The Beauty Of Travel

The other night we were watching the NBC show "Great American Road Trip".  It's a "reality" show in which seven diverse families started out in Chicago and went through various challenges and competitions trying to make it across the U.S. to Los Angeles via the famous Route 66 in rented Class A motorhomes.

Yeah, the show is pretty cheesy and has its share of invented drama for the cameras.  But, what struck me was the excitement and the happiness of many of the families that had never really been anywhere.  And with a few exceptions, like a quick stop at the Grand Canyon, they really didn't get to see some of the best parts of the country along the route.  Yet, they were still beaming.

Watching the show, I was reminded once again of how lucky we are.  I thought about the millions of people in this country that have never traveled from their comfort zone community or region.  Oh, what they are missing.

To quote St. Augustine:  "The world is a book and those that do not travel read only one page."

When I was in college, I remember thinking about how many of my fellow students were as far away from home as they had ever been.  And I wondered about all those that would never get that far.  Even back then, it saddened me to know that so many people would never experience, or never try to experience, anything beyond what they know as comfortable.

In my opinion, a lack of travel and a lack of education of the members of a community are harmful to both the community and  the individual.  Education can broaden the mind, but travel broadens the mind and enriches the soul.  Education alone cannot make up for the lack of travel, but travel can make up for a lack of education.  Travel necessarily includes education through experience.  And experience is much more effective than testing memorization in a four-walled classroom.

“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.”  - Seneca

As I was considering this entry, I did a search of quotes about travel to help make my points.  In addition to those above, I found several that are both inspirational and thought-provoking.

Getting Uncomfortable Is The First Step

Many RVers know this Mark Twain quote:  “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

That quote is used by many full-timers and future full-timers in their email signatures and forum signatures.  It pretty much says everything about taking chances, leaving comfort behind, and pursuing experiences.

Cesare Pavese puts it another way in a few sentences:  “Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things - air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky - all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.”

Stripping away the warm cocoon of the familiar allows us to get closer to our own personal heaven on earth.

D.H. Lawrence said:  “When we get out of the glass bottle of our ego and when we escape like the squirrels in the cage of our personality and get into the forest again, we shall shiver with cold and fright. But things will happen to us so that we don’t know ourselves. Cool, unlying life will rush in.”

We have experienced the rush of life in our travels, both before full-timing and during our current journey.  Most of our readers have probably felt that rush as well.  But, that silly T.V. show has made me wonder how many people have never felt that rush.  How many have no idea what they are missing?  How would our society change if more people traveled more often?

Effects Of Travel

I love this Bill Bryson quote:  “To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.”

In my mind, that familiarity - the familiarity that leads to taking our world for granted - is one aspect of our human nature that needs to be tweaked often.

New experience is the enemy of complacency.  Complacency leads to low moods, lack of effort in relationships, that robot state we find ourselves in from time to time, and general unhappiness if not outright depression.

Travel allows us to combat complacency by refreshing our souls and unclouding our vision.  The deeper the experience, the longer the clouds stay away.  Deeper experiences are made if we keep the following in mind.

From Jawaharial Nehru:  “We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”

Miriam Beard said:  “Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.”

Henry Miller:  “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”

Even if we don't set out with those thoughts in mind, I believe the benefits of travel enter our subconscious.  And the more we travel the deeper those benefits penetrate.

As full-time RVers, we are more aware of how much we took for granted in our prior lives.  And we didn't get to "tweak" ourselves enough.

But even now, while workamping and staying in one place for months at a time, we still have to battle that beast.  That newness of the travel to and arrival in a new place eventually becomes "the familiar", we start taking it for granted, and we long to move again before the effects of complacency take hold.

Paul Fussell puts it this way:  “All the pathos and irony of leaving one’s youth behind is thus implicit in every joyous moment of travel: one knows that the first joy can never be recovered, and the wise traveler learns not to repeat successes but tries new places all the time.”

I think that sums up why we will always be hesitant to return to a place we've stayed for several months.  I don't see us being ones to keep coming back to the same places year after year either as workampers or as snowbirds.

Another benefit of travel is that we can exit the shell that often exists in our working lives and social circles.

I like this quote from William Least Heat Moon:  “What you’ve done becomes the judge of what you’re going to do - especially in other people’s minds. When you’re traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.”   

It's pretty liberating to meet new people with no pre-conceived notions of who you are.

I've mentioned it before in this Journal, but out here on the road as RVers, not once in meeting new people has their first question been "What do you do?"  Back in that other life, that always seemed to be the first question as if our jobs defined us or as if the answer was the determining factor in whether the conversation would continue.

In addition, part of the education of travelers is that we get to see first hand the reality of other people, other societies, other cultures.

Mark Twain said simply:  “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”

Maya Angelou wouldn't go quite that far but said:  “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.”

