For some reason, I just have that itch to travel again. It's never really gone away, but now, it's just itchier than ever.
This guy's 15 Favorite Places In the World had something to do with it.
I've only been to one destination, which has the top spot, no less, but it just made me think about how little of the world I have seen. I had to laugh at his post about St. Petersburg, Russia and started thinking about Eastern European countries. I got on the trusty ol' Kayak app for iPhone and started looking up prices for flights to Vilnius and Klaipeda, Lithuania. I have this desperate desire to see where my history was born, but at the same time, it's absolutely frightening to think about the language barrier and whether or not I'd be able to get around safely and successfully. Somehow, I don't think that will stop me.
Money might. Or lack thereof, more specifically.
I'm so jealous of travel-blogger-guy because that's what I'd love to be doing. I can't help but wonder if I missed out on some opportunity or if I'm not courageous enough to just go out and do it.
And I guess that brings me to this other post of his that I actually read first. Some of it was a little hard to swallow, but I was pleasantly surprised by his commentary on happiness:
"Our inability to confront anything unpleasant around us has not only created a national sense of entitlement, but it’s disconnected us from what actually drives happiness: relationships, unique experiences, feeling self-validated, achieving personal goals."
Unique experiences, I think, are a huge chunk of what Sean and I enjoy together and why we're so intent on traveling. It's why we're trying life in this new city and exploring.
The job hunt has been frustrating for me probably because I have no idea what I would actually even like to do, but also because it's so difficult to find jobs I'm properly qualified for. It's either high school diploma/GED and minimum wage or Master's of some sort. And of course, I fall right in the middle. I know I just need to look harder, but it sure would be nice to have a job I enjoy. Then again, I can't expect this to be the only job I'm ever going to have. Just need to get my foot in the door and make some money so we can travel.
Then there's this problem of indecision when we actually have the time and money to travel - where to go? For awhile, I was dead-set on London. Easy, because it's an English speaking country, but it has so much history and so much to explore. Then, I thought, Paris had to be it. The Eiffel Tower, the beautiful winding streets and cafes and lights twinkling at night. Then, I saw a Rick Steves episode on Sicily, and Italy was the place. Good food, friendly people, the Mediterranean. Then Lithuania, my family history, the opportunity to learn the language, see the Hill of Crosses.
And then I saw that list and have to admit, I never really considered Brazil or much of South America, other than Peru because of Sean's connections with his former host family there. So, I guess for now, I'll just keep changing my mind and dreaming until the day comes that we've got some money saved up and can finally hit the road again.
