Working and traveling on the go can be a challenge, but it’s doable with some tips and tricks up your sleeve! I have been working and traveling for years, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. COVID has slowed me down, but I’m still getting out there and going when I can. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your travels while still being able to get your work done.
4 Tips to Keep Your Health in Check While Traveling
When you love to travel, it’s easy to get caught up in where you’re going and planning your travel and itinerary, but you have to keep your health in check. That’s all part of the fun of going on an adventure, whether it’s close to home, like Yosemite, or far away. However, with all that fun, it’s important to be practical about keeping your health in check. There are so many things that can affect our bodies, from long trips to altitude, time changes, and diet changes. [Read more…] about 4 Tips to Keep Your Health in Check While Traveling
Staying Home Is The New Travelling
Is there anything worse than waving your friends and family off at the airport knowing they’re off on an amazing adventure and you’re left behind? It might be for financial reasons or maybe you couldn’t get the time off work to join them, but whatever the reason it hasn’t left you feeling happy about the situation!
[Read more…] about Staying Home Is The New Travelling5 Reasons to Get off your Keester and Travel!
Do you travel?
Yesterday I wanted to meet a friend for lunch, but my car was in the shop. I called Uber and was quickly picked up by a friendly and delightful driver from Guinea, Africa. We began to talk about Guinea’s location, and he was overjoyed when he discovered that I had actually traveled to Africa and visited several countries there. A story emerged which highlighted, perfectly, why we should all travel. The driver worked on the morning of his daughter’s wedding, and he drove that day in the suit he was going to wear at the event. One of his clients asked him who it was that taught him how to put on a suit. You have to admit, that is a rather odd question. (The inference being, of course, that someone “civilized” had to have explained to him how to wear a suit). The driver, who speaks clear English and has been in the USA for almost 30 years, admitted he was very angry about it. People in America, he said, do not travel often enough, and have no idea about the cultures of other places. I agreed.
“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” Terry Pratchett
Since my discussion with him, I have done a little research, and yes, it is true that the vast majority of Americans have never traveled out of the country. I have had people tell me they are not interested in going to other places because America is the “best”. I’m not going to argue about patriotism, but my question is, how do you know? If you have never been to another country, how can you know what is “best”? And does everything have to be rated as good, better and best? Can’t it just be different? I realize that not everyone wants to travel, but there is no question that it provides invaluable experience and insight to the traveler and to the people the traveler knows or meets. “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” I agree, St Augustine, I agree.
Here are 5 excellent reasons to see other parts of the world.
- Travel takes you out of your comfort zone. Your comfort zone is, well, comforting, but it does not give you the opportunity to stretch yourself or to grow. When you step out into new surroundings you achieve something new…instead of stagnating you are in motion, and you are learning about the world around you. (Your comfort zone really does not exist, you know. It is simply a comforting illusion.)
- Traveling can help you conquer your fears. Afraid of water? Go to the beach, or a lake. Afraid of heights? Climb a hill, or better yet, go to a vista point at the nearest national park. Fear is paralyzing…so get up and move. If not now, when?
- Travel is mind expanding! It gets you out of a routine and makes you use your brain, your ears, and your eyes. When traveling there is so much that has to be taken in…new sights, new flavors, new noises. It takes your complete attention…you are no longer on “auto-pilot”.
- Travel introduces you to different cultures and new perspectives. The culture you live in isn’t the only one on the planet, you know! Ever thought about doing volunteer travel, especially abroad? These trips are not expensive, and you usually get all of your meals plus a place to stay. Airfare is reasonable to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and many other places from the US. Volunteer travels can be eye opening and have a major impact on your life by showing you how others live, think, and do things. Volunteer Tourism is becoming more and more popular, and for good reason. There are trips for every taste, be it teaching children or scuba diving for research or digging wells or teaching skills to help people make a living. There are many ways to make a difference.
- Traveling can be a little scary, and that is probably the best reason to do it. We fear what we do not understand. Travel educates. It challenges us to learn about ourselves, to learn the cultures of other countries, and understanding is the path to knowledge, and hopefully, wisdom.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” Mark Twain
I have some favorite volunteer travel agents and agencies such as All Out Africa, Kaya Responsible Travel, the Giving Lens (a great volunteer program for photographers), Marine Megafauna Ray of Hope Expeditions, Mission Blue….there are just so many opportunities! Get on Google and Google to get away! Seeing the world will make a difference not only in your life…but in the lives of others. And no excuses about being “too old”. I took my first Citizen Science trip when I was 53! Just make up your mind and do it!
