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Wanderlust

Halifax2TheMaxHalifax2TheMax Posts: 39,020
in A Moving Train
Do you have it? Used to have it? Wish you had it? Just wish you could drop everything and take off?

the NYT Sunday magazine was devoted to such. Profiled a Polish kayaker from Poland who has crossed the Atlantic solo 4 times; an Argentinian guy who’s hitchhiked all around the world and written a self published book about it, Hitchhiking in the Axis of Evil, his story of hitchhiking through Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan; a guy who disappeared in Joshua Tree National Monument and a woman who explores the most remote and inhospitable places on earth to research growing crops on mars (haven’t read that piece yet). As varied as they are, they’re really interesting and make me wish I could just take off and “disappear.”
09/15/1998 & 09/16/1998, Mansfield, MA; 08/29/00 08/30/00, Mansfield, MA; 07/02/03, 07/03/03, Mansfield, MA; 09/28/04, 09/29/04, Boston, MA; 09/22/05, Halifax, NS; 05/24/06, 05/25/06, Boston, MA; 07/22/06, 07/23/06, Gorge, WA; 06/27/2008, Hartford; 06/28/08, 06/30/08, Mansfield; 08/18/2009, O2, London, UK; 10/30/09, 10/31/09, Philadelphia, PA; 05/15/10, Hartford, CT; 05/17/10, Boston, MA; 05/20/10, 05/21/10, NY, NY; 06/22/10, Dublin, IRE; 06/23/10, Northern Ireland; 09/03/11, 09/04/11, Alpine Valley, WI; 09/11/11, 09/12/11, Toronto, Ont; 09/14/11, Ottawa, Ont; 09/15/11, Hamilton, Ont; 07/02/2012, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/04/2012 & 07/05/2012, Berlin, Germany; 07/07/2012, Stockholm, Sweden; 09/30/2012, Missoula, MT; 07/16/2013, London, Ont; 07/19/2013, Chicago, IL; 10/15/2013 & 10/16/2013, Worcester, MA; 10/21/2013 & 10/22/2013, Philadelphia, PA; 10/25/2013, Hartford, CT; 11/29/2013, Portland, OR; 11/30/2013, Spokane, WA; 12/04/2013, Vancouver, BC; 12/06/2013, Seattle, WA; 10/03/2014, St. Louis. MO; 10/22/2014, Denver, CO; 10/26/2015, New York, NY; 04/23/2016, New Orleans, LA; 04/28/2016 & 04/29/2016, Philadelphia, PA; 05/01/2016 & 05/02/2016, New York, NY; 05/08/2016, Ottawa, Ont.; 05/10/2016 & 05/12/2016, Toronto, Ont.; 08/05/2016 & 08/07/2016, Boston, MA; 08/20/2016 & 08/22/2016, Chicago, IL; 07/01/2018, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/03/2018, Krakow, Poland; 07/05/2018, Berlin, Germany; 09/02/2018 & 09/04/2018, Boston, MA; 09/08/2022, Toronto, Ont; 09/11/2022, New York, NY; 09/14/2022, Camden, NJ; 09/02/2023, St. Paul, MN; 05/04/2024 & 05/06/2024, Vancouver, BC; 05/10/2024, Portland, OR;

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Comments

  • oftenreadingoftenreading Posts: 12,845
    Oh yes, I have it. Am gradually shedding responsibilities and will eventually be much more free to travel. Not quite ready to do it by hitchhiking, though. 
    my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
  • hedonisthedonist Posts: 24,524
    Having done and experienced "civilized" travel, I think it would've been beyond cool to do that kind of exploration in my younger days. 