On the "Great American Road Trip" a rural Alabama family became best friends with a loud Italian family from the Bronx.  Even though both families seemed to fit the stereotypical perceptions, they saw through each others' "differences", and I doubt either would've ever guessed they would become close friends.

Again, I wonder how our world would be different if we all traveled more ..... with open eyes, hearts, and minds.

For us, travel combined with nature is the driving force.  It's exhilarating.  It's educational.  It's memorable.  It's spiritual.

“Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe”…… Anatole France.

And we've found the following, to our surprise, wonder, and delight, to be true.

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” ..... Martin Buber

We have certainly experienced our share of secret destinations on this journey, both external and internal.

 

In Conclusion

I've never really thought about travel in this much depth.  We've just always enjoyed seeing new places, experiencing the beauty of our earth, and using travel as a tool to revitalize us in that prior, "normal" life.

What sparked this analysis was basically the realization that we are incredibly fortunate to have a lifestyle of travel, and that so many people in our country have not done much traveling at all.  If nothing else, we want to encourage travel in whatever form, and impart the importance of travel in broadening horizons and educating our youth.

Now, to finish up.  In our life on the road, we've often talked about those days when we do nothing and feel guilty about it.  After four years, we've sort of come to grips with it, but that feeling that "We need to get out and do something" still pops up.

However, I found one last quote that I think will help us get over that feeling once and for all if we can commit it to memory.

“Your true traveler finds boredom rather agreeable than painful. It is the symbol of his liberty-his excessive freedom. He accepts his boredom, when it comes, not merely philosophically, but almost with pleasure.” ..... Aldous Huxley 

Ah, yes.  Boredom as a symbol of our liberty, our excessive freedom.  Wow!  I can embrace that.

So, my friends, even if you can't be full-time RVers, please travel as much as you can and encourage everyone you know to travel as much as they can.

And, for those that can make the leap, as "true travelers", we invite you to come join us in our occasional boredom, in our liberty, in our excessive freedom.  :)

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Comments

[Dee_NC]

Thanks so much for posting this one! We learned being in the military and moving a lot that traveling is perfect for us. I like the "boredom" statement. We'll be joining you soon on the road.

[Charles Henry]

Words well chosen, Howard!

[Dennis Beaman]

Well said Howard, nice piece.
Dennie

[Alice]

Howard, a wonderful, wonderful post!! I can't thank you enough for the inspiration and joy your blog provides me.

[Gene S.]

Very thought provoking Howard. I recently lost my partner of 32 years and find that all of my plans for our retirement and travel have changed. We have traveled extensively in our Class C's over the years and were looking forward to more extended trips after retirement. (I am 60, he was 58). Have you and Linda ever had serious discussions about how traveling with someone you love enhances all that you are experiencing? How would things affect you if Linda was no longer a part of your life? For me, the death of my partner has brought reoccuring thoughts of the importance to appreciate and express your affection for each other on a daily basis. Since you are such a disclosing person and you have so many readers, I was wondering if you would reflect on this in a future blog? Time moves so fast.
Always enjoying you blog, Gene S.

[Tom K]

Wow, what a great post Howard. This is definitely something I will share with my children to encourage them to learn from these lessons. Thanks for the wonderful words of wisdom!

[klueck]

Boy, all this talk of traveling sounds like a really bad case of hitch-itch!

[andree foucault]

Wow...every time I think you wrote your best post...you surprise me again...

[Jeff]

Another example of why I like to read your blog. I am still a fulltime dreamer and this really makes me want to climb in and GO! Thanks Howard!

[George Stoltz]

I am stunned that so far no one has commented on your thoughtful dissertation on travel.

Here is my favorite quote:

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” ..... Martin Buber

I like it because this is what we hope to experience when we start our full-time life on the road. Even boredom sounds pretty good. Although I don't think I will ever be bored.

Great journal entry, Howard. Actually, one of your best ones.

Thank you.

[Jim & Sue Ellsworth]

One of your quotes was from William Least Heat-Moon. Not sure how I came across his writings but I have two of his books. blue highways is an adventure he took in a van traveling across the US. The blue highways represent the blue roads on the map which represent the off highway side roads going through the hartland of the US. The other book is called Riverhorse and is about a trip he took on a boat traveling the rivers of the US from the east coast to the west coast. That book I never finished, but you have reminded me so I may get it out and see if I can get through it. blue highways was an easy read but riverhorse is a bit more involved. If I remember his background is as a college english professor so his writing is formal and hard for me to read, but his adventures are great.

[CookieQueen]

Wow Howard, your Travel post really blew me away! Thank you so very much for reminding us why we are seeking this journey. See you in Texas.

[Alan Howeth]

It is amazing how you are able to hit nails right on the head. This post is wonderful. After almost 5 years as a full timer myself I still experience those butterflies in my stomach when we are headed into the unknown. I also love the statement about boredom. It truly is a statement about the freedom we experience. I too have felt those feelings of guilt at not having anything to do. Embracing those feelings is truly liberating.

