mark poulson Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 I've lived my whole life in Los Angeles, within five miles of the Pacific Ocean, and never really had any wanderlust, other than going to the Sierras every year to camp and trout fish. I've been as far north as Vancouver, BC, and as far south as Cabo San Lucas, but I'm mostly a stay at home person. I just got home from dropping my older daughter off at LAX, where she's taking a plane this morning to Miami, and then from there to Cuba for a week with her aunt on a tour. Cuba! I'm still amazed at how small and accessible the world is for my kids and their generation, and how fearless they are. One son spent a year and a half in Spain in school, and traveled all around Europe by rail. This daughter spent half a year in Chile for semester abroad schooling, another year in Venezuela on a Fulbright Scholarship, and is going to work in New York once she gets back from Cuba. My youngest is in her first year of college in Toronto, Canada, at a school she picked out. The world is truly their oyster. Good for 'em! Whoda thunkit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 The world truly is a much smaller place than when we were kids Mark. Being from a small rural town in East Texas I can remember when someone making a trip to Lufkin, which is only 24 miles away, made the news in the local paper and people would be asking the "travelers" about their "trip" for weeks. I think this was one of the reasons I ended up with such a wander lust. That and the fact that there were few opportunities for good paying jobs ended up with me making it to 34 different states by the time I was 28 years old. I even made it out to L.A. for a while. It would have been nice to run into you back then. We could have told each other about our fish stories and possibly even made a few of our own. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 I always had a desire to travel, but other than a two week holiday every year, it never happened. Then at age 34, I quit my 9-5 job and went contracting, and travelling soon followed. Unfortunately, wife was not prepared to move, so the marriage didn't last very long after that. Of all the countries that I worked, I liked Indonesia the best, which is why I settled down here. I now live the life of a recluse. I don't have to talk to anyone, I only go out for supplies. I can do what I want, when I want - I have never been this happy in my life. I wish I had more money, but that is just a minor restriction. Travelling is certainly not for everyone though. I guess my point is that you only get one life, blah blah blah. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Posted February 13, 2014 Report Share Posted February 13, 2014 Wow ..a trip to Cuba..That would have never been possible in my youth.Good for your kids!!..They get to get out and experience the world and all it has to offer..The world is truly becoming a smaller place...Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diemai Posted February 14, 2014 Report Share Posted February 14, 2014 (edited) Don't like travelling that much anymore , but during my teenage years I did , though not as far . Could not even go more than 10 miles to the east , as there was the "Iron Curtain" of Cold War times , ....the border was just 100 yards east of the opposite bank of the gravel pit , that we used to ride to on our bicycles for a swim during hot summers , we were used to the sight of the high fences and watchtowers . I rather headed for the west , ......at the age of 16 or 17 I've hitchhiked from Hamburg to London using 48hrs including the Channel crossing by ferryboat and a sleep over at a hippie community in the Netherlands , ...also travelled through France for a couple of weeks by train back in these years , ...also used to spend my summer vacations in southern England each year , as an elder sister of my mum got married to an RAF service man after the war following him home , so I could stay with them . Also remember a short-term trip from northern Germany down to the French mediterranian coast with a few friends in an old BMW , with little more money in our pockets than to pay for gas , all of the 1000 miles back home I've lived on a bottle of Coke , tap water and a French baguette bread . Or another rather short trip to southern France by car and trailer , when we had to get back the damaged Mercedes Benz of a friend's parents , that have been heading for Spain and got into an accident down there , .......our tow vehicle was much too weak and unsuitable , so we could drive back at only 50 miles per hour max. to avoid the heavy trailer from fishtailing , .....finally , just 100 miles before reaching home , the cops had stopped us and we had to leave the trailer and pay penalty , ...that friend had to ride back the next day with a bigger van for finally towing his father's Benz home for repair. A bit more adventurous back in those days rather than hanging out at overcrowded airports nowadays , I guess . Greetz , diemai Edited February 14, 2014 by diemai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted February 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2014 It certainly is a smaller world today. With air travel so affordable, and borders opening more and more, plus with the internet helping people all over the world to have a shared culture, my kids' idea of the world is a lot different than mine was at their age. I think that's good. The more we know about other people and cultures, the less misunderstandings there will be, and the more common ground will be found and shared. We're all in this together now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted February 14, 2014 Report Share Posted February 14, 2014 Good luck to your daughter, Mark. I can definitely relate.......... My daughter is in her 2nd year of college and just finished her 3rd interview for an internship with Disney. If it happens, she'll be in either LA or Florida by summer (of course, Dad is hoping for LA!). We're told her chances are very good as many don't get past the first interview. I'm pullin' for her, but I'd sure miss her. I can't believe some of the things she's managed to accomplish at such a young age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted February 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 Good luck to your daughter, Mark. I can definitely relate.......... My daughter is in her 2nd year of college and just finished her 3rd interview for an internship with Disney. If it happens, she'll be in either LA or Florida by summer (of course, Dad is hoping for LA!). We're told her chances are very good as many don't get past the first interview. I'm pullin' for her, but I'd sure miss her. I can't believe some of the things she's managed to accomplish at such a young age. I know what you mean. My Cuba kid did accept the job in NY, so she'll be leaving in 6 months for a 2 year tour, minimum. I miss her already, and she hasn't even left yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