    It's like the least-populated places are those where you see and learn the most.
  • Miss.SnowdropMiss.Snowdrop Posts: 192
    edited March 2018
    I call it the travel bug and I definitely have it. 
    In my early 20s I couldn't get into university right away and started killing time with random jobs until I decided to go to Ireland as an au pair. 
    But by that time I had already been living on my own for 4 years and quit after two months. So I spent Christmas and New Years at home and went back to find my own way and moved into the rattiest cheapest backpacker hostel I could find, got the Irish equivalent to a social security number and stared looking for jobs. Somehow I couldn't find anything and started busking (street performing) and actually made enough money to support myself. I even could take days off, to hitch hike around and see bits and bobs of the country. 
    A few months later I finally got into uni, but I kept going back at least a month or two a year. 
    Towards the end of my studies I knew I didn't want to stay in Germany (where I am originally from) and decided to move to Scotland. I quit uni and moved into another backpacker hostel, where I started to work for accommodation. 
    That is now 8.5 years ago and I now work as assistant manager in one of their sister hostels. You can say my passion became my job. 
    Post edited by Miss.Snowdrop on
  • hedonisthedonist Posts: 24,524
    Miss.Snowdrop said:
    I call it the travel bug and I definitely have it. 
    In my early 20s I couldn't get into university right away and started killing time with random jobs until I decided to go to Ireland as an au pair. 
    But by that time I had already been living on my own for 4 years and quit after two months. I spent Christmas and New Years at home and went back to find my own way. I moved into the rattiest cheapest backpacker hostel I could find, got the Irish equivilant to a social security number and stared looking for jobs. Somehow I couldn't find anything and started busking (street performing) and actually made enough money to support myself. I even could take days off, to hitch hike around and see bits and bobs of the country. 
    A few months later I finally got into uni, but I kept going back at least a month or two a year. 
    Towards the end of my studies I knew I didn't want to stay in Germany (where I am originally from) and decided to move to Scotland. I quit uni and moved into another backpacker hostel, where I started to work for accommodation. 
    That is now 8.5 years ago and I now work as assistant manager in one of their sister hostels. You can say my passion became my job. 
    Awesome path!  And the bolded part is key to a happy and satisfying life.

    Please tell me your street performing didn't include anything mime-related  =)
  • Miss.SnowdropMiss.Snowdrop Posts: 192
    hedonist said:

    Awesome path!  And the bolded part is key to a happy and satisfying life.

    Please tell me your street performing didn't include anything mime-related  =)
    Haha no, I did the usual singing and playing the guitar. Although I have to say, I don't think I got any money for my superb guitar paying  =)
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,027
    Wanderlust? I used to have it bad, really bad.  Used to be that if I went 6 months without at least getting out of town, if not the state, I would get the urge to hit the road in a BIG way.  Now I just read books about fascinating places.  I don't like to go anywhere so far away that I can't get back home in the same day.  Yes, I've become the proverbial stick-in-the-mud. 
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • rgambsrgambs Posts: 13,576
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • HesCalledDyerHesCalledDyer Posts: 16,435
    I'd have it but I'm poor.
    Star Lake 00 / Pittsburgh 03 / State College 03 / Bristow 03 / Cleveland 06 / Camden II 06 / DC 08 / Pittsburgh 13 / Baltimore 13 / Charlottesville 13 / Cincinnati 14 / St. Paul 14 / Hampton 16 / Wrigley I 16 / Wrigley II 16 / Baltimore 20 (xx) / Camden 22 / Baltimore 24
  • Gingerlou77Gingerlou77 Posts: 429
    Yep, I have it. I also have a big mortgage and two young kids, so it' more difficult now than it was I  my 20s. I can see it becoming a bit easier again though as my kids grow and tge mothering guilt eases a bit  I'm going solo to some euro shows and solo to Seattle. Partly driven by my love of this band of course, but equally driven by my desire to explore again. And to be me again for a couple of weeks, and take a break from being mum. 
  • Halifax2TheMaxHalifax2TheMax Posts: 39,020
    rgambs said:
    You sir, are out of your mind. In a good way.
    09/15/1998 & 09/16/1998, Mansfield, MA; 08/29/00 08/30/00, Mansfield, MA; 07/02/03, 07/03/03, Mansfield, MA; 09/28/04, 09/29/04, Boston, MA; 09/22/05, Halifax, NS; 05/24/06, 05/25/06, Boston, MA; 07/22/06, 07/23/06, Gorge, WA; 06/27/2008, Hartford; 06/28/08, 06/30/08, Mansfield; 08/18/2009, O2, London, UK; 10/30/09, 10/31/09, Philadelphia, PA; 05/15/10, Hartford, CT; 05/17/10, Boston, MA; 05/20/10, 05/21/10, NY, NY; 06/22/10, Dublin, IRE; 06/23/10, Northern Ireland; 09/03/11, 09/04/11, Alpine Valley, WI; 09/11/11, 09/12/11, Toronto, Ont; 09/14/11, Ottawa, Ont; 09/15/11, Hamilton, Ont; 07/02/2012, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/04/2012 & 07/05/2012, Berlin, Germany; 07/07/2012, Stockholm, Sweden; 09/30/2012, Missoula, MT; 07/16/2013, London, Ont; 07/19/2013, Chicago, IL; 10/15/2013 & 10/16/2013, Worcester, MA; 10/21/2013 & 10/22/2013, Philadelphia, PA; 10/25/2013, Hartford, CT; 11/29/2013, Portland, OR; 11/30/2013, Spokane, WA; 12/04/2013, Vancouver, BC; 12/06/2013, Seattle, WA; 10/03/2014, St. Louis. MO; 10/22/2014, Denver, CO; 10/26/2015, New York, NY; 04/23/2016, New Orleans, LA; 04/28/2016 & 04/29/2016, Philadelphia, PA; 05/01/2016 & 05/02/2016, New York, NY; 05/08/2016, Ottawa, Ont.; 05/10/2016 & 05/12/2016, Toronto, Ont.; 08/05/2016 & 08/07/2016, Boston, MA; 08/20/2016 & 08/22/2016, Chicago, IL; 07/01/2018, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/03/2018, Krakow, Poland; 07/05/2018, Berlin, Germany; 09/02/2018 & 09/04/2018, Boston, MA; 09/08/2022, Toronto, Ont; 09/11/2022, New York, NY; 09/14/2022, Camden, NJ; 09/02/2023, St. Paul, MN; 05/04/2024 & 05/06/2024, Vancouver, BC; 05/10/2024, Portland, OR;

    Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.

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  • HesCalledDyerHesCalledDyer Posts: 16,435
    Where is that, gambs?
    Star Lake 00 / Pittsburgh 03 / State College 03 / Bristow 03 / Cleveland 06 / Camden II 06 / DC 08 / Pittsburgh 13 / Baltimore 13 / Charlottesville 13 / Cincinnati 14 / St. Paul 14 / Hampton 16 / Wrigley I 16 / Wrigley II 16 / Baltimore 20 (xx) / Camden 22 / Baltimore 24
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,027
    rgambs said:

    HesCalledDyer said:
    Where is that, gambs?
    I think he's hitch hiking on some mountain top in the Rockies... and still waiting for a lift.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • BentleyspopBentleyspop Posts: 10,763
    I love to travel. It's  something I inherited  from my dad who was a world traveler.
    This year so far 3 trips with 3 more scheduled. Which doesn' include seeing Pearl Jam in 4 cities in 4 different  countries.
    WHOA! Does that make me a globalist?
  • rgambsrgambs Posts: 13,576
    Innsbruck, Austria.
    Karwendel Alps, Nordketten Range.
    Right above the city, the climb is called the Innsbrucker Kletterstieg and it follows the exposed ridge that forms the background of the one picture everyone who visits Innsbruck takes, the Golden Roof.
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,950
    edited March 2018
    I love to travel, but I don't have wanderlust. Travelling for me is a really exciting treat that I can't usually afford, and definitely something I'd like to do more often if it weren't for my crazy cost of living here. But it's not something I feel I kind of need, emotionally. I really appreciate my home comforts, and I feel fulfilled without travelling... not that travelling wouldn't contribute to that as well, but I don't feel like something is lacking without much of it either.... That said, I've got a really deep interest in history, so when I do travel, that's my main interest... and I would love to further satisfy that interest by travelling to more places!

    I have seen plenty I guess, but I haven't had a very wide geographical reach as far as travelling goes, again, just because I've never really been able to afford it (and I guess didn't think some sacrifices to be able to afford it were worth it). I have been to the UK several times, and many places in the States - all around Washington and down the Oregon Coast, Hawaii a couple times, Montana, New York, Chicago, Florida.... And I've explored BC extensively, which is wonderful, and the better known parts of Alberta (so all the Canadian Rockies as well, and I love it there so much). But that's about it. It's weird that I've actually never been to a place where the main official language isn't English, and I'd like to change that. If I can ever afford to stretch my legs more (so maybe with my inheritance, lol!), my first destination will almost certainly be Italy.
    Post edited by PJ_Soul on
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487



  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487

  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487

  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487

  • rgambsrgambs Posts: 13,576
    @unsung

    I'm going to guess Trinity Alps and Cathedral Range in the Sierra Nevada for the first two, number three looks like Glacier NP or Canadian Rockies to me, and is the last one Chernobyl? lol
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Posts: 20,275
    It's a decent Paul Rudd movie
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)
    The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)

    1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
    2020: Oakland, Oakland:  2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
    2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
    2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana
  • rgambsrgambs Posts: 13,576
    Gern Blansten said:
    It's a decent Paul Rudd movie
    I laughed a few times.
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,027
    Arches used to be one of my favorite places when it looked like this:


    Instead of this:

    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487
    rgambs said:
    @unsung

    I'm going to guess Trinity Alps and Cathedral Range in the Sierra Nevada for the first two, number three looks like Glacier NP or Canadian Rockies to me, and is the last one Chernobyl? lol
    Pretty good.  First two are the Sawtooths, then Glacier on the way back from Hidden Lake, then yes Chernobyl.
  • SmellymanSmellyman Posts: 4,524
    edited March 2018
    I used to have it and my wife and I traveled everywhere.  Purposely had no kids so we can retire early and leave whenever we wanted to.

