“I was born with one foot in the road,”
is one way a 70 year old guy we recently met described himself.
Call us
Gypsies, Vagabonds, Perpetual Travelers, whatever you like, but we are
always interested in travel and
finding new places to explore. No, we
are not looking to stay at that walled-in, guard protected 5 star
resort, at least not for long. We want to meet the locals, eat, drink
and shop where they do, go where they go, and learn about them
and their culture first hand, not on a guided tour.
I'm
Ready!
You see, we are independent
travelers. No
two week vacation can work for us. If the weather is
good and the company is interesting, we stay. It could be for days,
weeks or months, otherwise, we hit the road again. This bohemian
lifestyle suits us just fine, and there is little we would change in
the over
thirty years of practicing our avocation.
This constantly growing network of
friends and new acquaintances is booming with knowledge from
accomplished people who no longer “fit the mold” of society. Trains,
planes, buses, canoes, sailboats, house-boats, RV’s, -- it doesn’t
matter,
we all have the wanderlust mentality that bonds us.
We have met folks well into their 80’s continuing their journeys, still with a
vigor for life, as well as college age kids hoping to “get it out of their
system” before settling down to a “normal life.” These people have some stories
to share! Something tells me we will see them again in the not-so-distant
future.
Our case differs little from that of others. We worked hard, saved, invested,
and finally had enough to allow us the
freedom and self-sufficiency to enjoy
this nomadic lifestyle. I think this
desire
to travel started with my distant
relative in Cincinnati, Ohio, who left with his horse and buggy to get milk one
morning, and never returned. The horse and buggy were found, but Jacob was long
gone. Some say he went to Texas, others have their own version, but his blood
must be in my veins. Or perhaps it comes from my great aunt who sat by the door with her hat
on ready for whomever was going somewhere.
Somewhere is a good place to
go…right?
Whatever it is, I’ve got it and wouldn’t trade my life with anyone's. People ask
me what it is I am looking for, and I remind them, "it’s the journey, not the
destination."
