Last night at work I was talking to one of my friends at the Deli Mart. He was telling me that he might take this summer off as one final fling after he graduates from college in June.
I wholeheartedly agreed that he should do it for a few reasons. It was a luxury I never had a chance to do myself, and once he gets into the world and is working full time and starts a family the chances are pretty slim that he'll ever get the chance again.
Myself, being quite good at giving other people advice, have yet to ever take the advice I dispense.
That is until now. For years I have been bending over backwards to please other people, never once thinking of myself. I started to do that a year and a half ago when I moved here to West Virginia to finally follow through on my dreams of the railroad, but I still haven't really done it yet. It was only a small step.
I thought about our conversation last night for a while after the Deli Mart closed and what he's planning to do. I envy him in some ways. He's still young enough not to realize what's really ahead for him. I also thought about my 20's, when I was single and making really good money and all the chances I had to do things and go places but decided not to because whoever I was dating at the time didn't want to or I didn't want to go by myself. I let these chances slip through my fingers like sand, to be gone forever.
So I've decided this morning to start saving for a trip to the UK. It'll probably take me about a year to get enough cash to do it, but that's ok. I'll enjoy the anticipation of the trip. I had been to London once, but that was on Uncle Sam's tab and I really didn't get to see much of anything. It would be nice to have someone to go with me, someone to share the experience with, but now I'm comfortable enough with myself to have a great time alone.
Back around 92' or 93', British Airways had this fantastic deal I should have taken. Four nights in London, travel by train to Ediburgh, Scotland, Four nights there and fly back to Philadelphia from Scotland. This at the time would have cost an unbelievable $550! I didn't take the trip because the woman I was seeing at the time hated England. I spent that vacation in Atlantic City, New Jersey... A slum with fifteen nice hotels and a shitty beach.
I doubt that they still have that trip or even airfares at that ridiculously low price, but I'm going to work out my own itinerary along the same lines. Of course I'll include a train ride in there somewhere... And I've always wanted to see the Scottish moors and those old castles.
So that's my next goal... The United Kingdom by Summer of 2007.
Copyright 2006 Thomas J Wolfenden
12 comments:
Aren't you supposed to take that trip this year, Tom? You know, before the whole end-of-the-world thing?
You never listen to me, do you?
That is an excellent idea, apocalypse notwithstanding.
Good for you. Traveling alone isn't so bad. There are actually several advantages to it.
I look forward to the day when I'll be able to have a chance to do the things I want to do, go the places I always wanted to go.
I've always wanted to see Austrailia for some reason.
I have missed sooo much in life because of ppl i have dayed or married.So I feel you on that one, but I am happily married to a woman who likes to travel now and loving it. Only thing keeping me now is money haha.
Hope all comes out in England, check with travel agents they always can find some kinda deal for ya.
Sounds like my dream vacation! I really hope you can do it and share the experience with us all in your blog. It's good to have a dream and a goal -- go for it!
I know what you mean. And I'm glad you decided to take this trip. I'm really happy and very excited for you. I can't imagine anyone that wouldn't want to go to Europe. I would LOVE to go back again!
I worked my way through college and there was not alot of money or energy left for fun. So many of my high school and college memories revolve around asshole bosses or me stressing out over how I could scrape up enough money to repair my car or pay tuition. I have always regretted that. SO someday, I want my little man to not have to worry so much about money and to have some fun while he's young. There's plenty more years to work his ass off.
Good for you! I hope it works out marvelously for you! Just keep pinching those pennies :)
Thanks for reminding me to live my life to the fullest while I still can and am not tied down.
Although I have traveled all over the world, England is one place I have not had the pleasure of visiting yet. I am sure you will have a blast!
The time to live is now.
Go for it Tom, ASAP. Travel is pure joy, adventure, fun and enjoyment... do it now. Nothing wrong with not doing it before; it is never too late to go.
I can hear that whistle blowing... get a move on!
Kev: D'oh! I forgot all about the Apocalypse! Typical that the end of the world would just go and fuck up my plans!
Okie: Yep, you're right. I'm looking forward to it.
Sherri: Australia is definately high on my list right now and the only thing stopping me now is the cost of airfair. I have several friends in Oz I plan on seeing one day.
Honkeie: It's always money!
Lora: Of course I'll write about it here!
Lisa: I know where you're comming from. I enlisted in the army five days after my 17th birthday and have been working ever since. Even college was a pain because I was working full time on the PD and still doing 12 credits a semester.
Cant: I'm getting really good at pinching pennies!
Ahamiliton: I've done a lot of travelling too in my younger days, but most of that involved people shooting at me. Hopefully this time it'll be different!
Tsduff: Now that I can I'm going to do a lot of it... That is as much as I can afford!
That's my main wish this year...to travel abroad.
You deserve a good vacation. I'm sure it'll be totally worth all the money saved.
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