[Randy & Pam]

My favorite of the quotes was Mark Twain: Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.

I think he was the same guy that said: What troubles me most about the Bible is not what I don't understand, it is with those things I do understand.

This is one of my favorite of your posts. I think it makes me think about purpose. Why are we doing this? It is only for selfish interests? Or can we find purpose and value in this lifestyle? As Maxwell Gaylord said in his last

You set a terrific example of giving to others by all the fantastic array of information you provide on the website and your commitment to your daily blog.

Thanks! Another great post!

[TravelJunkie: Beth Renstrom]

Perfectly said Howard. You can tell from my user name I like to travel.

This needs to be the preface for your book.

[John and Terri Shea]

Wow, what a great post. My wife and I are the (as someone said) the Fulltime Dreamers right now. We can not wait to be able to join the ranks of full time RVer's. This post just makes the desire that much stronger and oh how true it all is. I especially liked the quote; "We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”

Oh how true. I know that my eyes become more and more open the more I read about your journeys on your blog. Thanks so much for all that you and Linda do.
John and Terri

[[email protected]]

Howard, Amen to everything you said. I can't wait to begin our journey in 376 days.

[Charles & Sharon Morgan]

Howard what a great post. We have hitch-itch and don't have a hitch yet. We do have a cabin in Gatlinburg,TN. But that is not our only travel destination. Travels this year have been to Utah,Tx and soon to Myrtle Beach. Our traveling started while Charles was in the Navy and we go somewhere diffrent every year. Even went to Argentina and Chile twice. We always encourage friends and relative to travel this great land of the free.
I (Charles) would like to quote you, Howard.
"New experience is the enemy of complacency. Complacency leads to low moods, lack of effort in relationships, that robot state we find ourselves in from time to time, and general unhappiness if not outright depression." Complacency brings boredom to life. Travel and new experiences takes that boredom away.

Thanks for your inspiration.

[Craig Sherman]

All I can really say is...
WOW, you knocked it out of the park on this one!

[Jenny J]

Just when I need a "good talking to" - There you are--Thanks for all your words of encouragement.

Jenny J

[Pam]

Like Jenny I too needed a good talking to. Howard I don't know for sure, how or why but when I need inspiration and hope the most, your blog does it everytime. Thanks for keeping my dreams alive.

Olywa

[Joe Segler]

I miss one day and look what happens. Being in the Military and moving every couple of years was always met with wide eyes and wonder of what it would bring even though you were doing the same thing in a different location. Great reminder post.

[V4Vagabond]

Well this brought tears to my eyes and gratitude to my heart because I too am free to travel in my RV.
Thank you Howard, your blog is fantastic no matter what you do as a topic.
Vee

[terry]

I found your "The Beauty Of Travel" journal entry to be very inspiring and motivating! My wife and I are soon to be full timers currently in the unload stuff mode. I try to keep a minimum of 25 items on Craigslist at all times. Sometimes the time it takes to sell something is discouraging but we keep at it. After reading your latest entry I am all pumped up to increase my Craigslist ads and cut prices on the old ones. We enjoy your journal every day!

[Donna]

Well I am new to your blog and what a great day to pick... This post was fabulous. I enjoyed it very much. Come on over and visit me sometime... I am adding you to my favorites so I can keep your adventures. Have Fun!

Travel Safe
Donna

[Jo Wishnie]

You are so right. We say this all the time, that we are lucky to be living this life and wouldn't have it any other way.

By the way, we saw those Great American Road Trip people staying in our campground in St. Louis, but had no idea what it was all about. But I distinctly remember the Motorhomes because they had big decals on them with the family names.

Now that I know what it was, I am sorry I didn't try to talk to them then. They did look like they were having a lot of fun. All the families were playing with each other.

Keep up the great thoughts.

[Jerry and Suzy LeRoy]

Howard, this is your best blog post yet! Well, the ones where you share your travel adventures come in pretty close. You have said what has lurked in our subconscious for all of our traveling time. Now it is in our conscious mind as well. Thanks for the Epistle to the Roamings!

[Sally Haskett]

Howard and Linda, haven't read you for awhile and went to Facebook and read this. WOW!! Gary and I are fulltimers and I consulted you a few times while we were pondering our decision. Life has bought the unexpected. I have cancer and was in remission when we first started out. It has returned and although I am in remission now, I have to have treatments once every 6 months for four weeks for the next 2 years. Because of the catastrophic deductible, Gary has gone back to work and we are parked for awhile. His sister has been gracious to let us stay in an apartment they have during this time. Reading this post has soo stirred me to want to get back on the road. I want you and Linda to enjoy every day out there and on those days of guilt when you are doing nothing, we'll be sitting there with you doing nothing(in our thoughts) and looking forward to the day that God may allow us to interrupt your day and meet you. Keep writing from your heart. Sally