Right now I’m planning out a trip I’m not going to take for another six months.
It’s not for quite a while but it feels very important because it is the first traveling I’ve done in a couple years. Actually it’s the first trip I’ve taken in two years since I went to NYC with friends in June 2013.
(Fun story, exactly two years later we become roommates! Travel buddy and bestie and roommate!)
From age 18 to 27 I traveled a ton! My whole life revolved around traveling and where I’d head next.
I traveled a lot of places from East Coast to West Coast to New Zealand to Europe. I lived in multiple states and multiple countries and traveled as much as I could manage to afford (and sometimes beyond that).
I learned about how to travel cheaply and how to stay healthy on long flights. I learned how to stay safe while traveling alone and how to travel with people. I learned a lot about myself and who I wanted to be.
For the last two years however, I focused on staying put. On putting down roots. On not leaving or moving or going on adventures. My big adventure was learning to stay in one place.
It’s worked well. I feel happier than I’ve ever been. I love living in Memphis, I love our active life options, I love being near family, I love my boyfriend, I love having my best friend as a roommate. I’ve built a life here that makes me super happy every day.
But…. but… I still feel that wanderlust.
I want to get away. I miss traveling. I miss seeing new places. I miss trying new foods. I miss new discoveries and different people and exciting adventures and days where everything goes wrong.
(Yes, so much can go wrong when traveling – I’ve been lost for hours in a country where I understood nothing, broke down crying at a bus stop because I had no money to get back…. but it’s all worth it.)
It sounds quite indulgent to say “I miss traveling.” That is definitely a first world issue and I recognize the privilege evident in that kind of statement. Writing this whole post feels like a humble brag and I know being able to travel at all or take any kind of vacation is such a luxury.
I also know that traveling so much during college and right after was a priority for me and I sacrificed other things to make it happen. Student loans, slower career growth, etc. were the price I paid to travel so much during that period. There were tradeoffs but I’m also grateful for all those experiences. I know I’ve been incredibly lucky to have traveled so much already!
While travel wasn’t my priority over the last few years, I realized recently that I miss it. I’m ready to add back in a couple trips each year. Instead of traveling as much as possible, I’m hoping to bring back some balance and allow myself to take a trip every so often.
I’m now planning two trips for next year since it’s the year I turn 30 and must be celebrated. I’m planning a snowboarding trip and a cruise trip. These are the two things I’ve been wanting to do the most and can’t wait to do. I’ve missed snowboarding fiercely and going on a cruise sounds so fun! It’s going to be a great year for sure and I’m so excited to travel once again!
After writing about travel I can’t wait to get back to planning that first trip. There is definitely a lot more planning involved these days because this new version of Mary’s Worldy Travels involves things like budgeting and saving. It’s a whole new type of travel when you are a more responsible adult!
Where will you be traveling to this year or next? I’m open to cruise suggestions if anyone has been on an amazing one before!!
I love the small amount of traveling I’ve done so far. I want to travel more and figure out how to fit it in my life.
I did a carnival cruise out of New Orleans and loved it. I was able to pack in New Orleans and a cruise so it was like 2 vacations in one.
Seems like a great balance.
Cool! I think I’m going to do the cruise out of New Orleans since it’s within driving distance. :)
I soooo need one too.
no work.
all trip :-)
My new single life has had me traveling a bit…not far as finances don’t allow it…but it has reminded me how much I love it. I’m hoping to do a cruise in the next year!!!!
How’s your weight loss journey? Love your blog! Spent the morning reading through it!
Thanks! Weight loss is pretty stalled. I’m maintaining at 60 pounds down from my highest but honestly haven’t given it a full go in a while.
I’ve been on a few cruises before, and my favorite was one that went to Belize, Roatan Islands, and Mexico. It was for a full week, and the water was so blue and we made some friends and ate a ton. It was awesome.