Why You Should Travel Now

After our first day back in classes, I had my first physical therapy appointment at Allied Health in Farmington. Shoutout to Steve! Great therapist! Since I’m unable to drive and can hardly even enter a vehicle, my friend, Kathy, offered to drive me, perhaps partially from guilt. I keep telling her not to worry that I tore my ACL on her watch. We left immediately after classes ended, enjoying the soft blue sky and the warmth of a sixty-degree day in Maine.

Kathy and I chatted briefly about a girl I’m seeing, summer plans, and siblings. We talked more about travel and taking advantage of our youth. Kathy is ten years my senior, but we still hail from the same generation. Since her mother had her young, our parents are about the same age as well.

Travel Now

We believe that travel and other physical activities should be taken advantage of well before retirement. Our parents harp about benefits and saving for retirement. They rest little and work hard. Even on their days off, they’re scrubbing floors or organizing closets. Kathy and I are, of course, saving for retirement. We’re teachers, so odds are that retirement won’t be until nearly 70 by the time we get there. But saving doesn’t mean putting off living. While we’re still young, we want to spend on travel, experiences, and fun, not just future security. A day in Rome or a hike in the woods is easier and – I’m guessing here – more enjoyable. This is not to say we won’t be traveling after retirement, but who knows if we’ll even reach that age. 

We both can relate to close family members passing away just before retirement. It’s tough to see amazing people die before they can relish in what all their hard earned work was supposed to have gained them. My uncle passed away just before retiring. I think that changed my family’s mindset about priorities. Yet my parents haven’t traveled extensively. Maybe it’s because they don’t want to travel, but they always talk about it. They’ve booked a trip to Italy for later this year. 

Nothing is guaranteed. Nothing gold can stay. This too shall pass. You can’t take it with you. These are all reminders to appreciate the time we have. Any minute, a baseball-sized hunk of space rock might find its way through the atmosphere and drive into your head. 

Boom! Gonzo! 

Making the Choice

So, I choose to be outside writing this. The temperature reached seventy today. The sun is mocking my near-translucent skin, and the breeze occasionally reaches Category One hurricane status (at least for the dramatic). I will say that my crutches, leaning against the wire table, were nearly knocked over before my deft hand caught them. The sky is the same hazy light blue as yesterday. I smell dirt and mulch, signs of spring. Rain is coming by week’s end, or so the weather app says. Can’t trust it, but I also can’t trust that I’m going to make it that far. So, might as well enjoy some warmth. I’ve missed it.

Can I even call it a blog post? A rant? Thoughts that stay on my mind today? Well, I might say it’s perfect for the newly formed Rough Draft Society. That’s the group of subscribers on this blog receiving the rough version of thoughts. I also have a paid membership called Second Pass. That’s where I fine-tune my work as well as add quotes or other projects. The Rough Draft Society gets the raw, unfiltered journey or the scribbles on the napkin. Second Pass is for the polished scripts, annotated and ready for the bookshelf.

My first newsletter is coming out on May 4th. Subscribers to Second Pass will not receive an overload of emails, but one monthly email with everything included. Still, the Rough Draft Society will continue to have a weekly blog post with thoughts, travel experiences, and some creative writing. 

Until next time, thanks for being here. Maybe consider taking that trip you keep putting off. Totally worth it!

Here are some of my travels: Paris, Rome, Quebec, New York