Traveling is great. I hit up Disneyland and Universal Studios with my Brady-Bunch-sized family when I was seven. Took to the road on an 8-hour station-wagon road trip when I was 9. Flew to Atlanta to play baseball and watch a laser show at Stone Mountain at 11. Traveled across the wastelands of Kansas to go skiing in the Rockies in my teens. And in my early 20s anded a gig with a news org that required frequent trips to such dstinations as Cali, Florida, Wyoming, Utah, and Texas. Yeah, back then traveling was sweet.
Now I’m older. And while I still travel and have a great desire to see more of the world, I hate traveling. It’s a pain in the Astros.
Por ejemplo, every year I head down south to the lower hemisphere. When I get to where I’m going it’s great. I like the atmosphere. The people are splendid. Food is good. But it’s the in between that kills me. An hour to a hub, then a layover (or a mad dash to a connecting flight), then another 10 hours to my final destination. And if the bum-numbing cattle-class seating wasn’t enough, I’m herded into a line to get a stamp because the citizens of Earth are ridiculously territorial. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse I’m forced to wait around for an hour for my bag (which is usually rummaged through by handlers) and then filtered through a posse of property whores like a criminal. Yeah, I don’t really like traveling. It’s not just flying. Road trips are equally as painful.
Two years ago I drove 16 hours with my family and my sister’s family through holiday traffic and the least scenic states in the union to get home for the holidays. 16 hours! Did it turn out OK? Once we made it, all was well, but the drive to and from our destination sucked. Read for yourself.
I want to see new places. I want to experience the unknown. But I don’t want to sit in a 2×3 space for 11 hours or drive 1,000 miles to do these things. Why not? For starters, traveling coach is like watching a sporting event from the nosebleeds. Sure we’re all seeing the same game, but the experience is quite different. And driving long distances? That just sucks.
When are scientists going to perfect the Star Trek technique? I want to be able to say, “I’m going to Paris”, pay my teleporting fee, and be there. None of this 2 days and a donkey ride business. Just put me at my destination, don’t take me there.
How much do you like/dislike traveling? Share your thoughts below or send me an e-mail at TiTy@y2kemo.com.
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