I’m not a wimpy person, per se’. I certainly appreciate the spontaneous, the adventurous and the unplanned things that make life interesting. I do, however, like things a certain way when I travel. I don’t need luxury (although I appreciate it) and I don’t need someone to hold my hand and tell me what to do (never used a travel agent). To me, half the fun of traveling is finding the place, doing the research and making a plan. I volunteer to plan other people’s vacations because I think it’s fun. I do all these things with excruciating precision, which makes me wonder…am I missing an essential experience of travel by planning and obsessing over every detail? I know where we’re going, where we’re eating, how we’re getting there, where we’re staying and, if you’re traveling with me, I know those things about you too.
A friend of mine, who certainly embraces a no-holds-barred approach to everything, shared that her husband accused her of “being addicted to comfort.” Now, in my house, that would end badly…for The Mister, anyway. The truth is, after years of planning household moves (14), family vacations, other people’s family vacations and teaching a roomful of lively 5 year olds how to read (all of which require the planning skills of a 4 star general), the thought of not knowing everything ahead of time makes me uncomfortable.
My move to London is a game-changer. I’m not moving, I don’t have to plan my day around those darling 5 year olds and my own children are adults (or act like it most of the time). Maybe it’s time to try something different. Something outside my pre-planned comfort zone. Perhaps… it’s time for a little adventure. So, I’m making a travel list and checking it twice (or three times…old habits die hard). I’m vowing to take advantage of the last-minute, the un-planned, the serendipitous travel opportunities I see on my travel account everyday. I start this week with my first house-sitting job in the English countryside. Hey, you have to start somewhere. I might even get crazy and call a travel agent.
Are you a planner when you travel? Have you ever left on a trip without ”a plan?”
PS. To all those who are or will be traveling with us this year, fear not. I still plan on organizing the hell out of your trips. You’re welcome.
I also think planning is half the fun. When I get to wherever it is, it doesn’t bother me if I don’t do most of the stuff I found out about and wing it instead, I just like finding out the whole range of experiences I could have.
I think that’s a perfect approach, Margaret. Start out with a plan, but be flexible enough to wing it when necessary. I always come back with a list longer than when I left! Thanks for following!
One of my flaws is planning too much… I need to find more time to ‘go with the flow’ – at least occasionally. Is it wrong to plan/schedule ‘unplanned time’ – seems oxymoronic
Haha. I don’t think it’s wrong at all! We did try scheduling a morning of “unplanned/doing nothing” time on a holiday once. It lasted about an hour and a half before we were back on the bus, headed to the city. We keep trying though. Think of all the wonderful things we experience that aren’t planned! Those really are the ones we remember. I have to try harder. (Is that oxymoronic?) Ha!
A house-sittng job in the English countryside…? How resourceful of you to think of doing that! Most eople would have to pay to have that experience as a holiday. You turned it into work? Well done. Is there an agency where you canget such jobs?
Otherwise I agree with you. To survive as a modern woman you need to develop orgnisational skills. I am lucky enough not to have to have organised 14 moves. That alone must have finely honed your coping skills.
Hi! There are agencies that facilitate the being/hiring a house-sitter process. I used TrustedHousesitters.com. There are others. I have links to a few on an earlier post…http://tinyurl.com/a7rf5e5 I don’t know if you are on Facebook:), but I put up a new post today about staying in Convents and Monasteries! Good value (and safe!).
I think you’re totally right. The planning aspect is fun, it lets you learn a whole lot about a place before you arrive, and if you never follow the schedule once you get there, well, it doesn’t really matter, does it? Enjoy your holidays this year, however they be planned!
Thanks, Chris! Are you planning (or planning to not plan) any trips this year? I’m on a train right now on one trip trying not to read the guidebooks I bought for the next trip. It’s a sickness, I tell ya.
Ha! I’m totally like this which is why I made a conscious effort to take a trip once without a plan. Granted, I went to a place in Mexico once and vowed not to book a hotel or plan any meals or adventures until I got off the boat. There was little risk in the proposition (I’d been to the same island a few years earlier and knew the area) but it was still a total deviation from my regular travel and daily routine (where I plan out my routes to avoid doubling back, etc.). It was pretty liberating (“I don’t know where I’m going to sleep in six hours!”) and comforting (“Nothing bad happened!”), so I recommend going footloose and fancy free (sometimes).
What?! No hotel or meal plans?! That’s crazy talk.
I’ve designed trips that I thought were so perfectly planned and then something happens to throw the plan off. There is a story my family likes to tell about me in the throws of a tantrum outside of Santa Maria Novella in Florence (August,they were closed). I’m not proud of it. It certainly wasn’t my finest moment. There has to be a balance. We are traveling this weekend and I really don’t have a plan (ok, except for hotels and restaurants). Baby steps.
I seriously love your blog! (and miss drinking g & t’s with you) If I was traveling in your area of the world (can we go to Spain?), I would plan out where I wanted to go but also be open to spontaneous adventures. I totally agree with having balance. We have to live in the moment! I hope you will share your weekend adventures with us! (Please, we are getting a blizzard here. I will be lucky if I get to the gym and Starbucks)
Any time you have the time, let me know. i’m up for Spain! I’ve heard Seville is spectacular. And they have Hendricks. Off on a weekend right now..can’t wait to post the pictures
. How much snow did you get from Nemo?!