    It used to be more fun.  No tripadvisor, no yelp, no lonely planet etc just raw exploration.

    People are just concerned about how many selfies they can take, posting to their social media feeds to do their humble brags and #YOLOs.  Taking pictures of food sine everybody is a 'Foodie', I hate pretentious foodies.  Thousands of travel programs all ruins it for me.

    Airports are now a nightmare, filled with self important travelers (both business and leisure travelers).

    When I travel now I want to be in a bigger city or far off the beaten path away from throngs of tourist douches I left to get away from.

    Cynical enough?
    Post edited by Smellyman on
  • hedonisthedonist Posts: 24,524
    Always been, Smelly =)

    And I curse Faxxxxilust-y for planting this song in my head from the get-go.

    What better time to find a brand-new day?

    Love you, you SOB.  Thanks for a nice road to turn down the night :hug:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od5JgUOZYEc
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,027
    I feel badly about making kind of a downer post on an upper kind of thread.  My bad!

    So to attempt recompense and prove that I can be a good traveling sport, here's a shot from one of our southwest trips:



    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • Halifax2TheMaxHalifax2TheMax Posts: 39,020
    brianlux said:
    I feel badly about making kind of a downer post on an upper kind of thread.  My bad!

    So to attempt recompense and prove that I can be a good traveling sport, here's a shot from one of our southwest trips:



    So, are you Thelma or Louise?
    09/15/1998 & 09/16/1998, Mansfield, MA; 08/29/00 08/30/00, Mansfield, MA; 07/02/03, 07/03/03, Mansfield, MA; 09/28/04, 09/29/04, Boston, MA; 09/22/05, Halifax, NS; 05/24/06, 05/25/06, Boston, MA; 07/22/06, 07/23/06, Gorge, WA; 06/27/2008, Hartford; 06/28/08, 06/30/08, Mansfield; 08/18/2009, O2, London, UK; 10/30/09, 10/31/09, Philadelphia, PA; 05/15/10, Hartford, CT; 05/17/10, Boston, MA; 05/20/10, 05/21/10, NY, NY; 06/22/10, Dublin, IRE; 06/23/10, Northern Ireland; 09/03/11, 09/04/11, Alpine Valley, WI; 09/11/11, 09/12/11, Toronto, Ont; 09/14/11, Ottawa, Ont; 09/15/11, Hamilton, Ont; 07/02/2012, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/04/2012 & 07/05/2012, Berlin, Germany; 07/07/2012, Stockholm, Sweden; 09/30/2012, Missoula, MT; 07/16/2013, London, Ont; 07/19/2013, Chicago, IL; 10/15/2013 & 10/16/2013, Worcester, MA; 10/21/2013 & 10/22/2013, Philadelphia, PA; 10/25/2013, Hartford, CT; 11/29/2013, Portland, OR; 11/30/2013, Spokane, WA; 12/04/2013, Vancouver, BC; 12/06/2013, Seattle, WA; 10/03/2014, St. Louis. MO; 10/22/2014, Denver, CO; 10/26/2015, New York, NY; 04/23/2016, New Orleans, LA; 04/28/2016 & 04/29/2016, Philadelphia, PA; 05/01/2016 & 05/02/2016, New York, NY; 05/08/2016, Ottawa, Ont.; 05/10/2016 & 05/12/2016, Toronto, Ont.; 08/05/2016 & 08/07/2016, Boston, MA; 08/20/2016 & 08/22/2016, Chicago, IL; 07/01/2018, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/03/2018, Krakow, Poland; 07/05/2018, Berlin, Germany; 09/02/2018 & 09/04/2018, Boston, MA; 09/08/2022, Toronto, Ont; 09/11/2022, New York, NY; 09/14/2022, Camden, NJ; 09/02/2023, St. Paul, MN; 05/04/2024 & 05/06/2024, Vancouver, BC; 05/10/2024, Portland, OR;

    Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.

    Brilliantati©
  • rgambsrgambs Posts: 13,576
    unsung said:
    rgambs said:
    @unsung

    I'm going to guess Trinity Alps and Cathedral Range in the Sierra Nevada for the first two, number three looks like Glacier NP or Canadian Rockies to me, and is the last one Chernobyl? lol
    Pretty good.  First two are the Sawtooths, then Glacier on the way back from Hidden Lake, then yes Chernobyl.
    Very nice, I didn't realize the Sawtooth range was that light grey shade, I thought they were closer to a khaki.  Nice and steep, that's for sure.
    The pursuit of mountain vistas is my number one passion.
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487
    The thing about that photo was there was a huge fire going on that blocked the sun, but it rained the night before so the smoke cleared for about twelve hours before making a return.  Totally lucked out, it was the one day of about six in the backcountry that was clear.
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