What to do with the urge? When you can’t travel.
Posted on 09 August 2009 by Natalie
Where you live can help!
Living in Colorado helps the urge disappear. I play in the mountains! I hike, climb and explore. It allows some of my travel hunger to melt away. But then I still started a count down on my dry erase board. The academic school year has not yet began, and I find the Summer countdown at 10 months. Only 10 months until SUMMER BREAK!!!
Dr. Seuss was right. Summer 2010, oh the places I will go!
For now I need to suppress this “urge” for travel. The wonder lust that is boiling inside of me. I need to forget that I own a passport. I must long for the end of May, when I can brush the dust off my backpack and fill it with the contents for adventure.
Pleasant Dreams!
Tonight, I will fall asleep with the world above me, literally. Today, I posted the world map on my bedroom ceiling. Is this torturous? Should I have hung it somewhere else? NO! It is exactly where it needs to hang, so I may dream of future adventures.
And me. I am exactly where I need to be. I am in Fort Collins, Colorado ready for everyday adventure. Whether it is the mountains or the classroom. Teaching will be a new adventure unto itself. I can apply my new skills and knowledge to future travel opportunities! I can take my teaching skills to any country and offer my knowledge of the English language. ESL instruction is something that I love. Through teaching English you can have the opportunity to live in a new country for a year or so.
Not Traveling? Life offers other adventures!
Overall, I do miss backpacking. However, I am so grateful for this time to explore a new profession. Especially, a profession as rewarding as teaching. I will have to be content in the classroom and recognize the world will always be there. When the time is right, I will make my next big escape and enjoy another long term travel adventure. Until then, I will savor Colorado and other nearby places. In fact, the photo above of Justin, was taken at Horsetooth Reservoir only 5 minutes from our home.
Still have the urge? If all else fails…
I bought two guppies. They are my pet fish. Zsigmond (Hungarian) and Santiago (Chilean) are both males. I’ve seen enough Discovery Channel to know that I don’t want to become the proud pet owner of guppy babies within a week of getting my new little pets.
My two fish are very likable and low maintenance. I can easily transport the little 1.5 gallon tank they live in (currently on my desk) to a friends house, if I need to travel anywhere, anytime soon.
If all else fails, break your travel urge by putting something living on your desk. A plant, a fish or whatever you use to help you break your travel urge. It must have a certain level of maintenance that allows you to feel purpose where you are. A cactus is a bad example because you could still travel for a few weeks, leaving your cactus high and dry, and it will still be alive when you return. Instead, you need something that requires a bit of daily care. I do not suggest a dog. Leaving for long term travel becomes difficult if you have a dog, unless you are enthusiastic about traveling with your dog/s. Christine, from Almost Fearless often travels with her two large dogs.
Now that you know what to do with your travel urge, I wish you the best. I know it’s not easy. I often feel like a dog waging it’s tail at the world, salivating and trying not to pee on the carpet. Do you ever feel this way in life?
Tags | budget travel, thoughts, work
Thank you for the tips, I will try them, because I have the urge to travel.
Hope things work out well Eve. It’s hard to have the urge… and then not be able to take off and go!
I love this! I’m still a year out from my next big travel adventure so I will take these tips to heart.
How exciting Stephanie! Who cares if it’s a year away? Make sure you let us know when you take off and what you are exploring, doing, learning, etc.
Until then, we will fight the urge.
Sadly, Santiago, one of my pet fish died. However, I just got a new guppy yesterday. His name is Whakatane (pronounced Fah-KA-ton-ee). This is the Maori name of one city in New Zealand. My fish is yellow and bright, just like a warm, sunny day in Whakatane.
Yeah Go Whakatane! (good name choice)
yes sometimes i do feel like a dog waging his tail at the world (random way of explaining it nat, but it works).
I went bouldering at horsetooth reservoir, cool place.
cyas later
my mistake its also salivating and trying not to pee on the carpet! bahaha man your a crack up.
I am glad you like my, “dog trying not to pee on the carpet” metaphor. My new fish, Whakatane is still alive and well!
Why not fight the urge to travel by naming your fish after a fun city in another country?
I am glad you got to go bouldering when you were in Colorado. Have fun in New Zealand!
So, you’re in:
The-City-Of-Wide-Streets, Narrow-Minds, Long-Lights, and-Short-Tempers?
That’s where I graduated from *wince* Rocky Mountain High. We’ll be there in late September (2009) maybe we can catch up!
R of the RnL Collective.
Wow Rex! You and Lisa are flying all the way from Singapore. I know that your visit to Colorado will be busy, but we would love to see you.
The more time I spend in Fort Collins, the more I realize the “Long-Lights” do exist. However, I usually zip past the cars on my bike. Which probably only further increases the “Short Tempers” of nearby drivers.
God, all I want to do is travel. Just got back from an epic 8.5 month adventure and need money, so can’t travel right now. Unless, that is, I win the lotto. Let’s go check and see if that happened…
Hope you do win the lotto, or figure out a way to get back on the road. Working while traveling helps stretch the cash flow further.
I checked out your photos! Greg you are one talented photographer. Keep up the excellent work. Until you get to travel again buy a fish or something? Mine are still alive.