Upon our return to Sydney, we visited Darling Harbor, walked across the Harbor Bridge, poked around some markets, wound our way thru a Thai Festival for a quick massage and ended our excursions with an Asian Food Tour. We are tucked into our airport hotel tonight with a 13 hour flight to LA ahead of us tomorrow. It will be a full 24 hours before we get home to Flagstaff with the good news being that we gain a day through all the time changes heading East. Upon reflection, I would give this trip a 9, maybe even a 10, as I can’t think of anything that would have made it better outside the given rigors of travel. Extended international travel requires a certain mindset that I am still learning how to comfortably ease in and out of; contrary to Paul who is a chameleon with the whole process. After a dozen years with him, I have finally figured out that, for Paul, home is mostly a place to recover and plan your next travel adventure. Of course, he does like to get some cooking and entertaining into those respites. Beyond travel and hiking his primary hobbies are reading and working on the computer which can be done remotely and allow him fulfillment on the road which many of my hobbies and interests don’t allow for.
When I choose to travel, I must suspend a long list of things that are important to me which include: home and hearth which meet a primary emotional need, health maintenance routines that often include the gym/massage/physical therapy/provider visits, my many hands on hobbies of sewing, stained glass, mosaics, weaving, gardening, cooking/preserving, kayaking along with time with friends and family. Winter on either home front precludes many of these things but, even so, this is a long list of things I sacrifice while traveling. As such, reconciling costs vs. benefits is an exercise I have to continually think through and I haven’t even addressed the financial cost of travel.
First and foremost, when we travel, I spend concentrated time alone with Paul in a way I don’t at home as our daily living is carried out very independently. Traveling together requires and promotes relationship interaction that I think is good for us as a couple but only if/when I cease and desist with the driving assistance. I am sure you have figured out that I am a little obsessive compulsive so time away from my hobbies gives me an opportunity to rest and recover from too much “doing” and not enough time “being.” The being allows me to relax, reflect and rejuvenate while reconciling and reprioritizing how I live my life. It also allows time for my right brain to be creative which is necessary to bring new thoughts, ideas and energy to my many hobbies. I am an avid reader so my travel allows more time for this hobby. As a curious person, travel also allows for endless opportunities for lifelong learning about new places, people, things, etc. Every trip checks off another destination on my travel bucket list and provides ample content for my writing. Travel allows for more visual joy and beauty than my senses can absorb along with ample opportunity for walking/hiking. This is, of course, if we carefully research and choose our travel times and destinations. Minor benefits also include a break from television and avoiding today’s work drama in Flagstaff.
I’ve decided this is a pretty good return for one extended travel adventure a year after which Paul is on his own as I am “chomping at the bit” to commence my 2019 Creative Projects! The list is on my phone and has grown significantly since we commenced our travels three months ago. What else can I expect with all this time to think which, by the way, I was supposed to spend “being fully present” but what’s wrong with making a few lists? Happy Spring! 2019