Is it time…to simplify?
The Empty Nest has changed our lives. Randy’s double lung transplant has changed our lives. Our son married 3 weeks ago (it was a lovely wedding!) and our daughter is getting married October 3. I always imagined keeping this house, our home where both of my children grew up, and having our grandchildren to stay. Now I’m not feeling that desire.
Many friends have moved away, after children leave friends don’t have as much in common and drift apart. Our house isn’t filled with kids or teens, it is big and silent and needs upkeep and care that I have neither the interest or the ability to do. I don’t want to decorate, or redecorate, or get new furniture…I barely even cook a meal. The truth is, this lifestyle does not fit us anymore.
I have lovely ideas of selling everything and taking a trip around the world…but that is not really practical given Randy’s need to be within 2 hours of a major lung transplant center. Asia is out, Africa is out, and I’m not comfortable with him going to South America either. I believe we will head to Australia next year, the medical care there is quite good. Europe is always possible, and some Caribbean destinations are close enough. We have a second home in Cozumel, Mexico…but the medical care is substandard for any serious condition. When we go somewhere together I have to check and make sure medical flights are available. We are planning a trip to Cozumel in 5 weeks…it will be two years since Randy has been there. He has been cleared to dive, but the first sign of illness and he needs to be on a plane.
I have solo trips I am taking…a citizen science trip with Marine Megafauna Foundation‘s Ray of Hope in July, a dive trip to Socorro in November, and I will be with Ray of Hope next July in Indonesia, and with a turtle rescue in Cairns as well. My citizen science and challenging dive trips have to be taken now…how can I know how many years I have left to take these trips? You have to be able to handle the conditions, and who knows how long I will be able to? That’s not negativity, just fact. If there is anything I am certain of, it is that nothing is certain.
So…the thought process has begun, and I know I need to start going through the house, room by room, and getting rid of “stuff”. That is the first step. Many steps will follow, I am sure. Who knows what will happen, or where we might end up? We will just have to ride the waves that come.
So much delicious food in Seattle!
by Suzanne Simone Stavert of ADVENTURES OF
EMPTY NESTERS.
Eating all of the delicious food in Seattle is one of my favorite things about going there.
My goodness we had a great time and many of our favorites times were discovering new restaurants in a city with so many culinary delights! All I can say is food, food and more food…Leslie turned to me on Day Two of our gastronomic adventure and exclaimed, “No more, I can’t eat another bite!” (Truth: She did eat one more time at Sunday lunch! Sorry Les!) The good news is that in addition to eating our way through Seattle, we walked endless miles as well. We must balance the calorie intake with calories burned…right?
I really could write several posts about where we went to eat and how each chef dazzled us with their talent. I guess that would not be so bad to read about would it? Seriously though,I am the one who takes photos of most of my meals in restaurants. The dishes are so gorgeously presented on the plate, they are like works of art! One meal that could be characterized as one of our most favorites was breakfast atPortage Bay. The food is large, local, organic, tasty, sustainable and oh so delicious! We giggled all through breakfast at how fortunate we were to be eating there!
They have a unique pancake topping bar that contains huge glass bowls piled high with strawberries, blueberries, pears and boysenberries. There is a mountain of whipped cream, a small “hill” of butter and pitchers of pure warm maple syrup. I can honestly say that I have never witnessed a more gorgeous set up for breakfast. These were just the toppings! It was ridiculously good.
I believe you would characterize these photos as “food porn”. It was so fun to throw our diets out the window and splurge on these amazing dishes.
In addition to serving delicious food the owners of Portage Bay have a simple philosophy about food and I LOVE THIS!
Eat like you give a damn about…
- where your food comes from
- what goes in your body
- the ethics of how your food is raised and handled
- how your food tastes
- the environment
When you combine delicious food with a company who cares about the rest of the world it is a home run in my book. If you are in Seattle, visiting Portage Bay is a must. Love this place! <3