving an being transfered that kept Me moving around. LOL
by Sasha White December 4th, 2008 at 2:36 pmSasha, I can see how you got that nickname.
I do think getting out of the country and experiencing the world does wonders for ones spirit. It definitely inspires.
by Jordan December 4th, 2008 at 2:42 pmI’m perfectly content to live in the same place where I grew up as long as I can take vacations elsewhere. In the last 9 years, there has only been one year where I didn’t take at least two trips out of my state. I love traveling and seeing new places (saw a few parts of Russia this August), but the best part of all the travel was knowing that I would be coming home and everything would be the same.
by Karin December 4th, 2008 at 4:33 pmKarin, I’m always torn with traveling. Sometimes I want to stay in the place I’m visiting. See what it would be like to live there. Other times, I can’t wait to get home to the familiar.
by Jordan December 4th, 2008 at 4:35 pmI had the privilege of parents who encouraged me to travel and even helped support a 5-year stint in Paris (from which I’ve yet to recover!!) and once I started making friends from all corners of the world, that was when I really got the “itch” as you say, to explore…their cultures and others…the music, language, daily life…so yes, now I’m hooked..it’s been since June that I was in Europe and I definitely need a change of scenery asap. I think there are some of us who are just..curious, who feel fulfilled in knowing and seeing different ways of life. I’m not saying that it’s not sometimes a challenge, but in the end, it’s worth it.
by chantal December 8th, 2008 at 7:32 pmChantal, I bet those years in Paris were wonderful. Hopefully you got to travel all over the continent while you were there. I wish my parents would’ve been like that, but they didn’t have the means or desire. My mom has since enjoyed traveling quite a bit.
by Jordan December 8th, 2008 at 8:20 pm