I
started out trawling through wonderful memories of countless vacations, seeking
out a really meaningful one, but quickly realized that every one of them, from
months-long volunteer 'vacations' to single day trips, have all been very
meaningful to me. If they were not, why would I take them? Why not simply stay
home?
I
have a passionate love of learning, and that is the primary reason vacations
are inevitably meaningful to me; they are great opportunities to learn new
things. I learn about people and places, wildlife and geology, languages and
the arts, and frequently I learn a little more about my beautiful Betsy, and
last but certainly not least, about myself.
I
have never been a fearful person, but travel has taught me that a little
caution is a good thing.
In
places which pick-pockets and purse-snatchers may frequent, I wear a
well-hidden money belt. I try never to be in suspect neighborhoods alone and
especially after dark. When, on occasion, I have ended up in such a situation I
walk quickly and purposefully, attempting to look perfectly relaxed and as if I
know exactly where I am going. Betsy and I did that in Cape Town one night,
arriving unmolested at our hotel, as I did in San Paulo and St. Petersburg and,
I must admit, once when I was lost in a very dubious part of Miami.
Betsy
and I travelled all over this country in our camper van and I don't recall one
single time we felt threatened in any way; two old women camping on their own.
But we always practiced a little elementary safety. We kept the van doors
locked while we slept. We always camped, as we faithfully promised loved ones
we would, in designated campgrounds, though there were several occasions when
we happened to be the only people actually camping there. National Forest
campgrounds, in particular, are often remote and with no other occupants, and
often in a location without cellphone service. But no-one ever bothered us.
Driving
long trips across the country we learned to keep a very careful watch on the
weather, and not to ignore those black skies ahead. We were under tornado
warnings a few times, and learned that there is no shame in running for the
closest hotel, and making sure they have a storm shelter before handing
over the credit card.
So
just this one aspect of travel has taught me not to be so stubborn; to be more
flexible. If circumstances dictate a hotel room rather than the planned camp
site, just enjoy that clean hot shower. Occasionally the camping spot we had
been heading towards for five hundred miles didn't feel good to one or both of
us when we got there. Sometimes this was for no apparent, recognizable, reason.
It just didn't feel good. So we would go on. We both always listened to those
inner whispers, no matter how unexpected or nonsensical they seemed, or how inconvenient
the result.
I
believe that vacations of all kinds have improved my character in many ways and
much more effectively than all the self-help books ever written could have
done.
I
will bore you all with further details of these character enhancements another
time.
© 25 Apr 2016
About
the Author
I
was born and raised in England. After graduation from college there, I moved to
the U.S. and, having discovered Colorado, never left. I have lived in the
Denver-Boulder area since 1965, working for 30-years at IBM. I married, raised
four stepchildren, then got divorced after finally, in my forties, accepting
myself as a lesbian. I have been with
my wonderful partner Betsy for thirty-years. We have been married since 2013.
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