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Bruce Robb's avatar

Thanks for sharing this with me JT. I think this is why I have loved traveling so much,especially to countries with different cultures.Surfing really helped fuel that desire to explore and get out there. I would recommend a book “Barbarian Days “ by William Finnegan. Bill was a staff writer for the New Yorker and has several books about politics,poverty etc covering SouthAfrica ,central America and the U S.This book is about traveling to some of the most remote locations in the world in pursuit of surfing waves no one else had discovered or been to. I was lucky enough to have been introduced to Bill a few years ago down in Baja. I usually camp near his group of friends the past several winters in the Seven Sisters region.

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Graciewilde's avatar

Thanks for reading and commenting , Bruce. I am familiar with "Barbarian Days" and William Finnegan but have requested it again from the library. That book is full of observations and reflections and it might light a fire under me. I'd be happy just to get to Hawaii again!

I used to love traveling a lot but COVID messed with me. And now I am angry and resentful of the insane greed and arrogance of the travel industry. I have to just breathe and ignore it but that is not so easy for me.

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Laura Fladora's avatar

Heaven knows, it can be hard to push yourself out the door, don't I know it! Most of the time I find the initial planning of any to these "PFE's" to be fun and exciting, but then as the departure day draws near, I get plagued with anxiety. Why, why, WHY did I make these plans? It's just so much easier and comfier to stay home. But then, the day comes and I step into my adventure (whatever it is) and usually I get so caught up in the "novelty" (there's that word again!) and the excitement of the moment and almost always I am glad that I made the effort.

Just do it!

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Graciewilde's avatar

Yes, you are a good role model. You and DOuglas get out there and have all sorts of adventures (and then you come back and chill in that heavenly tropical backyard that you have worked hard to create). I'm taking notes!

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Laura La Sottile's avatar

There is only one you - bring yourself is most important

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Graciewilde's avatar

My self wants to read. Preferably at the beach.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

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Laura La Sottile's avatar

Then do that! And plus you are hop and skip away from a gorgeous coast -

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Bruce Tomlin's avatar

Maybe writing things down you might like to try and periodically reviewing the list makes it more likely to be done?

Maybe write the date down next to each entry.

A column each for positive and negative aspects for each.

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Graciewilde's avatar

Good idea, Bruce. Thing is , I have such a string of possibilities. Mostly, at this point, travel is restricted b/c of child care responsibilities but someday.... thanks for reading and commenting.

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Bruce Tomlin's avatar

You’re welcome!

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Michael's avatar

Wow, what a great post Gracie. Especially for one like me who is hyper-jaded in a certain sense. I feel I have been on this Earth for so long, through so many lifetimes, in so many forms, that there is hardly a place that is new- no place I haven't been. The smell and feel of the soil in France, in Tibet, in Ireland, is as familiar to me as that in my backyard though I've never traveled to those places in the last 75 years! It is is all one place, one taste now for me. Is that a blessing or a curse? If I could grant myself amnesia so I could forget it all, would I do so? No.

But I haven't been to Jupiter yet or stood on a satellite orbiting great Saturn yet, so PFEs are still possible I suppose! But in the end it will remain the one taste I imagine. Even come the time when I gaze down at Sag A and the amazing still turbulence at the heart of Creation.

It is not boredom though- this state. It is unending joy, never old.

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Graciewilde's avatar

I love that! All one place, all one taste now - blessing or curse? Hmmmm , some of both. And I like your attitude - not a boredom but joy. And never old. I am going to pay attention to you. I am never bored, and curiosity, gratitude, joy - that's the way I want to greet the world. Thanks for your enthusiastic and positive post.

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Michael's avatar

You read it rightly, Gracie..it is a message of great positivity., 🙂 Keep that curiosity, it's a very high form of love!

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Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Thanks for the invigorating post!

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Graciewilde's avatar

You're welcome, Manuel. I hope your new week contains some good surprises!

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Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

😎I will allow myself to be surprised — no expectations!

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Graciewilde's avatar

YAY!

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Jean(Muriel)'s avatar

Right in my back yard… that Blue Chicken! I only saw it because my sister who led our hike that Friday has the kind of personality you are speaking of. She seeks out all the new and amazing places that the rest of us (me) seem to have placed in the “nice, but” category!

Where does one purchase that gene?? My Father too sought out new and amazing places to go and then became a complete scientific spectator when arriving.

I always wondered about that. I traveled the world for 36 years and followed the flight path, but,but…. The actual searching for everything shiny new I left to others. I was curious enough but I also loved to nest. Loved those warm cozy places , those “here are my cozy socks, right where I left them”! And there is my tea kettle…

Oh heck, maybe I am being hard on myself… I’ve discovered plenty that no one else ever sought out. I even have an exact picture of the “Blue Chicken”.

Now where did I leave my hot water bottle?

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Graciewilde's avatar

Ha! I laughed that you would be looking for the place to purchase that gene! You? who flew for 36 years? You know how to get out and about. But you also know how to pause and reflect. I think you are being too hard on yourself and you deserve to cozy up with your socks and your hot tea. 😍

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