Traveling

Traveling well is an art in itself. It takes imagination to see things in a new light and to do things out of the ordinary. But when does it end? To me, the long, grueling trip home after a good vacation is not meant for catching up on rest; it's a time to reflect on what you have learned and seen on your journey.

I have come to realize that as long as the brain can convert short-term memories (with a capacity of about 7 items) into long-term memories, a vacation never really ends. I also have to say that quality is just as important as quantity. I have taken 3-day trips and got more out of them than a 10-day trip.

The most important thing about traveling is to DO IT. If you are forever planning a trip and it never comes, then what is the point? So many people say that "it must be nice" to travel. The difference between that person and me is that I decided that traveling is an important part of my life. Travel, it is well worth the expense and I would much rather spend my money on a memorable experience as opposed to a new car.

A friend of mine sent me a quote, and I thought it appropriate to the subject at hand:

"Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and lose sight of the 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."

-Cesare Pavese (September 9, 1908 – August 27, 1950) was an Italian poet, novelist, literary critic and translator; he is widely considered among the major authors of the 20th century in his home country.